Press Releases
2004-0505-25-05 Woodger Receives Graceland’s Student Life Award
Chelsea Woodger, a 2005 graduate of the Yellowjacket women’s soccer program, has received the Graceland University Student Life Award. To receive this award, Woodger exemplified superior qualities in leadership, respect among students, faculty and staff and has a creditable academic record at Graceland.Woodger was the Khiyah house president during the 2003-04 school year and again in the fall of 2004. Woodger also served as a crescent and an off-campus representative for Khiyah House during her four years at Graceland. Chelsea was the Tower newspaper editor and a member of LEAD in addition to her position on the women’s soccer team, who played in the NAIA Final Four in 2004.
Academically, Woodger held a 3.7 GPA in liberal studies and political science along with her English, peace studies and international studies minor. Woodger has been on the honors and dean’s list at Graceland.
On the field, Woodger was a captain of the women’s soccer team, and received NAIA, Region V and Heart of America Athletic Conference scholar-athlete awards. At the national tournament, Woodger was the recipient of the NAIA Champions of Character Award.
“Chelsea has been the rock of inspiration that helped turn this program around,” says Kevin Sherry, women’s soccer coach at Graceland. “She was the one who made the first steps on the road to success, and the team followed. She set the example of hard work, self-sacrifice, encouragement to others and loyalty. She gave the team hope and then, the self belief that we could be great. Our achievement would not have been possible without her.”
05-02-05 All-Conference Scholar-Athletes
The Heart of America Athletic Conference has recognized 32 Graceland University athletes as All-Conference Scholar-Athletes for 2004-05.The Yellowjacket softball, women’s track and football teams led the way with four scholars each, followed by the women’s volleyball, men’s track, men’s cross country and men’s soccer teams with three scholar-athletes apiece.
The following is a list of Graceland’s 2004-05 HAAC Scholar-Athletes:
Athlete -- GPA -- Sport -- Major
Maria Prieto -- 3.47 -- Soccer -- International Business
Chelsea Woodger -- 3.66 -- Soccer -- Liberal Studies
04-11-05 Dunagan to Attend International Youth Forum
On May 21, Meghan Dunagan and two other Community of Christ youth from California will travel to Hong Kong for International Youth Forum (IYF). Dunagan, from San Jose, Calif., is a member of the 2004 Graceland University women’s soccer team that played in the Final Four of the NAIA National Championships.Dunagan has been chosen to represent the Sierra Pacific Mission Center during her six-day camp and three days of touring Hong Kong. “The purpose of us attending this IYF is to try and establish international relationships and connections in the Community of Christ church,” says Dunagan.
At the camp, Dunagan will attend such workshops as “Why Now,” “Why Together,” “Why Here” and “Why Me,” along with village and discovery workshops, where she will discover and explore faith and the beliefs of the Community of Christ. In the evenings, Meghan will explore diversity through the global community and different languages and cultures.
“At IYF, we will come to discover ‘why Jesus’ through worship, the arts, education, and through our relationships with one another and with God,” according to the IYF website (www.cofchrist.org/IYF).
04-07-05 Women’s Soccer Receives Team Academic Award
The Graceland University women’s soccer team earned the 2004 NSCAA / adidas Team Academic Award, presented by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America. The Yellowjacket women held a 3.32 GPA in the 2003-04 academic year.“The achievement sets your team apart from other teams, demonstrating your program’s commitment to achievement on the field and in the classroom,” says Jim Sheldon, executive director of NSCAA.
In 2004, the Graceland women’s soccer team was 18-0-5 this season and played in the Final Four of the NAIA National Championships held in Santa Barbara, Calif.
01-02-05 Sherry Named NSCAA Regional Coach of the Year
Graceland University’s Kevin Sherry has been named NSCAA Central Region Coach of the Year for NAIA women’s soccer. The NSCAA is the National Soccer Coaches Association of America that promotes the game of soccer and the education of coaches.In 2004, Coach Sherry led the Yellowjackets to the NAIA Final Four of the Women’s Soccer National Championship and finished the season with an unbeaten 18-0-5 record.
