GOSHEN, Ind. – After debuting with a 2-0 victory over Anderson University in a scrimmage this weekend, the Goshen College women’s soccer team officially starts its 2010 season Thursday at Manchester College.

With his second-straight loaded recruiting class, head coach Thavisith Mounsithiraj hopes his balance of upperclassmen leadership, superb sophomore class with a year of experience and new speed and talent will combine quickly to improve on a 5-11-1 mark last season.

Every good team needs good leadership and the Maple Leafs have it in seven seniors: Olivia D’Cruz, Kat Luginbuhl, Chelsea Graber, Yaneth Springer, Liz Gunden, Chloe Mathonnet-Vanderwell, and Heather Zimmerman.  The group has seen the ups-and-downs of seasons and has both the skill and diversity in styles and abilities to lead the Maple Leafs to new heights.

“Obviously we have a large group of seniors who have experienced some challenges over the course of the past four years,” Mounsithiraj explained.  “They have always expressed the need to leave something behind, the urgency to leave a legacy if you will.  I have nothing but praise for this group who has been committed to my vision the past four years and I have nothing but great anticipation for this season and where their leadership will take us.”

While not seniors, a junior class that includes laser-footed Tahnee Delp and hard-nosed defender Jen Snyder play like the seasoned veterans they have become.  Both figure to be vital on both ends of the pitch for the next two seasons.

The largest group figuring into the Maple Leafs starting lineup is the sophomore class.  When healthy, as many as five from Mounsithiraj’s 2009 class will get the nod.  On the defensive end, the group includes goalkeeper Lynn Weaver and central back Mara Swartzentruber who both started every game for the Leafs last season.  The class also includes playmakers Julia Miller, Kristina Lopienski, and Brianne Mault.

“I think last year was tough for our freshman as they were asked to do quite a lot,” Mounsithiraj said.  “In talking with them, they felt they learned a great deal and they felt there were so many things they needed to learn about playing at this level.  So, I anticipate them to bring to the table this year so much more energy, much more wisdom and enthusiasm to move forward.”

Already a strong mix of personnel, Mounsithiraj backed it up by bringing in an excellent recruiting class with one trait in common: speed.  The speed filters to all areas of the field with Dana and Alisha Christner in the back, Marissa Weldy and Emma Gerig in the midfield, and Emily Fretz and Rebekah Groff up front.

“I intentionally looked for speed and for players who could step in and make an immediate impact,” Mounsithiraj added.  “These players are not afraid to jump right in and show what they can do.  So, I am hoping for them to really truly challenge the upperclassmen and fight for their time and position.  It’s going to be exciting to see how it will turn out.”

The surest thing for the Maple Leafs last season was its defensive presence.  They posted four shutouts and routinely frustrated opponents.  The biggest issue, though, was finding the scoring touch, especially in conference play where Goshen tallied just two goals. With more options than ever being able to discover the right combination from the midfield to the front and taking more chances in the right spots are keys to moving forward according to Mounsithiraj.

The Maple Leafs will look for another strong start on the scoreboard Thursday as they head to Manchester College, a team they defeated 2-1 last season.  Their home opener will come on Tuesday, September 8 against Trine University.

Senior Chanuk Algama

GOSHEN, Ind. – There is not a much better way to start a season then a dominating performance.

Just ask Goshen College men’s tennis head coach Stan King.  King’s Maple Leafs opened up the 2010 season with a 9-0 defeat of visiting University of Saint Francis Tuesday evening.

“Starting the season with a win is good, and a conference win is great!” King said post match.

With three new players in the lineup and two other moving up two spots, Goshen had a strong season debut against the Cougars, who officially made their return to men’s tennis for the first time since 1983.

The afternoon started with doubles action where Goshen posted 8-4 victories in both the No. 1 and No. 2 pairings and an 8-0 sweep at No. 3.

“I liked the way our three doubles teams all came out and took charge of their matches,” King explained.  “Though we seemed to lose some focus part way through a couple of matches, it was good to see us get back on track and win.”

The winning did not stop as play shifted to singles action.  Sophomore Daniel Buschert was the first off the court with a commanding 6-0, 6-3 win at No. 6 singles and newcomer Csaba Laszlo made an outstanding debut at No. 1 singles with a 6-0, 6-0 victory.

