Sixteen Westminster College student-athletes have been named to the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SLIAC) All-Academic Team. The recipients were members of the 2008 fall varsity cross country, soccer and volleyball squads. Other selection criteria include: (1) Minimum 3.5 cumulative grade point average, (2) At least sophomore academic standing and (3) Have at least one full year at Westminster (first year transfers and true freshmen are not eligible).

Men’s Cross Country: Josh Ray, Sr., West Plains, Mo./West Plains, English/Psychology.

Women’s Cross Country: Jillian Bone, Jr., Imperial, Mo./Seckman, Accounting/Religious Studies; Lauren Brohammer, Jr., Wentzville, Mo./St. Dominic, Elementary Education/Spanish.

Men’s Soccer: Kurt Boardsen, So., Moberly, Mo./Moberly, Secondary Education/Mathematics; Jeff Chacko, So., Little Rock, Ark./Catholic, Undeclared; Logan Ray, So., West Plains, Mo./West Plains, Biology; Nenad Stamatovic, Sr., Vukovar, Croatia, Mathematical Sciences; Michael Tulley, Jr., Ballwin, Mo./Marquette, Undeclared.

Women’s Soccer: Meaghan Barron, So., St. Louis, Mo./Ursuline Academy, Elementary Education/Early Childhood Education; Maegan Buzzetta, Jr., Hazelwood, Mo./Hazelwood West, Education/Science/Social Studies; Alex Johnson, So., St. Louis, Mo./Clayton, Political Science/Pre-Law.

Volleyball: Danielle Bazan, So., St. Louis, Mo./Villa Duchesne, Biochemistry/Pre-Pharmacy; Shanna Crafts, Jr., St. Peters, Mo./Francis Howell Central, History/Pre-Law; Emily Crohare, So., Snelling, Calif./Livingston, Sport Psychology/Biomechanics; Elizabeth Jansen, Sr., Bonnots Mill, Fatima, Psychology/Leadership Studies; Katie Morfeld, Jr., Linn, Mo./Linn, Environmental Science.

Five Westminster College Soccer Players Named All-SLIAC

Five Westminster College soccer players have earned all-conference honors as voted on by the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference coaches.

Brandon Blasé, Ryan Orf and Taylor Webb have been named to the all-conference first team for a Westminster men’s team that finished 8-8-1 overall and fifth in the league at 4-4. Blasé, a senior defender from St. Charles, Missouri (Duchesne High School), is named to the first team for the second consecutive year. Blasé appeared in all 17 matches and finished the season with four goals and four assists. Orf, a junior midfielder from St. Charles, Missouri (Duchesne High School), is a first-time honor winner. Orf led the team in goals (11) and points (22). Webb, a sophomore goalie from Jefferson City, Missouri (Jefferson City High School), is a two-time honor winner after receiving honorable mention recognition as a freshman. Webb played the entire season in goal and finished with an 8-8-1 record, a 1.66 goals against average, 103 saves and four shut outs.

Meaghan Barron was named to the first team and Caity Zielinski earned second team recognition for a Westminster women’s team that finished 4-11-1 overall and tied for seventh in the league at 1-6-1. Barron, a sophomore midfielder from St. Louis, Missouri (Ursuline Academy), is being recognized for the second time after earning second team honors as a freshman. Barron led the team in goals (11), points (23) and game-winning goals (2). Zielinski, a sophomore defender from St. Louis, Missouri (Notre Dame High), receives second-team accolades for the second year in a row. Zielinski appeared in all 16 matches and recorded an assist.

Blue Jay Men Win Season Finale, Finish Season At 8-8-1

Although the team had been eliminated from the conference tournament field earlier in the week, the Westminster College men's soccer team closed out the season with a 4-3 St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference win over Eureka College Sunday in Fulton. The Blue Jays conclude the season 8-8-1 overall and fifth in the conference standings at 4-4.

Westminster jumped on top 2-0 in the first half on goals by Brandon Blase and Ryan Orf. Early in the second half Orf recorded his second goal of the game. Following a Eureka goal, Orf completed the hat trick by scoring his team-high 11th goal of the season. Eureka (4-16, 1-7 SLIAC) found the net twice in the closing minutes, but the Blue Jays held on for a win in the final career contest for Blase and fellow senior Nenad Stamatovic.

Westminster Blue Jays Get Much-Needed SLIAC Victories

Both Westminster College soccer teams both got much-needed wins, sweeping a St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference doubleheader from MacMurray College Saturday in Jacksonville, Illinois.