This season Sherry coached four All-American players, including first and third team honorees and two honorable mention awards. One player was named to the National Championship All-Tournament Team and one received NAIA All-America Scholar-Athlete accolades.
Sherry began coaching at Graceland in 2001. Since his arrival, the Yellowjackets have posted a 54-17-10 overall record.
12-06-04 Four Women Find Spots On All-American Teams
The NAIA has listed four Graceland players on the 2004 Women’s Soccer All-America Teams.Junior defender Nav Boparai and freshman midfielder Misako Inaba are the first two Graceland Yellowjackets to receive All-American status in the 12-year history of the program.
Boparai, from London, England was placed on the first team All-America list and Inaba, from Tokyo, Japan, is a third team honoree.
Junior goalkeeper Samantha Clark and sophomore midfielder Lara Guscott received honorable mention All-America recognition for their performances in the 2004 season.
Graceland has had two other honorable mention players: Rie Sawai in 2003 and Tiffany Rasmussen in 1997, but no player has ever been on the first, second or third team.
12-02-04 Region V Women’s Soccer Teams Announced
Five Yellowjacket women’s soccer players were honored by the NAIA’s Region V for their excellence on the pitch in 2004.Four Yellowjackets are featured on the Region V first team including goalie Sam Clark, defender Nav Boparai, midfielder Misako Inaba and forward Lara Guscott.
Clark led one of the top defenses in the nation by giving up a stingy five goals all season. Clark logged 1900 minutes and gave up .25 goals per game. Defender Nav Boparai helped Clark keep the ball out of the net as a mature and highly skilled defender who chipped in on the offensive side with one assist.
Inaba proved to be great two-way player on the field who played heads up defensively and she gained 19 total points on the season by the way of six goals and seven assists. Lara Guscott was the offensive leader for the 2004 squad who picked up 52 total points on 17 goals and 18 assists.
Zulema Martinez was the Jackets only second team honoree. Martinez booted her way to 13 goals and 19 assists for 45 total points.
Rounding out the Region V honorees is head coach Kevin Sherry, who was named Coach of the Year after guided the team to an 18-0-5 season. The team ended up Heart of America Athletic Conference champions, Region V runner-up and competed in a semi-final game at the 2004 national tournament.
11-24-04 Boparai On Women's Soccer National Championship All-Tournament Team
The NAIA has named Nav Boparai, a defender for Graceland University, to the 2004 Women's Soccer National Championship All-Tournament Team for her performances in the national tournament in Santa Barbara, Calif. November 17-23.Boparai, a junior from London, England, helped the team to an 18-0-5 season record and was selected as Co-Defensive Player of the Year for the Heart of America Athletic Conference and was a first team all-Region V player.
At the national tournament, Graceland opened the NAIA championships with a tie to Berry College (Ga.), then advanced on PKs by a score of five to four. The Yellowjacket women came back to LaPlaya Stadium the next day to defeat Simon Fraser University (B.C.) 1-0 in regulation. The ladies then attended the Final Four banquet on Sunday night, followed by the tie and 4-5 elimination to Lindsey Wilson College on Monday.
11-29-04 Woodger Receives Two National Awards
The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) has named Graceland University defender Chelsea Woodger to the 2004 Daktronics-NAIA Women’s Soccer All-America Scholar-Athlete Team.Woodger, a senior from Provo, Utah, holds a 3.66 GPA in liberal studies at Graceland.
Woodger was also Graceland’s Champions of Character Award winner at the national championships in Santa Barbara, Calif. for her promotion of the NAIA’s five core values of respect, responsibility, sportsmanship, integrity and servant leadership.
11-22-04 Jackets Conclude Undefeated Season
The Graceland University women’s soccer team concluded the 2004 season with an undefeated 18-0-5 record and a spot in the Final Four of the NAIA Women's Soccer National Championship in Santa Barbara, Calif.Graceland, the fifth rank in the tournament was eliminated by Lindsey Wilson College, the number one seed, in a PK shootout in the semi-final round of the national championships.