“Focus did not seem to be a problem for us in singles,” King added.  “Following Buschert’s quick win, Csaba played some great tennis in his first match as a Maple Leaf to secure our fifth team point.  Krishnan Ganesan also won his first match as a Maple Leaf at No. 4 singles, improving his play as the match progressed.”

Ganesan was able to escape the first set 7-5 before taking the second by a 6-3 count.  Two of the most exciting matches of the day came at No. 2 and No. 5 singles.  At the No. 2 spot, Chanuk Algama came from 4-3 down in the second set to win the last three games and the match 6-2, 6-4.  The last match on the courts was freshman Mikey Kelly’s marathon at No. 5.  After taking the first set in a tiebreaker, Kelly dropped the second forcing a super tiebreaker.  Fighting off cramping, Kelly beat the odds for a 7-6 (5), 2-6, 10-6 victory in his collegiate debut.

“We won two of our four exhibition matches with decisive 8-1 scores,” King said.  “I was pleased to see the determination of our players, especially in their singles matches.  Men’s tennis is a new program at St. Francis so we can expect our other conference matches to be more difficult.”

Complete Results:
Goshen 9, St Francis 0

Doubles:
#1 Laszlo/Ganesan (G) def Goeglein/Mey 8-4
#2 Algama/Basnet (G) def Heise /Burkins 8-4
#3 Kelly/Buschert (G) def Barth/ Saporantas 8-0

Singles:
#1 Csaba Laszlo (G) def Chad Goeglein 6-0, 6-0
#2 Chanuk Algama (G) def Spencer Heise 6-2, 6-4
#3 Benjamin Basnet (G) def Ryan Mey 6-0, 6-2
#4 Krishnan Ganesan (G) def Kieran Barth 7-5, 6-3
#5 Mikey Kelly (G) def Jackson Burkins 7-6 (5), 2-6, 10-6
#6 Daniel Buschert (G) def Jon Saporantos 6-0, 6-3

Exhibition Matches:
Matthew  Amstutz (G) def Aaron Schillingar 8-1
Jordan Kauffman (G) def Kyle Adams 8-1
Schillingar/Adams (SF) def Jackson Beck/Joe King  8-5
Schillingar/Adams (SF) def King/Daniel Graber 8-4

LINKS: Roster | Schedule | Coaching Staff

GOSHEN, Ind. – The Goshen College men’s soccer team re-built a tradition of winning under head coach Tavi Mounsithiraj.

Under Mounsithiraj, the Maple Leafs have reached at least the Mid-Central College Conference Tournament semifinals in each of the last five seasons.  As Goshen looks for its sixth in a row, they will have to do it with another major transition in personnel after graduating 11 seniors, including seven starters.

“This season will be a little different for me as we will be missing a lot of good players that had been with us for four seasons and we will miss them,” Mounsithiraj said.  “The toughest part for us this year will be experience.”

Despite the transitions, Mounsithiraj and the Maple Leafs have reason to be optimistic.  Among the returners for Goshen are senior Juan Diaz De Leon (Goshen, Ind.), and juniors Greg Thiessen (Austin, Texas) and Ryan Troyer (Fredericksburg, Ohio).

De Leon – a left-footed marksman – led the team with seven goals in 2009 to go along with six assists.  Thiessen had a breakout season last year and scored five times during conference play, while Troyer continued his fine form in the net earning first team All MCC honors.

“Those three we are really looking to for leadership,” Mounsithiraj explained.  “Hopefully,  those guys will anchor the team and get it done with a different supporting cast.”

The Leafs also return Julian Sider, Alain Chaponniere, and Connor Histand to a defense that posted six shutouts in 2009 in front of Troyer.  Junior Charlie Frederick and senior Rick Eigsti will also provide experience, balance and control in the Goshen midfield.

Mounsithiraj has also reloaded his roster with 10 freshman and three transfers.  Among those who look to make an immediate impact are Jake Driver of Goshen High School, Jacob Yoder out of Iowa, and Jordan Berkey and Caleb Frey from Westview High School.  Two more additions come from within the program as redshirt freshmen Jordan Weaver and Josh Stiffney make their Maple Leaf debuts after sitting out last year with knee injuries.

