Steege Named Westminster College Head Men's Soccer Coach

Eric Steege has been named head men's soccer coach at Westminster College. Steege comes to Westminster from West Virginia University, where he has been serving as a volunteer assistant coach and an undergraduate lecturer in sports psychology. He is scheduled to complete his Ph. D. in sport and exercise psychology in 2010.

In addition to his coaching and teaching, Steege has played the last three years on the semi-pro Princeton 56ers NPSL team. The team was the Midwest Division Champions and National Championship runner-up in 2006 and 2007.

From 2006-07 Steege served as an assistant women’s coach at Edgewood College. Prior to that, he was the head varsity girl’s soccer coach at Sauk Prairie High. There he led the team from a 4-14-2 record in his first season to a 14-6-4 record and a regional championship in his third season.

Steege is a 2004 graduate of St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota, where he earned Bachelor of Arts degrees in psychology and biology. Steege graduated Magna Cum Laude. He has published two articles in Soccer America and recently presented work at the US Youth Soccer adidas Workshop in Pittsburgh.

Five Blue Jay Men Earn Academic All-Conference Honors

Sixteen Westminster College student-athletes have been named to the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SLIAC) All-Academic Team. The recipients were members of the 2008 fall varsity cross country, soccer and volleyball squads. Other selection criteria include: (1) Minimum 3.5 cumulative grade point average, (2) At least sophomore academic standing and (3) Have at least one full year at Westminster (first year transfers and true freshmen are not eligible).

Men’s Cross Country: Josh Ray, Sr., West Plains, Mo./West Plains, English/Psychology.

Women’s Cross Country: Jillian Bone, Jr., Imperial, Mo./Seckman, Accounting/Religious Studies; Lauren Brohammer, Jr., Wentzville, Mo./St. Dominic, Elementary Education/Spanish.

Men’s Soccer: Kurt Boardsen, So., Moberly, Mo./Moberly, Secondary Education/Mathematics; Jeff Chacko, So., Little Rock, Ark./Catholic, Undeclared; Logan Ray, So., West Plains, Mo./West Plains, Biology; Nenad Stamatovic, Sr., Vukovar, Croatia, Mathematical Sciences; Michael Tulley, Jr., Ballwin, Mo./Marquette, Undeclared.

Women’s Soccer: Meaghan Barron, So., St. Louis, Mo./Ursuline Academy, Elementary Education/Early Childhood Education; Maegan Buzzetta, Jr., Hazelwood, Mo./Hazelwood West, Education/Science/Social Studies; Alex Johnson, So., St. Louis, Mo./Clayton, Political Science/Pre-Law.

Volleyball: Danielle Bazan, So., St. Louis, Mo./Villa Duchesne, Biochemistry/Pre-Pharmacy; Shanna Crafts, Jr., St. Peters, Mo./Francis Howell Central, History/Pre-Law; Emily Crohare, So., Snelling, Calif./Livingston, Sport Psychology/Biomechanics; Elizabeth Jansen, Sr., Bonnots Mill, Fatima, Psychology/Leadership Studies; Katie Morfeld, Jr., Linn, Mo./Linn, Environmental Science.

Five Westminster College Soccer Players Named All-SLIAC

Five Westminster College soccer players have earned all-conference honors as voted on by the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference coaches.

Brandon Blasé, Ryan Orf and Taylor Webb have been named to the all-conference first team for a Westminster men’s team that finished 8-8-1 overall and fifth in the league at 4-4. Blasé, a senior defender from St. Charles, Missouri (Duchesne High School), is named to the first team for the second consecutive year. Blasé appeared in all 17 matches and finished the season with four goals and four assists. Orf, a junior midfielder from St. Charles, Missouri (Duchesne High School), is a first-time honor winner. Orf led the team in goals (11) and points (22). Webb, a sophomore goalie from Jefferson City, Missouri (Jefferson City High School), is a two-time honor winner after receiving honorable mention recognition as a freshman. Webb played the entire season in goal and finished with an 8-8-1 record, a 1.66 goals against average, 103 saves and four shut outs.

Meaghan Barron was named to the first team and Caity Zielinski earned second team recognition for a Westminster women’s team that finished 4-11-1 overall and tied for seventh in the league at 1-6-1. Barron, a sophomore midfielder from St. Louis, Missouri (Ursuline Academy), is being recognized for the second time after earning second team honors as a freshman. Barron led the team in goals (11), points (23) and game-winning goals (2). Zielinski, a sophomore defender from St. Louis, Missouri (Notre Dame High), receives second-team accolades for the second year in a row. Zielinski appeared in all 16 matches and recorded an assist.