After regulation and two ten-minute overtimes, the Yellowjacket women held a shootout of penalty kicks to decide the outcome of the game, but came up one goal short. Graceland hit four of five shots, but Lindsey Wilson hit all five to advance to the championship round of the NAIA tournament.
The Jackets end the season an undefeated 18-0-5 because games ending in a deadlock that are decided by a shootout are marked as a tie in both teams’ final record.
Graceland opened the NAIA championships with a tie to Berry College (Ga.), then advanced on PKs by a score of five to four. The Yellowjacket women came back to LaPlaya Stadium the next day to defeat Simon Fraser University (B.C.) 1-0 in regulation. The ladies then attended the Final Four banquet on Sunday night, followed by the game against Lindsey Wilson College on Monday.
In September, Graceland opened the 2004 season as an unranked team, made their way to the seventh spot in the final NAIA poll and ended the season as one of the top four teams in the country.
11-20-04 Only Four Remain
The Graceland University women’s soccer team is one of only four teams still playing in the 2004 season, following a 1-0 win over Simon Fraser University from Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada.With 17 minutes remaining in the second period, Jocelyn Jentsch sent the ball to Zulema Martinez who centered the play. Martinez then passed to Whitney Danner for a one-touch into the back of the net.
The Jackets will face Lindsey Wilson University from Kentucky on Monday at 7:30 p.m. in the final four of the NAIA Women's Soccer National Championship.
11-19-04 Women’s Soccer Wins First Game at Nationals
Graceland won their first-round game at the NAIA Women’s Soccer National Championship on Friday, November 19, 2004.The Yellowjackets tied Berry College from Mount Berry, Georgia, 0-0 in regulation, followed by two non-scoring 10-minute overtimes. The game was then to be decided on penalty kicks, five from each team.
Graceland struck first in the shootout when Heidi Beckstrom scored her penalty kick. Berry’s first attempt was saved by goalkeeper Luisa Dibiagio, bringing the 45 Graceland fans to their feet in excitement. The final four shooters for Graceland – Calea Bourne, Misako Inaba, Jocelyn Jentsch and Katrina Sumsion – all found the back of the net to lead Graceland to the 4-5 penalty kick win.
The women now move to the quarterfinal round, where they will play Simon Fraser from Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada at 5:00 p.m.
11-09-04 Women’s Soccer to Nationals!
The Graceland women’s soccer team is packing their bags for the NAIA women’s soccer national championship in Santa Barbara, Calif. on November 17-23, 2004.Despite a double overtime 0-0 (3-4 PKs) loss to William Jewell College in the Region V Championship game, the ladies have posted a 17-1-2 season record so far, while taking the conference championship title and holding a national ranking of 7th place to end the regular season.
Tuesday night’s loss came after a 0-0 stalemate throughout two 45-minute halves and two 10-minute overtime periods. Then came Heidi Beckstrom to step up for the first of the five kickers of the sudden-victory shootout. Beckstrom bent the ball past the Jewell goalie to put Graceland on the scoreboard first. William Jewell’s first kicker also found the back of the net, tying the score 1-1.
Sophomore Lara Guscott’s shot was blocked, but the Cardinals hit their second goal to go up 2-1. Nav Boparai put life back into the over-capacity crowd at the Razz by hitting her shot, but Jewell matched to stay ahead of Graceland 3-2.
Misako Inaba tied the score 3-3 with her shot, but again, the Cardinal player placed a great shot and one-upped the Jackets. Senior Chelsea Woodger’s shot didn’t find the white net, and Graceland lost 3-4 to the 11th ranked team in the nation in the regional championship game.
The team and crowd, who were ready to charge the field after a win, were stunned. Players drug themselves from the field, but when Coach Kevin Sherry pulled the team into a huddle to tell them to pack their bags for the national tournament in California, the entire stadium went hysterical.
Games at the national tournament will be played Wednesday, November 17 through Monday, November 22, with the championship game on Tuesday, November 23 at 7:00 p.m.
The Graceland women do not yet know their playing schedule, but information will be posted on the soccer website at www.gojackets.graceland.edu as it progresses.