“The biggest thing right now, we just need to figure out the right formation and right personnel for us,” continued Mounsithiraj.  “The biggest part will be team defense, it’s going to be a team thing.  The last couple years we have had several good players, right now we have really hard workers and I think we can do a better job as a team offensively and defensively.”

After a scrimmage against Anderson University this past weekend, Goshen will officially open the season Tuesday at Siena Heights University.  They then head to Hope College and Calvin College over the weekend before their home debut September 8 against St. Xavier University.

It is another tough preseason featuring national powers Calvin (NCAA DIII #2), Mount Vernon Nazarene, Olivet Nazarene, and Cumberland in addition to the always tough MCC slate.

“We have had a taste of winning the conference within the last five years and we hope to get back to that level again,” Mounsithiraj added.  “We have been getting close, like finishing second last year.  We will look to finish in the top half in the regular season again and do well in the MCC Tournament.”

Freshman Emily Waits

GOSHEN, Ind. – There are some high expectations around the 2010 Goshen College volleyball team.

As the season opened Thursday night, the Maple Leafs did not disappoint, rattling off a 25-20, 25-18, 25-19 victory over visiting Marygrove College.  The contest marked the official opening of the fall sports season at Goshen College with the volleyball team the first to official open its 2010 campaign.

“We felt very good about our performance overall,” second-year head coach Jim Routhier said.  “They were greatly improved over last year’s team.  We still need to work on timing and defensive assignments, but overall Jen (Higley) and I were pleased with our play.”

Reigning Mid-Central College Conference Player of the Year Peni Acayo (Kampala, Uganda) led the team with 11 kills, while sophomore Hannah Grieser (Goshen, Ind.) had seven and freshman Emily Waits (Goshen, Ind.) tallied six in her collegiate debut.

The trio rotated taking the bulk of the offensive assault.  Grieser started things with five of her seven kills in the opening game, Acayo led the team with four in the second, and Waits tallied five of her six kills in the third.

Also in her collegiate debut, setter Stacy Wyse (Archbold, Ohio) racked up 21 assists and three service aces.  Senior Brittany Herschberger (Goshen, Ind.) added five kills and six digs for the Leafs.

Another first-year Maple Leaf, Morgan Broderick (Huntington, Ind.) led the team with 19 digs from the libero spot.

The freshman, Stacy, Morgan, and Emily did well and we see great potential in all three,” Routhier added.  “We will go back to work tomorrow and improve on some things, but overall it was a good opening match.”

Goshen is back in action on Tuesday (August 31) as they host Purdue University – Calumet.  They will then head on the road to the Ohio Wesleyan University Tournament September 3-4.

Freshman Jordin Ashburn got her first sets in a College match and she did well.  We will go back to work today and improove on sme thingfs, but overall it was a good opening match.

GOSHEN, Ind. – The dictionary describes mindset [mahynd-set] as ideas, dispositions, intentions, and/or attitudes with which a person or people approach a situation.

To what degree dispositions and attitudes affect the success of an athletic team is sometimes argued, but what cannot be debated is how a change in mindset has altered both the present and the future of the Goshen College volleyball program.

“That (mindset) was one of the biggest things we worked on last year,” says head coach Jim Routhier.  “When we (coaches) walked in here, we knew the potential, we knew that we could be at the championship level, but I don’t think it was until mid or late in the season that they (players) started believing that we could be there.”

That belief – along with a continued influx of talent – helped the Maple Leafs soar into their first-ever Mid-Central College Conference Tournament Championship match in 2009.  Despite dealing with a handful of injuries throughout the year, Goshen racked up a 17-16 mark and hosted a MCC postseason match for just the second time in the program’s history.

Now, the mindset continues to change as the Leafs look to reach new heights.

“This year, they are coming in with a totally different attitude,” Routhier explained.  “It is not us trying to convince them how good we can be, but its them saying ‘We are good, We can play at the top level, We have the potential.’  I have really seen the mindset change.”

The Maple Leafs have reason to be optimistic as they return several key components from last year to go with the largest and deepest recruiting class in program history.

Like the past three seasons, it will again start with reigning MCC Player of the Year Peni Acayo (Kampala, Uganda).  Acayo became the program’s first NAIA First Team All American last year after racking up 554 kills, 437 digs, 57 blocks, and 45 service aces.  Already the program record-holder in career and single season kills, Acayo looks to help the Leafs to another first, an NAIA National Championship appearance.

