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Show .SDAY, AUGUST 27, 2008 athletics can now Womens soccer wins one iialify for postseason of three preseason games ,TVLER P the Our administrative team has played a pivotal role in the development of policies and procedures that has allowed us to be considered for full membership, Irvin said. The significance of everything we have in place cannot be overstat- ROBERTS Sports Editor Sun ie National Athletic Ration has waived ,iate 50. kled two nal aid. on years of Colleges State membership, athletic ing , ,, to qualify for post-,j0nal ute the this play- n ed. DSC currently sponsors 12 athletic programs that include football, mens and womens basketball, womens volleyball, mens and womens soccer, baseball, softball, mens and womens cross country, womens tennis and mens golf. According to a press release, Irvin said the change will help DSC enhance the experience of its athletes. This announcement signifies the changing of the guard from a historical perspective to a new management system that emphasizes the quality of education and athletic experience for our Irvin said. - past two years Jletic programs ;oing the they , able to jeen ew com-jth- e NCAA level, but they ,ion jot been able to or a conference pionship or a ial title in their dive sports. All ,s that make the 1 5 II eri- - of the le ington yat a junior colNCAA college o through this pro-i- from linsta oan im al y. ; membership will vhere non, but normally ikes four years, not here C started its :ot in nt transi-iac- k 2005-200- 6 .exploratory ale is h, and usion will mem-ftheNCA- At the of that season studen- t-athletes, tovisional period culminating when Director Dexter announced on July .108, the last two uonal years had well. N, DUt :tic look- eom- DIXIE SUN - 5 )SC 2008 3s SPORTS - d. waived. According release, Irvin ,.:ed the success to ambers of his h .:ss ome- - hope Additionally, community service and student welfare, which are two core values of NCAA Division II membership, will bring us full circle in our ability to provide a quality experience for the students of Dixie State College. Charmaine Piula, assis staff. tant womens basketball coach, said the change will help the athletes be more motivated. Piula said, I think it will motivate them to play harder because now they know they have a chance to go to the conference tournament and even win it. Erika Mouritsen, a sophomore undecided major from Wellsville and member of the women's soccer team, also said it will help the athletes with motivation. If we win conference we get an automatic bid to nationals, Mouritsen said. Knowing youre the best in your conference is a feeling. Before we just played to make a statement, for pride, but now we have something to work towards. Irvin said he is anxious to see the impact and how the athletic teams will tackle their new challenge. Our history in athletics is rich and has played a significant role in our community and our institution, Irvin said. The junior college national championships and conference titles will forever impact our memories, but we are very excited about this new quest that lies ahead of us. pro Jens soccer team ready to tart HOLLAND hie Sun its inaugural season expecting the team to be competitive in their OLSEN Staff Writer first year of play behind a solid defense. Our defense will be good, so the question will be can we score, Ortiz said. But if our AA defense is that good Division II pro-we wont need to score training for the many goals to win. Irvin said excitement 'loming season has eady and interest are high and begun, will be the athletic around competing he first time in the department. ;fic West We anticipate an ference. exciting year for all tead Coach Danny sports but are especialaddi-tio- n "a is aware of the ly excited for the Unities that face of mens soccer, Nn said. Irvin a new starting Tam. Even though this is said one of the the first year for DSC Jkst to have an official things so far mens soccer team, j;he team has been there are several playbating students to tstand the game at ers who bring experience from last years j, Colligate level. Mother club team. has been get-There are also severPlayers in the classes for play- al junior college transfer students who will Eligibility. '.Athletics Director bring knowledge and ter Irvin said maturity to the new 'other problem was program. Certification of the DSC now has the Sayers. Irvin said only intercollegiate Jicrs have mens soccer team in not Tied on Utah. Ortiz said this playing AA soccer in Utah, will help the program xbecause players always Jetting them been a chal- dream about playing at Tge. the collegiate level, jld and being the only is Ortiz rneS' gardless, Dixie State lege mens soccer is taking the field 'the first time this as an official "knew 3i n. ;1' M t ( certi-jl(lh- d as school in Utah with an NCAA soccer program will be good for recruiting. While DSC is the only team in Utah and one of six in the states of Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Nevada, Arizona and New Mexico, Ortiz still expects the team to recruit heavily in Utah. The PacWest Conference has a total of seven schools that compete in mens soccer. DSC will have 18 preseason and season games, but will also have a shot in the playoffs now that the probation period has been lifted. The team will be in action for the first time on Friday when they travel to Westminster College for preseason play. They will have three games over the week end starting with a tough squad from Montana State University-Billing- s. They then play the Red and White intrasquad 13 at 5 game on Sept. p.m. at Hansen Stadium. They start regular season play on BYU Sept. 25 against Hawaii. BY BROCK BYBEE Dixie Sun Staff Wi iter The Dixie State College womens soccer team will 3egin the first year of eligible competition this year with high expectations placed on this years players. Head coach Linda Huddleston said she is rappy about the number of returning players. Mikala Wilkes and Erika Mouritsen, some of tire eading scorers in the conference, combined with the solid defense that we have, think we are looking great for this year, she said. Tire team looked in good shape through the preseason as they started tilings tie against the with a Runnin Rebels of UNLV on Aug. 14. Two days ater, sparks flew at Hansen Stadium as tire current roster blew out the DSC Soccer Alumni 10-- 0 in a 1- -1 scrimmage that evening. I was very impressed with the way that our girls played these past few games, Huddleston said. We matched the intensity with UNLV and played tough up north against UVU. I only think that we can build upon those efforts and open the season in a positive direction. After finishing Are preset with a loss son at Utah to Valley f ;'f Friday University, DSC is now looking to kick tilings off with their first regular season game Thursday on the road against Montana State University-Billing- s. Following a road trip bouncing around the West Coast, DSC will return to St. George for their home and conference opener against the BYU-Hawa- ii Seasiders on Sept. six-ga- . 25. This year I feel that the competition will be more Jessica Nelson Mortensen, a junior integrated studies major from St. George, races to steal the ball during the Alumni game. The next home game will be Sept. 25 intense, more tough, but I also feel that we are going to step up and be awesome this year, and compared to last year, we will now have the ability to play for a ' ' ; ' championship, Huddleston said. That is one of my biggest excite-- f ments. DSC finished last year at in overall, conference play, finishing second in the PacWest Conference despite the fact they were still on athletic probation by the NCAA for their transfer from the junior college level to Division II. However, with many of the factors from last years success suiting up again this fall, DSC looks to step even higher than the previous season. With the team returning, the mechanics that we had from last year, the leading conference scorer also coming back, I feel that our future is bright, said Jeff Cluff, coordinator for DSC athletics. I think that we should very seriously contend for the conference title this year. Huddleston said they out of were a half-gam-e last the title year, taking and they can only do better. It is going to be a great season, and we cant wait for everyone to come out to Hansen Stadium and cheer for us week in and week out, she said. 15-4- -1 10-2- -1 |