Barger named to All-MIAA team
By SARAH RYKOWSKI
Sports Writer
Senior co-captain Katy Barger was elected to the All-MIAA First Team Nov. 9, becoming the first Belle in Saint Mary's history to be named to either the First or Second Team All-MIAA in soccer.
"Katy Barger is one of the best players to ever pass through the doors of [Saint Mary's College]," head coach Jason Milligan said. "She possesses talent that would place her among the best players in the nation."
Barger scored eight goals and made nine assists during the 1999 season. She finished the season with 25 points. Barger also made the MIAA League Leaders list for her assists.
"Katy is a phenomenal player," fellow honoree Heather Muth said. "She's been a huge inspiration to me all year. She's one of the most dedicated players I have ever played with. Her positive attitude really helped our team achieve a successful season. I think it says a lot about her as a player that she not only accomplished individual goals but assisted her teammates in achieving theirs."
Barger also scored more shots than any other member of the team, with 111 of the team's season total of 400. The center midfielder scored two goals (one was a diving header) and had one assist against Goshen College on Oct. 3.
Barger also had a hand in all five goals in the shutout against Defiance College on October 23. In that game, Barger scored one goal and then made four of her nine season assists.
"Barger works really hard," fellow honoree and senior co-captain Rachel Egger said.
Egger, Muth and Mary Campe were named to the All-MIAA Coaches' Honorable Mention.
"I think it says a lot about our team that even though we finished fifth in the conference we still got recognition," Barger said. "[The fact that] some of us did receive conference honors is a tribute to the whole team. [Soccer] is a team effort. We really had a successful year."
Primarily a defensive player, Egger also scored two goals this season on seven shots.
"I love our team," Egger said. "I love playing with all of the girls. I was very lucky. Jared [Hochstetler, the assistant and defensive coach] inspired me on and off the field."
With goalie Brie Gershick, Egger and her defensive teammates allowed only 26 goals off of 192 shots, and held for eight shutouts.
"Rachel really did a great job as far as holding the defense together," Milligan said. "Her leadership on the team this year has been wonderful. She always brings a smile and a good work ethic to practice."
Campe, a freshman, moved to forward from defense early in the season.
She finished second behind Barger with 45 scoring attempts, four of which she completed to score.
"Mary did an outstanding job," Milligan said. "She's a freshman this year and we look for her to do an outstanding job in the future."
Muth, also a freshman, finished the season with two goals and one assist. She is credited with the 1-0 win against Adrian on September 25. The game was scoreless until Muth got past the Adrian defense with two minutes left in the second overtime. In a one-on-one with Adrian goalie Sarah Moulik, Muth shot the ball across the goal from the left side into the upper right-hand corner for the win.
"Heather Muth will be the next star at [Saint Mary's College]," Milligan said. "She has a wonderful attitude and will achieve a great deal while she is here."
Barger and Egger both made the Coaches' Honorable Mention squad in 1998, along with current seniors Liz Coley and co-captain Erin McCabe, junior Laura Paulen, and sophomores Katy Robinson and Jessica Klink.
"It's a great honor because this season was fun and we worked hard," Campe said. "I think this is the beginning of a great future for Saint Mary's soccer."
All Sports Stories for Friday, November 12, 1999