Also back for Goshen is senior Brittany Herschberger (Goshen, Ind.).  An all conference pick in 2008, Herschberger tallied 265 kills and 474 digs last year.  The Leafs also get six-foot ride side hitter Kate Yoder (Mason, Mich.) back from a knee injury to go with versatile and experienced returners like Alicia Schwartzentruber (Goshen, Ind.), Indy Miller (Colorado Springs, Colo.), and Hannah Grieser (Goshen, Ind.).

“This preseason we have gotten tremendous  leadership from three seniors who have played volleyball for many, many years,” Routhier added.  “Brittany (Herschberger) is very outspoken and very outgoing, and an outstanding floor leader, Peni is the type of leader you can follow, and Alicia is much more soft spoken, but they have all worked together working with the nine freshman to bring them into the college game.”

The biggest question mark for the Maple Leafs is how they will deal with the loss of all conference middle hitter Ashley Janssen.  Janssen graduated in the top 10 in program history in kills, including a career high 282 last season.

“Losing Ashley was tough as she was a seasoned veteran and we went to her a lot last year,” Routhier said.  “We have taken Hannah (Grieser) and moved her from outside to middle and she is really taken a hold of it.  We also have Emily (Waits) from a very strong Fairfield team that went down to state last year.  Both have done an outstanding job and I think we are going to be just fine.”

In addition to Waits, Routhier has a series of first year players who will make an immediate impact on the rotation including all state (Ohio) setter Stacy Wyse and athletic libero Morgan Broderick of Huntington North High School.

After a preseason which saw the Maple Leafs head to Florida for a week, the Maple Leafs officially start their 2010 campaign tomorrow night (Thursday).  Goshen hosts Marygrove College (Mich.) at 6 p.m.

“They have some of the most positive attitudes and work ethics I have ever been around,” continued Routhier.  “All these kids are really hard workers.  Not only did they do well gelling together in the preseason and we saw what their potential was, but they had a lot of fun.  They really enjoy each other’s company and I think it is going to be an outstanding championship season.”

Eric Screeton

GOSHEN, Ind. – The Goshen College Athletic Department is pleased that former Franklin College (Ind.) and Bluffton University (Ohio) assistant coach Eric Screeton will begin duties as the Maple Leafs Head Baseball Coach this week.

Screeton becomes the 10th head coach in the more than 50-year history of the Goshen Baseball Program and succeeds Josh Keister, who resigned last month to take an administrative role as the director of Goshen’s Recreation-Fitness Center.

“We are extremely excited that Eric will be joining our staff and giving leadership to our baseball program,” Goshen Athletic Director Tim Demant said.  “Having been a part of three successful college programs in the past, Eric brings a winning attitude, that along with his coaching experience, passion, and knowledge of the game will be a huge asset for our student-athletes and the entire baseball program.”

As the top assistant coach at Franklin since 2006, Screeton was the Grizzlies hitting coach, infield instructor, junior varsity head coach, and recruiting coordinator.  With his help, Franklin just completed its best three-year run in school history including a Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference Championship in 2009 and a pair of runner-up finishes.

During his tenure at Franklin, the Grizzlies defeated a pair of NCAA DI opponents, had 17 all conference picks, six all region selections, and set five single season school offensive records.

“I am very excited about the opportunity for a number of reasons,” Screeton explained.  “First, I am familiar with Goshen College’s reputation both academically and athletically.  Second, I share the vision with Mr. Demant about where athletics and the baseball program are going.  And third, the philosophy of coaching that I have built relates well with Goshen’s concept of building champions in competition, in the classroom and in the community.”

Prior to his arrival at Franklin, Screeton spent two season at Bluffton University in Ohio as the Beavers scouting coordinator, defensive instructor, and assistant hitting coach.  Known as a recruiter, Screeton has led efforts to bring in classes of 25-30 at Franklin and helped double the roster size at Bluffton in just two years.

Screeton has also served as the head coach for the Allen County Orioles, a high school travel team out of Fort Wayne.  He is an active member of the American Baseball Coaches Association and has been a camp instructor and presenter at the University of Notre Dame, University of Kentucky, Purdue University, and the Indiana High School Baseball Coaches Association among others.