11-08-04 Tailgate Party Set for Tuesday’s Soccer Game
The Graceland Student Government will sponsor a tailgate party at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, November 9, prior to the women’s soccer Region V Championship game.GSG members will serve hamburgers, hot dogs, chips, cookies and water in the events parking lot adjacent to the soccer field. Graceland students and staff receive free admission to the tailgate party from 5:30 – 6:30 p.m.
The soccer game against William Jewell College begins at 7:00 p.m. in The Razz. Admission is free to the first 150 Graceland students with IDs. Admission for adults is $4 and for students is $2.
11-03-04 Graceland Dominates All-Conference Women’s Soccer Selections
In a sport that allows 11 players on the field during the game, the Graceland women’s soccer team landed 12 athletes on the Heart of America Athletic All-Conference team.Finding their spots on the first team were two juniors, two sophomores and one freshman, including Sam Clark, Nav Boparai, Lara Guscott, Zulema Martinez and Misako Inaba. The second team was comprised of one junior and three sophomore Yellowjackets in Maria Prieto, Heidi Beckstrom, Jocelyn Jentsch and Whitney Danner, and honorable mention lists two juniors Amanda Sundell and Julia Prohaska, and one senior, Chelsea Woodger.
The HAAC named juniors Samantha Clark (GK, Peculiar, Mo.) and Nav Boparai (Def., London, England) Co-Defensive Players of the Year and recognized Kevin Sherry as the Conference Coach of the Year.
Stat lines for the all-conference players are listed in the 2004 stats on the webpage.
11-01-04 Beckstrom Conference and Region Player of the Week
The Region V and Heart of America Athletic Conference Player of the Week in women's soccer for Oct. 24-30 is Heidi Beckstrom from Graceland University.The sophomore defender, who is a native of Nibley, Utah, totaled a goal and an assist last week in two league wins. Against Baker University, she aided the defensive line in securing a 1-0 shutout. Versus 12th ranked William Jewell College, Beckstrom recorded an assist and the game-winning penalty kick in overtime to give her squad the 3-2 victory and clinch the conference crown for Graceland University with a perfect 9-0-0 league mark.
The Graceland women are also the top seed in the Region V, which leads to a first-round bye in the playoffs. The Jackets will host a second-round post-season game next Saturday, November 6 at The Razz in Lamoni. The ladies will play the winner of the first round game between Lindenwood University and Missouri Valley College. The time of the game is yet to be set.
10-30-04 Conference Champions
The Graceland women's soccer team beat William Jewell College Saturday afternoon in Liberty, Mo. to secure the top spot in the conference for the 2004 season. The Graceland women are also the top seed in the Region V, which leads to a first-round bye in the playoffs.The Jackets will host a second-round post-season game next Saturday, November 6 at The Razz in Lamoni. The ladies will play the winner of the first round game between Lindenwood University and Missouri Valley College. The time of the game is yet to be set.
10-26-04 Graceland Women Grab 7th Rank
The Graceland women’s soccer team continues the quest for the top of the polls, grabbing the 7th spot in the NAIA national rankings this week. The past two weeks the Jackets had held down 8th place.Graceland is closely trailed by William Jewell College, who sits at the 12th spot. The Jackets and the Cardinals face off this weekend in Liberty, Mo. at 5:30 p.m. Graceland and Jewell are one-two in the Region V rankings with 14-0-2 and 13-2-0 records, respectively.
10-26-04 Jackets Outshoot Baker, Win 1-0
The Graceland women’s soccer team beat Baker University 1-0 Tuesday night in Lamoni, Iowa. Junior Julia Prohaska, from Pickering, Ontario, scored the goal.The Jackets, who are now ranked 7th in the NAIA, now look forward to playing conference rival William Jewell College Saturday in Liberty, Mo. in the last regular season game of the year.
10-19-20 Women’s Soccer Holds at 8th
The NAIA has held the Graceland women’s soccer program at 8th place this week, keeping the Jackets at a standstill from last week’s 8th rank.Graceland is still atop the Region V and Heart of America Athletic Conference standings.
