Wittenberg University Women’s Soccer Team Makes The Most Of Diverse European Experience

Wittenberg women's soccer student-athletes pose in the Alps, en route to Hitler's former hideaway, Eagle's Nest.

SPRINGFIELD, Ohio — A trademark of all winning teams is resiliency, the ability to face down challenges and emerge from adversity with a positive energy and renewed sense of purpose. Reflecting on their experiences after a whirlwind trip to Europe earlier this month, Wittenberg University Women's Soccer Head Coach Norm Riker and Assistant Coach Heather Lipp are certain their team has what it takes to put together another outstanding season in 2005.

"This was an incredible experience for our team," said Riker, who plans to take his team overseas once every three years, the minimum number of years between trips allowed by the NCAA. "The resiliency of our players to accept different cultures and different foods, endure a lack of sleep and lots of physical activity and also overcome obstacles along the way says a great deal about their character, both individually and as a group."

The goal is to give every student-athlete who makes a four-year commitment to the Wittenberg University women's soccer program the best cultural, educational and athletic experiences possible during their collegiate careers. Riker said that despite some missteps along the way — the team got lost several times while driving three vans and had to alter plans on other occasions as landmarks weren't open when the tour group expected them to be — everyone on the trip made the most of the experience.

"The girls kept their sense of humor throughout, and they showed a respect for one another and an ability to deal with 'adversity'," said Riker, who has a three-year record of 25-26-6 at Wittenberg. "This trip truly helped us prepare for the upcoming season. It brought us closer than we thought we could become."

Wittenberg finished 11-4-5 overall in 2004 and 5-3 in the North Coast Athletic Conference regular season, good for third place behind two of the top 15 teams in the nation in the final rankings. The Tigers won the first NCAC Tournament game in school history, upsetting second-seeded Denison on penalty kicks, and lost 1-0 to perennial powerhouse Ohio Wesleyan in the tournament title game three nights later.

The Tigers pose with their host team from Landshut, Germany, after a match.

They did it with a young team, featuring a starting lineup with nine freshmen or sophomores in it. After nearly a decade of mediocrity, the Tigers set a school record with five ties, tied a school-record with 11 shutouts and earned the most wins in a single season since the 1995 team went 15-3 and finished second in the NCAC.

The trip included 18 student-athletes, a student staff member, Riker and Lipp. The Tigers spent a couple of days training in Springfield before departing for a trip that focused on all aspects of what a college team is about – camaraderie, competition and educational experiences.

After nearly 24 hours of travel, the tour group arrived in Munich, Germany, on Aug. 5 and hit the ground running. The Tiger women's soccer team was part of a crowd numbering more than 66,000 as Bayern Munich, one of the most successful professional teams in Europe and a member of the Bundesliga, the highest division of German professional soccer, played the first game at Allianz Arena, a new stadium that will play host to the 2006 World Cup Tournament. Bayern Munich defeated Borussia M'gladbach, which featured U.S. National Team goalkeeper Kasey Keller, by a 3-0 score.

Over the next few days, the Tigers compiled an impressive 2-0-1 record against local club teams. On Aug. 6, Wittenberg tied a club team from Landshut, Germany, 3-3 on an unusual artificial turf playing surface. Two days later, the Tigers defeated their host team from Rosenhein, Germany, 6-0. The games wrapped up with a 2-1 victory over a quality team from Augsburg, Germany, on Aug. 9.

Lisa Rusch of Columbus, Ohio, class of 2008, scored goals in all three games to lead the Tigers offensively, while Sidney Bates of Loveland, Ohio, class of 2008, scored a pair of goals against Rosenhein and Amy Meige of Columbus, Ohio, class of 2008, had dazzling scores against Rosenhein and Augsburg.

(From left) Liz Volz, Lindsay Zigler, Phoebe Gaston and Jamie McIntyre pose near Venice, Italy.

Riker made sure that his players didn't just play games or run through boring practice sessions, however. After travelling to Vincenza, Italy, on Aug. 10, the Tigers participated in a training run through the picturesque city piazza the next morning and then played a beach soccer game in nearby Venice on Aug. 12.

Each day was also filled with educational opportunities. The team toured the scenic Austrian cities of Salzburg and Innsbruck, as well as Venice and Munich. The players also experienced Eagle's Nest, the mountain hideaway of Adolf Hitler, in three inches of snow, and the Nazi concentration camp at Dachau in southern Germany. The players kept journals of their experiences.

Also participating were former team goalkeeper and student staff member Eileen Quinn of Glenview, Ill., class of 2005, Meghan O'Rourke of Columbus, Ohio, Rachel Morgan of Cincinnati, Ohio, Lindsey Rusch of Columbus, Ohio, Stephanie Sharp of West Chester, Ohio, Melissa Ketterman of Cincinnati, Ohio, Amanda Farrell of Loveland, Ohio, Abby Vanderbosch of Delaware, Ohio, all class of 2008; Liz Volz of Cincinnati, Ohio, Jamie McIntyre of Columbus, Ohio, Courtney Burchett of Indianapolis, Ind., Phoebe Gaston of Cincinnati, Ohio, Stacy Fennell of Dayton, Ohio, Kelly Kreiger of Fairborn, Ohio, all class of 2007; and Lindsay Zigler of Columbus, Ohio, Melissa Gallion of West Jefferson, Ohio and Emily Hiscar of Pataskala, Ohio, all class of 2006.

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