“The goals start with competing everyday and getting better,” Screeton said.  “Ideally, the goal is to win and to do so quickly.  We want to be a staple in the top of the MCC year in and year out.  It will take some hard work to get there, but I am ready to get to work.”

A 2004 graduate of Manchester College, Screeton was a four-year letter  winner for the Spartans.  He earned all conference honors following both his junior and senior seasons and a vital piece of the 2004 team that reached the NCAA DIII World Series.

He holds a bachelor degree from Manchester in Secondary Education – Social Studies and completed a masters degree in Education with a concentration in Humanities and Liberal Arts during his time at Bluffton.

Screeton will quickly get to work putting together the rest of the coaching staff and getting to know his team as they begin fall workouts soon after the start of the fall semester, August 31.

Errick McCollum II

GOSHEN, Ind. – Eight months after becoming Goshen College (Ind.) men’s basketball’s all-time scoring leader and five months after earning the program’s first-ever NAIA DII First Team All American selection, Errick McCollum II is officially starting his professional career later this month.

The Canton (Ohio) native signed his first professional contract this weekend with Barak Netanya of the Israeli Super League, Israel’s top flight of basketball.

“It is a blessing to have the opportunity to extend my career and showcase my abilities at the highest level in Israel,” the 6-foot-2 guard said.  “I’ve heard nothing but great things about the league, its teams and the competition, which should definitely bring out the best in me.  I will continue to work diligently, stay hungry, and humble as I strive to raise my game to a higher level.”

Barak Netanya was 13-9 in the 2009-10 regular season and reached the Super League semifinals, where they lost to European power Maccabi Tel Aviv.  The season before, Netanya won the National League (2nd Division) title with an impressive 33-1 mark earning its promotion to the top league.

“I could not be more excited for ‘E’ as he was worked incredibly hard over the last several years to put himself in a position to make a living playing basketball,” said Goshen head coach Gary Chupp.  “Initially we thought he would need to begin in the second division in Israel and play himself into the top league.  To begin his professional career playing with the likes of Raymar Morgan from Michigan State and Denis Clemente of Kansas State is an incredible opportunity and I have no doubt he will make the most of it.”

Errick McCollum II

McCollum signed a one year deal with a team option for the second season.  He departs for Israel on August 19 to begin training camp with the regular season starting in late October.  The league playoffs extend into early June.

“I’m also excited that E will get a chance to immerse himself into another culture,” Chupp explained.  “I’m sure it will be an adjustment for him, but knowing what kind of character E possesses, I’m sure he will fit in great.”

Netanya is a town of 180,000 people about 18 miles north of Tel Aviv.  Its nine miles of beach along the Mediterranean Sea have made it a popular tourist destination where English is commonly spoken.

“I’m excited to get to Israel and develop a rapport with my new teammates, but my heart will always be home and at Goshen College as I will miss those close to me, including my teammates from the past couple years,” McCollum added.

His teammates and Maple Leaf fans will certainly miss him as well.  His impact on the program was felt immediately as he was selected as the Mid-Central College Conference Newcomer of the Year after 18.5 points and 5.3 rebounds a game as a freshman.

After two more standout seasons in which he was named First Team All MCC and NAIA All American Honorable Mention, McCollum had an even better senior year.  He averaged 25.6 points, 7.1 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2.7 steals on way to MCC Player of the Year and NAIA All American First Team honors.  He graduated as the program leader in scoring with 2,789 points as well as appearing in Goshen’s top 10 in nearly every statistical category.

“Playing professionally has always been a dream of mine and I’m thankful for the opportunity.  My younger brother and I have been training and working to prepare ourselves for this moment.  I feel like I am ready.”

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – After several days of conditioning and training, the Goshen College volleyball team focused their final two days in Florida in the gym.

On Friday, the Maple Leafs scrimmaged against St. John’s River Community College, a team which finished runner-up in the strong Mid-Florida Conference a year ago.  Goshen’s “A” team swept the Vikings’ varsity team 25-17, 25-15, and 15-9.  In a match up of each program’s “B” teams, Goshen and SJRCC split 17-25 and 25-2.