The Blue Jay women (4-9-1, 1-4-1 SLIAC) snapped a three-match losing streak with a 4-1 victory over the MacMurray women (1-12-1, 0-7-0 SLIAC). Jen Brotherton score two first-half goals, sandwiched around a Meaghan Barron goal to put Westminster up 3-0 at halftime. Barron added a second goal in the second half to round out the scoring. Barron has now scored a team-high nine goals this season.

The Westminster men (7-7-1, 3-3-0 SLIAC) recorded their fourth shut out of the season with a 4-0 win over the MacMurray men (2-15, 0-7 SLIAC). Jeff Chacko and Brandon Blase found the net in the first half, while Brady Weinhold and Matt Weber scored in the second half.

Blue Jay Soccer Teams Go 0-1-1 In Non-Conference Action

The Westminster College soccer squads went 0-1-1 against Greenville College in non-conference soccer action Wednesday in Fulton.
 
The Westminster women (3-7-1) fell behind early in a 6-1 loss. Greenville (10-5) grabbed a 3-0 lead in the first 19 minutes of play, before the Blue Jays got on the board. In the 29th minute, Meaghan Barron scored her team-high eighth goal of the season for Westminster. But, Greenville tallied three second-half goals to round out the scoring.

Westminster (6-6-1) and Greenville (8-2-3) played through regulation and two 10-minute overtime periods, but had to settle for a 2-2 tie in the men's contest. Greenville took a 1-0 lead in the eighth minute, but Sean Peterson got the equalizer for the Blue Jays in the 19th minute and the teams went to intermission deadlocked 1-1. Greenville grabbed a one-goal advantage in the 69th minute, but Westminster's Brady Weinhold knotted the contest in the 80th minute, setting the stage for two scoreless overtime frames.

Both Blue Jay teams play conference matches Saturday against Principia College in Fulton. The contests were originally scheduled for 5:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m., but the games have been moved up four hours, with the women's contest beginning at 1:00. The men follow at 3:00.

Orf Named Men's Soccer Player Of The Week By Conference

Westminster College’s Ryan Orf has earned St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Player of the Week honors for the week of September 29-October 5.

Orf, a 5-9 junior midfielder from St. Charles, Missouri (Duchesne High School), has been named the SLIAC Men's Soccer Player of the Week. Orf scored four goals in three non-conference matches last week. He scored the lone goal in a 5-1 loss to Columbia College and added two goals in a 3-1 victory over Harris-Stowe State University. Finally, he tallied one goal in a 3-0 Blue Jay win over Monmouth College (Illinois).

Westminster Scores Enough In First Half For Victory

Westminster College scored three first-half goals in a 3-0 non-conference men’s soccer win over Monmouth College Saturday in Monmouth, Illinois.

Jeff Chacko scored the first goal and the game winner in the ninth minute. Ryan Orf found the net in the 12th minute and Nenad Stamatovic scored in the 25th minute for a Blue Jay squad which stands 6-6 on the season. Taylor Webb recorded six saves in the shut out win over Monmouth (1-8).

Blue Jays Rally In Second Half For 3-1 Win In St. Louis

Westminster College scored a pair of second-half goals to defeat Harris-Stowe State University 3-1 in men’s non-conference soccer Thursday in St. Louis.

Ryan Orf scored in the first half, enabling the Blue Jays (5-6-0) to enter intermission tied 1-1 with Harris-Stowe (4-8-0). Nenad Stamatovic tallied the game-winner and Orf netted his team-high seventh goal of the season to round out the scoring. Taylor Webb recorded a pair of saves to earn his fifth win of the season in goal.

Westminster plays its third non-conference match in five days Saturday, facing Monmouth College (1-7-0) at 1:00 p.m. in Monmouth, Illinois.

Westminster Gives Up Early Goal In Non-Conference Loss

Westminster College surrendered a goal in the first minute and could not recover in dropping a 5-1 non-conference men’s soccer decision to Columbia College Tuesday in Columbia.

The Blue Jays (4-6) fell behind 2-0 before Ryan Orf broke through with his team-leading fifth goal of the season to cut the deficit to 2-1 at intermission. But, Columbia (3-5-1) came back with a pair of goals to take a commanding lead and added a goal in the final seconds for the final margin.

Westminster plays two more non-conference road matches this week, traveling to St. Louis Thursday to face Harris-Stowe State College. The Blue Jays play at Monmouth College Saturday in Monmouth, Illinois.

Orf Finds The Net Twice In Westminster's 2-0 SLIAC Win

Ryan Orf scored twice in Westminster College's 2-0 St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference men's soccer win over Blackburn College Saturday in Fulton.
 
