I promised in a blog last week that I would wrap up the fall seasons by updating you on the progress of some first-year coaches at SRU… so, here we go!
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Field Hockey: Head coach
Julie Zoolkoski and assistant coach
Megan Eckenrode just wrapped up their first season at SRU. This fall, Slippery Rock posted six wins, the most for the program since 1998, and defeated three nationally ranked teams with two wins over Indiana (Pa.) and a win over C.W. Post.
The team scored 33 goals this season, nearly doubling the 19 produced by SRU last fall. Congratulations to Julie and Megan on their first season.
Also, while we’re sending congratulations to Julie and Megan, I’m happy to say that Julie is currently out of the office getting married and traveling for her honeymoon, and Megan is engaged to be married next summer. Congratulations ladies.
Men’s Soccer: Head coach
Michael Bonelli just wrapped up his first season at SRU. Bonelli led the team to an 11-7-1 overall record and a final ranking of No. 3 in the Atlantic Region. The Rock reached its highest national ranking ever early in the season at No. 9, before a string of injuries and setbacks. Congratulations to Mike on his first season.
• All-Americans:
Jen Harpp earned her second consecutive cross country All-America honor with a 15th place finish at the DII National Championships last weekend. What’s even more impressive, is that Jen only ran three races all year and has been battling a nagging hamstring injury since the end of the cross country season last year. Congrats to Jen for her impressive accomplishment.
While we’re talking All-Americans, congratulations to
Tom Pool of the men’s soccer team for earning his second consecutive nod on the Daktronics All-America team. Tom is also nominated for All-America honors from the National Soccer Coaches Association of America, an honor teammate Greg Blum is also up for.
• All-Region: Harpp, Pool and Blum were just a few of the All-Region selections SRU had this fall. Check out the rest of the All-Region honorees below:
Women’s XC: Harpp, Crystal Burnick
Football: C.J. Bahr, Brandon Fusco, Robert Doiley, Zach Sheridan, Akeem Satterfield
Men’s Soccer: Blum, Pool, Mitch Walters
Women’s Soccer: Alison Hindley, Danielle Turner, Emer Flatley
• Snow, snow and more snow: Depending on where you’re at, you might have been hit with this wonderful snow… for a look at how much snow we got here in Slippery Rock over the last three days, check out this photo of the picnic tables outside of Rocky’s Grill here on campus. Thanks to Mitch Walters from the men’s soccer team for taking that photo.
While we’re talking about snow, I’ll take a moment to wish everyone a safe and happy holiday season. Safe travels to all the students heading home after finals in the next couple weeks!
That’s all for me, for now.
Go Rock!
Jon Holtz
Assistant SID