The women are now 12-0-2, and play Avila University in Kansas City, Mo. on Thursday, October 21 at 1:00 p.m.
10-12-04 Movin’ On Up
The Graceland women’s soccer team moved up to the 8th rank in the NAIA national polls on October 12. The Jackets were 9th in last week’s national rankings.Graceland is also currently in the top spot of the Region V poll and tied with William Jewell College for the lead in the Heart of America Athletic Conference with a 5-0 HAAC record.
The women have won 12 games, lost none and tied one to the top team in the nation, Lindsey Wilson from Kentucky.
Graceland leads the conference with an average of 7.38 goals scored and .15 goals scored against.
The women host Missouri Valley College this Saturday, October 16 at 5:00 p.m. Missouri Valley is 3-1 in the conference and 9-2-1 overall.
10-06-04 Graceland Women’s Soccer Scoreless Streak Ends
On a cool evening in Canton, Mo., nine unanswered goals were scored, but the tenth goal was the one that hurt the worst. The first nine were scored by the number nine team in the nation, Graceland University, but the tenth goal was scored by Culver-Stockton College. This goal was the first goal scored against the Yellowjackets in all 12 games played this season. Graceland did win by a steep 9-1 score, but the scoreless streak has ended.The 13 minutes into the game, Zulema Martinez passed to Lara Guscott for the first goal of the game. The next two goals were unassisted shots by Maria Prieto and Guscott. Misako Inaba scored back-to-back goals, followed by back-to-back unassisted shots by Sabine Schwittay. Meghan Dunagan and Whitney Danner ended the point total at 77 and 83 minutes.
The Yellowjackets took 19 shots compared to the Wildcats’ two for the game. Goal keeper Luisa DiBiagio made one save for the game.
Graceland is now 11-0-1 and 4-0-0 in the Heart of America Athletic Conference. The Jackets play at Lindenwood University on Saturday, October 9 at 5:30 p.m.
10-02-04 Women’s Soccer Dominates Central Methodist
Graceland’s women’s soccer dominated Central Methodist 13-0 at Homecoming on Saturday night at 5:00 p.m. in Lamoni.The Lady Yellowjackets put on a fine display of attacking soccer for the homecoming crowd to enjoy. Thirteen goals were scored with 10 different players assisting in those goals. The bench was emptied early and every player got significant minutes so as to keep the score down and to provide everyone a chance to show their skills.
The ladies kicked off with a beautiful blue sky as a backdrop and the sun shining bright over the Big G Lake. The crowd was just getting settled into their seats when Graceland struck with venom. Whitney Danner started the scoring off a one-on-one with the goal keeper.
Lara Guscott scored the next two goals, followed by a shot by Maria Prieto, then a low drive by Jocelyn Jentsch. In the 38th minute, Sabine Schwittay scored to finish the first half scoring.
Maniesha Munro, who has been out with a groin injury the entire season, finally was let loose for just 10 minutes this game and she made he most of those precious moments. She took five shots on goal, with the final finding the back of the net for Graceland’s eighth goal.
The next goal came from a Zulema Martinez shot to Jocelyn Jentsch who tapped the ball into the net. Whitney Danner scored the next goal and Guscott made a low shot off a pass from Julia Prohaska at 70 minutes.
On the 80th minute a shout came from the bench that this now meant Graceland had not conceded a goal for 1000 minutes. This is a terrific achievement and one which reflects the work of the whole team. To celebrate the team scored the best goal of the game.
The defense switched the ball from left to right using the midfield to find Calea Bourne. Calea played a nice pass down the right wing for Sabine Schwittay to receive. Sabine stopped the ball quickly which made her marker to lose her footing and played a hard cross into the penalty area. Jocelyn Jentsch had timed her run perfectly to meet the ball with an acrobatic volley that smashed the ball into the old onion bag at the near post.
The last goal came in the dying seconds when Tara Stavlic crossed the ball in from the right and Whitney Danner connected to direct the ball goal wards. The goalkeeper saved it but couldn’t keep hold of the ball and Whitney followed up to finish with a simple tap in.
