Soccer seasons come to a close

By: Dylan DeWitt
Email: @dd_witt

The Findlay Oilers Soccer programs closed out their season this past weekend, but not before creating some memorable victories, moments, and records along the way. 

The men`s program would end their season with five wins on the year. None bigger than the defending Great Midwest Champions, the Fighting Scots, and #6 in the nation when they visited the Oilers at home. The Oilers entered the game as underdogs to the visiting Fighting Scots but the Oilers would go on to defend their home turf and take a 2-0 victory.  Both goals came in late from Oilers Josh Burton and Josh Dickinson.

In the week of Oct. 15, the Oilers received news that Nathan Sier was voted Player of the Week in the conference for his outstanding efforts of two games against Kentucky Wesleyan and Tiffin. In those games, he did not allow a single goal throughout 174 minutes of play guarding the net. Another notable player was Jack Atkinson who was most recently named to the all-conference team as an honorable mention recipient. The team will be losing five seniors this year in Nathan Schmitt, Andrew Bricker, Connor Lynch, Josh Burton, and Nathan Sier.

On the women`s side, the team began their season at a quick start setting themselves up for a great season. They would go on to have an 11 win season and the most that the UF’s women`s soccer team has had since 2000. The team also were honored to have four players win awards for their play. Oliva Frank would go on to be Great Midwest Freshman of the Year, and teammates Megan Kupetz and Shannon Marsh would gather second team all-conference honors. Anna Money would receive honorable mention honors.

Before falling to the reigning champions in 2017 in the semifinals of the conference championships, the team had a season to remember under new head coach Jimmy Walker. In order to understand the improvement of the team, from 2015-2017, the women`s program combined for a total of 12 wins in three seasons. The turnaround is something that the program will continue to build off in the years to come under Coach Walker.

The awards and noteworthy news does not just end with the wins and all-conference awards. Over the course of the season, the women Oilers would have three players nominated to the G-MAC Player of the Week honors. Shannon Marsh, Anna Money, and Lindsay Ahbe would be nominated for their efforts on the field.

The women`s team will also be losing seniors with Brianna Klaus, Megan Kupetz, Karis DeWalt, and Claire Lasceski all graduating.