Orf, who leads the team with four goals this season, found the net in the 22nd and 48th minutes as the Blue Jays improved to 4-5 overall and 2-2 in conference play. Taylor Webb picked up the win in goal and recorded his second shut out of the season. Blackburn is now 4-2 overall and 1-1 in league play.

Athletic Events Highlight Of Westminster Family Weekend

The Westminster College campus will be abuzz at the end of the week because of Family Weekend. And many of the activities are Blue Jay intercollegiate athletic events.

The weekend activities begin at 3:30 p.m. Friday with the intrasquad tennis scrimmage. At 7:00 p.m. Friday, the Family Weekend Pep Rally, sponsored by the Westminster Cheerleaders, will be held at Latshaw Plaza.

Four Westminster athletic teams compete in St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference action Saturday, including the volleyball, football, women’s soccer and men’s soccer squads (see schedule below).

2008 Westminster College Family
Weekend Athletic Schedule

Fri., Sept. 26
Tennis Intrasquad Scrimmage, Home, 3:30
Family Weekend Pep Rally, Latshaw Plaza, 7:00
Sat., Sept. 27
* Volleyball vs. Maryville, Home, 10:30
* Football vs. Eureka, Home, 1:00
* Volleyball vs. MacMurray, Home, 2:30
* Women’s Soccer vs. Blackburn, Home, 5:00
* Men’s Soccer vs. Blackburn, Home, 7:00
* SLIAC Contests

Westminster Soccer Fortunes Have Changed Since Strong Start

After achieving some early season success, the Westminster College soccer squads have found the going a bit rough in league play, with both squads falling on the road to Fontbonne University in St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference play Wednesday in St. Louis.

The Blue Jay women (2-6-0. 0-3-0 SLIAC) opened the season 2-1, but have since dropped five matches in a row. The most recent loss came Wednesday in St. Louis, when Fontbonne (5-3-1, 1-0-0 SLIAC) jumped out to a 2-0 lead at intermission and handed Westminster a 4-0 defeat.

In men’s action, Westminster (3-5-0, 1-2-0 SLIAC) and Fontbonne (3-6-0, 1-0-0 SLIAC) battled through a scoreless first half. Fontbonne won the second half and the match, 2-1. Ryan Orf tallied his team-tying second goal of the season for a Blue Jay squad which has loss each of its last two conference matches by one goal.

First Half Lead Not Enough For Blue Jays In SLIAC Loss

After winning back-to-back one goal matches earlier in the week, the Westminster College men's soccer squad let an early one-goal lead slip away in a 2-1 St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference loss to Greenville College Saturday in Greenville, Illinois.
 
The Blue Jays (3-4-0, 1-1-0 SLIAC) grabbed the first lead of the match and led at intermission 1-0 on a goal by Brandon Blase. Greenville (6-0-1, 2-0-0 SLIAC) rallied for two second half scores to remain undefeated and retain a share of the conference lead.
 
Westminster Men Capture Conference Opener, Women Fall

Brady Weinhold scored from 30-yards out in the 49th minute, lifting the Westminster College men’s soccer squad to a 1-0 victory over Webster University in its St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference opener Thursday in Fulton.

The Blue Jays (3-3-0, 1-0-0 SLIAC) got solid defensive play in goal from Taylor Webb, who finished with five saves in recording the shut out. Michael Tulley recorded an open-goal save to aid in the win over the Gorloks (1-4-1, 1-1-0 SLIAC).

In women’s action, Webster shut out Westminster, 3-0. Blue Jay goal keeper Katie Jolliff recorded 17 saves in the loss which drops Westminster to 2-3-0 overall and 0-1-0 in conference play. League leading Webster is now 6-2-0 overall and 2-0-0 in conference action.

Westminster Blue Jays Split Non-Conference Doubleheader

Westminster College got mixed results in its final tune-up prior to the start of conference play, splitting a non-conference doubleheader with Central Methodist University Monday in Fulton.
 
The Blue Jay women (2-2) were out shot 25-4 in dropping a 4-0 decision to their CMU counterparts, with Natalie Rolph and Summer Rohe putting the Eagles on top 2-0 in the first 15 minutes. Lauren Robb added two goals to round out the scoring for Central Methodist (5-3).
 
Although the Westminster men (2-3) were out shot 22-11, JP Thompson and Jeff Chacko tallied goals to lift the Blue Jays to a 2-1 come-from-behind win. Paulo Vaz gave Central Methodist (4-2-1) the early 1-0 lead, but Westminster goalie Taylor Webb recorded eight saves and defender Brady Weinhold came up with an empty net save to help key the Blue Jay win.
 