As Goshen Head Coach Jim Routhier looks to integrate nine first-year collegiate players to his roster, he continues to be excited with the progress of his team.

“I am very impressed withe the level of play that our freshman are showing,” the second-year head of the Maple Leafs said.  “When you replace both setters, both middle hitters, and a libero, it takes a bit of time to play together.  Our upperclassmen players are being true leaders and bringing the team along nicely.”

A day later, Goshen split its squad into a purple team and a white team as they played in a scrimmage jamboree.  The Leafs started the day against a Jacksonville area club team with the purple squad dropping games 20-25 and 21-25.  The white team also fell by a 12-25 count.

Immediately following the opening games, Goshen took on Florida State College where the purple team ran off victories of 25-21, 25-20, and 25-23.  They then made another appearance against St. John’s, which resulted in 25-19, 25-20, and 25-21 wins for the purple squad.  The white team fell to FSC 15-25 and split with SJRCC 25-20 and 13-25.

“The team is definitely on the road to making their bid for the top spot in the conference,” Routhier said as they team prepared to head back home to Goshen.  “This trip has not only gotten the team closer together and integrated the freshman to the level of college volleyball, but it has also gained Goshen College some awesome exposure to the area.”

Routhier said those the team have enjoyed hearing about and seeing the team from a “small Christian college in Northern Indiana.  They have been not only impressed with the level of play, but also the friendliness and positive attitude of our team.  The comment, ‘Your team looks like they are really enjoying volleyball’ is heard over and over.”

After flying back to Indiana on Sunday, the Maple Leafs continue their preparations for the 2010 Mid-Central College Conference season.  They kick things off with a non-conference tilt against Marygrove College (Mich.) on August 26.

Maple Leafs conditioning on the beach in Jacksonville.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – However useful and necessary, preseason conditioning is rarely a favorite activity of the student-athlete.

When combined with a beach-side setting on the Florida coast, though, does it become a little bittersweet?

Goshen College Head Volleyball coach Jim Routhier hopes it is a perfect combination for his Maple Leafs as they hope to repeat their run into the late stages of the 2009 Mid-Central College Conference tournament.

“The beach is wonderful, but the conditioning is tough,” the second-year head coach says.

While the conditioning – including sand runs and core workouts – are on the beach, the Leafs have also been hitting the gym at Florida State College – Jacksonville to prepare on the court.  While Goshen returns eight players from last year’s squad including NAIA First Team All American Peni Acayo, they also added 10 new players that Routhier hopes will lead them to the next level.

“The team is coming along nicely and there are some really bright spots among both the returning players and the freshman,” Routhier explained.  “Senior’s Peni (Acayo), Brittany (Herschberger), and Alicia (Schwartzentruber) are doing an outstanding job leading the team and helping integrate the freshman into college volleyball.”

A conditioning run on the sand

With just a few conditioning and practice sessions under their belts since arriving Monday, the Leafs got their first competitive action Wednesday night in an unscored scrimmage with host FSC-Jacksonville.  Again, Routhier was pleased and excited about the progress of both his veterans and newcomers.

“Our freshman got a good look at college level volleyball and performed very well,” he added.  “Freshman setter Stacy Wyse did an outstanding job running our offense and Emily Waits, another freshman, played very strong against their All-American middle.”

“Peni was her usual All American self and took command of the net at the outside position,” he continued.  “Most of all, we were pleased with our defense which included freshman libero Morgan Broderick, sophomore Karina Rohrer-Meck, and senior Alicia Schwartzentruber.  We also felt our right side attackers and blockers Cassie Greives, Indi Miller, and Kate Yoder were very effective against their 6-foot plus outside hitters.”

Routhier and the Maple Leafs continue their workouts on the beach and on the court all week.  Their time in Florida includes more scrimmages against local junior colleges before they return to the Goshen College campus over the weekend.

“I am very pleased with the team’s performance and we feel we are right on schedule with the team’s progress,” Routhier concluded.

The Maple Leafs get the official season underway with a home contest Thursday, August 26 against Marygrove College (Mich.).

GOSHEN, Ind. – Are you ready?  The fall sports season is just around the corner.

With less than a month before the beginning of the fall semester at Goshen College, the athletic department has released its 2010 fall schedules.  Complete schedules are now available at www.goleafs.net for women’s volleyball, men’s and women’s soccer, men’s and women’s tennis, men’s and women’s cross country, and men’s golf.