Graceland’s next game is Wednesday, October 2 at Culver-Stockton College in Canton, Mo. at 2:00 p.m.
09-28-04 Clark National Player of the Week
Samantha Clark of Graceland University (Iowa) has been named the NAIA Women’s Soccer Player of the Week for the week ending September 26, 2004.Clark, a 5-foot-8-inch junior goalkeeper from Peculiar, Mo., recorded three shutouts last week for Graceland. Clark led the Yellowjackets to two victories and a 0-0 tie at then No. 1 Lindsey Wilson College (Ky.), recording 15 saves in the game. Graceland has recorded nine consecutive shutouts this season with Clark in goal and has yet to allow a goal this season. The Yellowjackets are 8-0-1 on the season.
Clark was also the Region V and Heart of America Athletic Conference Player of the Week.
Graceland is now 8-0-1, with one tie to the top ranked team in the NAIA, Lindsey Wilson University. The Jackets host Central Methodist University this Homecoming weekend at 5:00 p.m. at The Razz in Lamoni, Iowa.
09-29-04 Graceland Women’s Soccer Team Continues Shut Out Streak
The women’s soccer team beat MidAmerica 11-0 Wednesday night in Olathe, Kan.The Yellowjacket women are currently ranked 9th in the NAIA national polls with a 9-0-1 record.
Graceland hosts Central Methodist University for Homecoming on Saturday, October 2 at 5:00 p.m. at The Razz.
09-28-04 Women’s Soccer Breaks NAIA Top Ten
The NAIA ranked the Graceland University women’s soccer team number nine in the most recent national poll, after a stellar double-overtime 0-0 tie to the top ranked Lindsey Wilson in Kentucky last weekend.The Jackets are now 8-0-1 overall with 61 goals scored and eight shut outs. Zulema Martinez continues to lead the women with 30 total points, including 12 goals and six assists. Sophomore Lara Guscott is trailing close behind with 28 points from 8 goals and 12 assists. Junior goal keeper Samantha Clark has no goals scored against her in 720 minutes of play.
The Jackets host Central Methodist University this Homecoming weekend at 5:00 p.m. at The Razz in Lamoni, Iowa.
09-28-04 Clark Region and HAAC Player of the Week
NAIA's Region V and the Heart of America Athletic Conference has named Graceland’s Samantha Clark Women’s Soccer Player of the Week. Clark, a goal keeper from Peculiar, Mo., recorded three shutouts this week, blocking 35 shots in 235 minutes to lead the Yellowjackets to a 3-0 week. Clark, a five-foot-eight-inch junior, has not allowed a goal in her 7.7 games (720 minutes) played this season.Graceland is now 8-0-1, with one tie to the top ranked team in the NAIA, Lindsey Wilson University. The Jackets host Central Methodist University this Homecoming weekend at 5:00 p.m. at The Razz in Lamoni, Iowa.
09-25-04 Women’s Soccer Ties with the Best
The Graceland University women’s soccer team tied 0-0 with the best team in the nation, Lindsey Wilson University in double overtime Saturday in Tennessee. Prior to the game, Graceland was ranked 11th with a 5-0 record and LWU was first with a 6-0-1 season.Goalkeeper Sam Clark continued the scoreless streak for the Jackets, who have 54 goals scored and no goals conceded.
The Jackets will play Oakland City University in Indiana on Sunday before returning to Iowa.
09-23-04 Jackets Still Perfect
The Graceland women’s soccer team continued their perfect no loss, no goals scored against season Thursday night with a 5-0 win over Benedictine College in Lamoni, Iowa.The Yellowjackets started the game a little slow, scoring just one goal in the first half, but quickly got on track, scoring the remaining four goals in the second period.
The women are now 6-0 overall and 1-0 in the Heart of America Athletic Conference. The NAIA ranked the Yellowjackets as the number 11 team in the nation, and the women are at the top of the Region V rankings.