Westminster begins St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference play against Webster University Thursday in Fulton. The women tip off at 5:00, followed by the men at 7:00.

Men's Match Cancelled Because Of Bad Weather Threat

The Westminster College men’s soccer match with Missouri Baptist University, scheduled for 7:00 p.m. Thursday, September 11, has been cancelled because of the threat of rain, thunder and lightening. The match has not been rescheduled at this time.

Blue Jays Drop Non-Conference Pair Sunday At Home

Both Westminster College soccer squads found the going rough Sunday, falling to McKendree University in non-conference action in Fulton.

The Blue Jay women (1-1) recorded just two shots in dropping an 8-0 decision, while Matt Shoults scored off a corner kick from Brady Weinhold for Westminster’s only goal in the men’s 4-1 loss.

Both Blue Jay teams return to action this week. The women host Ozark Christian at 5:00 p.m. Wednesday and the men host Missouri Baptist at 7:00 p.m. Thursday.

Westminster Men Upend Washington University 2-1

Nenad Stamatovic and Brandon Blasé scored back-to-back second-half goals to lift the Westminster College men past Washington University in non-conference soccer action Saturday in Fulton.

Following a scoreless first half, Stamatovic headed in a ball from Brady Weinhold in the 47th minute for the game’s first goal. Seven minutes later, Blasé scored what proved to be the winning goal for the Blue Jays (1-2). Washington University (1-2) scored its lone goal in the 66th minute and came up short on a few late scoring opportunities.

Washington University out shot Westminster 15-5 and led in corner kicks 10-3, but the Blue Jay men took advantage of their scoring chances and got six saves from goalie Taylor Webb.

Blue Jays Fall To 0-2 With Second One-Goal Loss

The Westminster College men's soccer squad fell to 0-2 on the season, dropping a 1-0 decision to the University of the South Sunday in the final day of the Birmingham Southern Classic in Birmingham, Alabama.
 
Westminster was out shot 22-6 in the match with the University of the South (2-0) and managed just two shots in the second half.

Westminster Drops Season Opener At Birmingham Southern

The Westminster College men’s soccer squad took the first lead of the game, but could not hold off Birmingham Southern College, falling 2-1 in overtime Friday evening in the season opener for both squads in Birmingham, Alabama.

Junior Ryan Orf scored on an assist from freshman JP Thompson to put the Blue Jays (0-1-0) on top 1-0 in the 53rd minute. Birmingham Southern (1-0-0) tied the score in the 59th minute and won the match in the eighth minute of overtime on Garner Shivers’ second goal of the match.

Westminster, which was outshot 14-9 and had just two shots on goal in the loss, faces The University of the South at 12 noon Monday in Birmingham.

Blue Jay Men Fourth, Women Sixth In Preseason Soccer Polls

The Westminster College men are picked fourth and the women sixth in the preseason polls of St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference soccer coaches.

The Westminster men finished 10-10 overall last year and tied for second in the league standings at 7-2. Defending conference champion Principia College is the unanimous choice to win the 2008 men's race followed by 2. Fontbonne University; 3. Webster University; 4. Westminster; T-5. Greenville College; T-5. Maryville University; 7. Blackburn College; T-8. Eureka College; and T-8. MacMurray College.

Westminster ended the 2007 women's season with a 4-12 overall mark and placed sixth in the league standings at 3-5. Defending conference tournament champion Webster University is picked first in the women's poll followed by 2. Principia; 3. Maryville; 4. Fontbonne; 5. Greenville; 6. Westminster; 7. Eureka; 8. Blackburn; and 9. MacMurray.

Preseason Practice Begins This Week At Westminster College

The 2008-09 Westminster College athletic season gets underway this week when student-athletes from four intercollegiate teams report for preseason practice.

Football players are the first to report, arriving on campus Thursday, August 14. Following orthopedic physicals and dinner, the team will meet for its first practice at 6:30 p.m. Thursday evening. The Blue Jays host The University of the South in their home and season opener at 1:00 p.m. Saturday, September 6.

The members of the Westminster volleyball squad arrive for preseason practice on Sunday, August 17. The Blue Jays open the season at the Illinois College Tournament on August 30 and 31 in Jacksonville, Illinois.

Soccer players on both the men's and women's squads arrive on Sunday, August 17. The Westminster men open the season against Birmingham Southern on August 29 in Birmingham, Alabama. The Blue Jay women open on the road at Wisconsin Lutheran on September 2 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.