Ziesemer Accepts 2002 NCCAA Women's Soccer Coach of the Year Award

SALEM -- Western Baptist's head women's soccer coach Marty Ziesemer has received the 2002 NCCAA Division I Coach of the Year award in a presentation at the National Soccer Coaches Association of America's annual convention in Kansas City, Mo., Jan. 17. Ziesemer was selected the top coach among the nation's 53 institutions affiliated with the NCCAA Division I.

Last fall, Ziesemer guided his Warriors to the NCCAA women's soccer championship match and directed the team to their best record in history, finishing 19-8 overall. He also led his team to the title game of the 2002 NAIA Region I tournament.

In November, Western lost to Malone (Ohio) in the championship match of the NCCAA tournament in overtime, 2-1. It was the third time in four years the Warriors finished runner-up in their national title bid, falling in overtime on all three occasions.

In seven seasons at Western Baptist, Ziesemer's teams have a mark of 84-73-5.

Three Western Baptist players were named to the 2002 NCCAA Division I All-American team including KeriAnn Lawson (Oregon City, Ore. / Molalla HS), Sarah Riojas (SR, Yakima, Wash. / West Valley HS) and Julie Baird (SO, Lake Oswego, Ore. / Lakeridge HS).

Lawson smashed the program's single-season scoring record she set a year ago with 101 points (38 goals, 25 assists) in 2002. The 5-foot-3 forward had six game-winning scores and tallied three or more goals five times. Just a junior, Lawson is Western's career scoring leader with 213 points (81 goals, 51 assists).

Riojas transferred to Western Baptist for her senior season to be closer to home after playing three years at The Master's College (Calif.). She completed her collegiate career with 74 goals and 38 assists. Riojas set the second-highest single season scoring mark at Western Baptist with 68 points (22 goals, 24 assists) in 2002. At forward, she delivered four game-winning goals for WB.

Baird came to Western this season after playing as a freshman at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. She solidified the Warrior midfield and backfield and was a key in helping the team score a program-best 109 goals this season. Baird had four goals and one assist this year with two game-winning scores.