Tonight the women leave for a trip to Lindsey Wilson College in Kentucky and Oakland City University in Indiana for games on Saturday and Sunday afternoons.
Graceland soccer returns to The Razz for Homecoming on Saturday, October 2, to play conference rival Central Methodist University at 5:00 p.m.
09-22-04 GU Women’s Soccer Inching Their Way To The Top of the NAIA
The Graceland women’s soccer team notched the 11th position in the latest NAIA poll, after last week’s 13th rank and the first week’s 17th spot.The Graceland women are currently ranked in the top spot in the Region V Poll, followed by McKendree College (IL) and conference rivals William Jewell College and Missouri Valley College, respectively.
The Jackets are 5-0, scoring 49 goals, with no goals allowed. Zulema Martinez leads the team in goals scored with eight and Lara Guscott leads in assists with 10.
In the latest conference standings, Martinez leads the HAAC in goals per game (2.0) and individual points per game (5.0). Guscott averages two assists per game to lead the conference and Sam Clark is the only goal keeper in the conference to have no goals scored against her.
As a team, Graceland leads the HAAC in both total goals per game (9.4) and team goals allowed per game (0.0).
The ladies host conference rival Benedictine College on Thursday, September 23 at 5:00 p.m. at The Razz. The men’s game against the Ravens will immediately follow the women’s event.
09-22-04 Sundell HAAC Player of the Week
The Heart of America Athletic Conference named Graceland University’s Amanda Sundell Player of the Week for her performance against Dana College on September 18.Sundell, a junior striker led the Yellowjackets to a 7-0 victory over Dana College with two goals and two assists. The Cheyenne, Wyoming native played only one half as a striker and led the defense in the shut-out in the other half. Graceland is now 5-0-0 on the season.
The Yellowjackets are currently ranked 11th in the NAIA and first in Region V. On Thursday, September 23 the women host a double-header with the men against Benedictine College at 5:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. at The Razz.
09-15-04 Graceland Women’s Soccer #13 in the Nation
In the latest NAIA poll, the Graceland women’s soccer team is ranked number 13 in the Top 25. The Yellowjackets were in the 17th position in the previous poll.Graceland ended the 2003 season in the 17th spot, but was not ranked in the 2004 preseason poll, even though nearly all players from the stellar 17-2-3 season have returned to play for Coach Kevin Sherry.
The Graceland women are currently ranked in the top spot in the Region V Poll, followed by McKendree College (IL) and conference rivals William Jewell and Missouri Valley, respectively.
The Jackets are 4-0 and looking for the 100th win of the women’s soccer program this weekend against Dana College (NE) at 2:00 p.m. at The Razz in Lamoni, Iowa.
09-08-04 Women’s Soccer One Win Away from Century Mark
The Graceland University women’s soccer team beat Grand View College 2-0 Wednesday afternoon in Lamoni, Iowa for the 99th win of the programs’ history. Following today’s game, Graceland’s women’s soccer overall record is 99-93-15.Sophomore Zulema Martinez, who was last week’s Conference Player of the Week scored Graceland’s first goal of the game. Later in the game fellow sophomore Jocelyn Jentsch added the second and final score for the Jackets.
The ladies’ next game is Wednesday, September 15 at Central College in Pella, Iowa at 3:00 p.m.
09-09-04 Martinez NAIA National Player of the Week
Graceland sophomore Zulema Martinez has been named the NAIA Women’s Soccer Player of the Week for the week ending September 5, 2004.Martinez, a five-foot-two-inch forward from Brownsville, Texas, scored five goals in Graceland’s 21-0 win over Mayville State University (N.D.) and one goal in the 8-0 win against Park University (Mo.). The Yellowjackets are 4-0-0 on the season.
Martinez was also the Region V and Heart of America Athletic Conference Player of the Week.
09-08-04 Women’s Soccer 17th in NAIA
The Graceland women’s soccer team is back -- back where they ended last year. In the first regular season poll, the Yellowjackets are ranked 17th in the NAIA, exactly where they ended the 2003 season. Graceland was not ranked in the preseason poll that came out in mid-August.The Jackets are currently 4-0, scoring 40 goals and allowing none.