Fall Schedules: Volleyball | Men’s Soccer | Women’s Soccer | Cross Country | Men’s Tennis | Women’s Tennis | Men’s Golf

VOLLEYBALL

The 2010 volleyball season starts August 26 vs. Marygrove.

After a spectacular run to their first-ever MCC Conference Tournament Championship match, the Maple Leaf volleyball team is ready for another deep postseason run.  After a preseason training trip to Florida in the middle of August, Goshen officially starts its 2010 campaign with a home tilt against Marygrove College (Mich.).  A new conference format sees the Maple Leafs play each MCC opponent both home and away with the first MCC match scheduled for September 8 at Huntington.  A pair of three-match conference homestands will be key as Goshen looks to host its second-consecutive MCC Tournament Quarterfinal contest.  The MCC Tournament begins November 9.

WOMEN’S SOCCER

A young Goshen squad gained valuable experience on the pitch in 2009 and will look to improve on a 5-11-1 season a year ago.  Most of the early action comes on the road for the Maple Leafs as eight of their first ten contests come away from Goshen.  One highlight will be the Mennonite College Soccer Classic featuring the Leafs, Bluffton University, and Eastern Mennonite University September 11-12.  The contests will be played at Christopher Dock Mennonite High School in Lansdale, Pa.  Goshen gets its 2010 MCC campaign started by hosting Huntington University on September 28.

MEN’S SOCCER

The Maple Leafs start MCC play on September 22 against Bethel.

The Maple Leaf men’s soccer program has reached at least the MCC Semifinals in each of the past five seasons.  After graduating 10 seniors from last year’s squad, head coach Tavi Mounsithiraj will have a much different lineup on the pitch in 2010.  What hasn’t changed, though, is the difficult preseason schedule that Goshen will use to prepare for conference play.  The early season tests include NAIA powers St. Xavier (Ill.), Cumberlands (Ky.), Mt. Vernon Nazarene (Ohio), and Olivet Nazarene (Ill.) in addition to a couple of the top teams in NCAA DIII in Calvin (Mich.) and Hope (Ill.).  The MCC season kicks off on Sept. 22 against rival Bethel College with the conference tournament beginning October 30.

CROSS COUNTRY

A number of familiar events highlight the 2010 cross country schedule, including the sixth annual Goshen Hokum Karem.  The early season event pairs runner who trade off running one-mile increments.  The Maple Leafs will also make familiar appearances at the Defiance College Invitational, the Indiana Intercollegiates, and the NAIA Great Lakes Invitational.  The MCC Championships – hosted by Bethel College this year – will be on November 6 with a trip to the NAIA Championships (Nov. 20) in Vancouver, Washington on the line.

WOMEN’S TENNIS

The women's tennis team will open its season by hosting IWU on August 28.

Much like the 2009 season, this year’s women’s tennis schedule consists of a series of home and road streaks.  After starting the season on August 28 by hosting Indiana Wesleyan University, the Maple Leafs head on the road for five straight matches over a two week period.  A three-match home stand – Goshen’s longest of the season – immediately follows before the Maple Leafs close out the fall with a pair of tournaments, including the MCC Championships (Oct. 7-9).

MEN’S TENNIS

Off all the fall sports, tennis has the earliest jump in conference play.  For the Maple Leafs men’s team, it comes in their first official contest of the season, August 31 against the newly formed University of St. Francis team.  In his 12th season at the helm, Head Coach Stan King has mixed in a variety of non-conference foes including Manchester, Defiance, Earlham, Franklin, Indiana Tech, and St. Joseph’s.  Goshen does not have a string of more than three MCC opponents in a row at any point during the season.  The season-ending MCC Tournament is the first week of October.

MEN’S GOLF

The 2010 men’s golf season once again tees off at the two-day University of Saint Francis Invitational August 30-31.  For the first time, the Maple Leafs will head to the 15th annual Jon M. Spiess Memorial Tournament hosted by Defiance College (Sept 14) before heading to a pair of events in Michigan.  Goshen will close out the fall portion of its schedule October 1 at the Taylor Made/ Adidas Collegiate Series in Coldwater, Mich.