The women play Dana College next Saturday, September 18 at 2:00 p.m. at The Razz in Lamoni, Iowa. The ladies will be vying for the 100th victory of the women’s soccer program at Graceland University, since its beginning in 1993.
09-08-04 Women’s Soccer One Win Away from Century Mark
The Graceland University women’s soccer team beat Grand View College 2-0 Wednesday afternoon in Lamoni, Iowa for the 99th win of the programs’ history. Following today’s game, Graceland’s women’s soccer overall record is 99-93-15.Sophomore Zulema Martinez, who was last week’s Conference Player of the Week scored Graceland’s first goal of the game. Later in the game fellow sophomore Jocelyn Jentsch added the second and final score for the Jackets.
The ladies’ next game is Saturday, September 18 against Dana College at The Razz in Lamoni, Iowa at 2:00 p.m.
09-07-04 Region and HAAC Names Martinez Player of the Week
Region V named Graceland sophomore forward Zulema Martinez the women’s soccer Player of the Week for her performances against Park University and Mayville State University.Martinez is also the Heart of America Athletic Conference Player of the Week.
She scored six goals and tallied four assists to life the Yellowjackets to a 2-0 week. The Brownsville, Texas native recorded five goals and three assists in a 21-0 rout of Mayville State.
Martinez was a first team all-conference player for the Yellowjackets in 2003, scoring 20 goals with 11 assists for a total of 2.83 points per game.
09-04-04 Graceland Women’s Soccer Scores 21 Goals
On Saturday, September 4, the Graceland women’s soccer program set a school record for most goals (21) in a game and achieving the third highest in NAIA history, in a 21-0 win over a first-year program, Mayville State University from North Dakota.“At half time I put all eight substitutes available on the field, two of who were in the middle of rehab for knee injuries, allowed the clock to keep running on goals scored, and put defenders in forward positions to try to limit the scoring,” says Graceland’s Coach Kevin Sherry. “But unfortunately it did not work.”
Sophomore Zulema Martinez led the attack with five goals, followed by three from Maria Prieto, Lara Guscott and Sabine Schwittay, two from Jocelyn Jentsch and one score by Whitney Danner, Nicole Cummins, Amanda Sundell, Erin Creson and Meghan Dunagan.
Sophomore Lara Guscott had four assists, added to three from Martinez and Jentsch, two from Julia Prohaska, Heidi Beckstrom and Prieto, and one from Misado Inaba, Danner, Dunagan and Reily Madigan. Goalkeeper Samantha Clark shut out the Comets’ scoring.
The Graceland ladies host Grand View College from Des Moines, Iowa, on Wednesday, September 8 at 4:00 p.m. at The Razz in Lamoni, Iowa.
08-24-04 Jackets Shut Out Bayern Munich
The women's soccer team shut out Bayern Munich 7-0 in the final preseason scrimmage of the year.The first regular season soccer games are this Saturday, August 28, with the women's game at 5:00 p.m. and the men's game at 7:00 p.m.
08-28-04 Graceland Soccer Sweeps Home Opener
The Graceland women’s soccer team had no trouble beating Morningside College by a score of 9-0 and the men’s game went to the wire, with the Yellowjackets winning 2-1 on a penalty kick with five minutes remaining in the game.The men’s team travels to Parkville, Mo. on Tuesday, August 31 to play Park University at 7:00 p.m. The women’s team makes the same trip the next day, Wednesday, September 1 to play Park University at 2:00 p.m.
08-16-04 Graceland Student-Athletes Begin Fall Preseason Practices
After two full days of orientation this weekend, Graceland University’s 2004 fall student-athletes began work on the playing fields on Monday, August 16.Student-athletes from the men’s and women’s cross country, football, women’s soccer and women’s volleyball teams started preseason practices early Monday morning and finished late Monday night for the first day of the 2004 season.
Due to anticipated heat, teams are practicing outside early in the morning, hitting the weight room and the swimming pool in the afternoon and return outside for evening workouts.
