SSU Sports Information

Five members of the women’s soccer team have been selected to the Academic All-MSC team. This marks the most the team has had since the program’s inception after having four recipients during each of the past two seasons.

Staci Johnson, Bethany Ward, Teresa Welch, Haley Ruggles and Aubrey Johnson each earned this honor. To be eligible for this award, student-athletes must be in sophomore academic standing and have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.25.

For Johnson, a senior majoring in education, she has now received the honor in each of her three eligible seasons at Shawnee State. For the two members of the junior class, Ward and Welch, the award marks the second time in their careers they have been honored. Ward is majoring in accounting, while Welch is an education major.

For sophomores Johnson and Ruggles, it was their first time eligible. Johnson is majoring in respiratory therapy, while Ruggles in majoring in exercise science.

Schuyler Jones named Honorable Mention All-MSC

Following a standout freshman campaign, Schuyler Jones has been named honorable mention All-MSC as announced at the conference banquet this week. With the award, Jones becomes the first freshman to earn All-MSC honors for the Bears since joining the conference in 2010.

She also becomes the first SSU player to earn all-conference honors as a freshman since Brittney Brooks did so in 2009.

As a freshman, Jones played in all 19 games and made 12 starts. She tied for the team lead in goals with fellow freshman Jessica Fair, as each tallied nine times. She also had two assists on the year, leading the team with 20 points. She was third on the team in both shots (29) and shots on goal (13).

Jones played her strongest soccer down the stretch as she scored all her goals and tallied her two assists over the final 11 games of the season. Included in her performances were four multi-goal games in the wins against Ohio Christian, Purdue Calumet, University of the Cumberlands and Kentucky Christian. Her first goal against Ohio Christian was also a game winner.

Women’s soccer went 8-11 overall and 3-6 in the Mid-South to place seventh overall. They were eliminated from the postseason in MSC quarterfinals.

Luke Purpero earns Honorable Mention All-MSC Recognition

Luke Purpero capped off his Shawnee State career with his third all-conference honor in his three seasons for the men’s soccer team. Purpero, a transfer from Ohio State after his freshman season, was named honorable mention All-MSC at the conference banquet this week.

Purpero was also an honorable mention All-MSC in 2010 and honorable mention All-AMC in 2009.

As a senior, Purpero played in 17 games and made 14 starts. He led the team with five goals and assisted on another goal. He also led the team in points (11), shots (45) and shots on goal (21). He scored the game-winning goal in SSU’s 1-0 win over Georgetown to lift the team to its first win of the season and also found the back of the net in the team’s 8-1 win over Kentucky Christian. He also recorded his only assist during that game.

For his career, he ranks fifth all-time in program history in both goals (20) and points (48). He also ranks seventh in all-time assists (8). Seven of his 20 career goals were game-winning efforts.

The Bears finished the 2012 season with four wins, including three in Mid-South play. They placed eighth in the conference during the regular season and lost their quarterfinal matchup in the conference tournament.

Jacob Hackworth named MSC Men’s Soccer Champions of Character recipient

Jacob Hackworth has been selected as the Mid-South Conference Men’s Soccer Champions of Character recipient. The junior captain earned this award, which is given to just one player from each sport, based on his academic and athletic achievement, campus and community leadership, future ambition and demonstration of the five core character values (Integrity, Respect, Responsibility, Sportsmanship, and Servant Leadership) of the NAIA.

He becomes the first player in program history to earn this award.

On top of his on-field accomplishments, where Hackworth started 15 of the 16 games he played in this season, he has been very active in his local community. In addition to participating in the soccer program’s “Kick for Crohn’s” and “Paint in Pink” games, Hackworth has also volunteered his time hosting free clinics for area soccer players ranging multiple age groups. He has also been volunteer coach in the Minford Youth Soccer League and a volunteer official in other local soccer leagues.

However, his community service extends beyond the soccer field. In 2012, Hackworth organized a charity benefit game to help raise money for the victims and family members involved in the Chardon School shooting. He has also been an active volunteer with the Red Cross and took time to read to Eastern Local schools and discuss the five core values of the NAIA with them. He has also exceled in the classroom, maintaining a cumulative GPA of over 3.0.

“Jacob is a well-respected member of our program, as well as our university and community. I believe Jacob displays the five core character values and is an excellent choice to represent Shawnee State University, the Mid-South Conference, and the NAIA as a Champion of Character,” coach Ron Goodson said. Goodson was also honored the conference’s Champions of Character selection earlier this summer.

Earlier this year, Shawnee State was named an NAIA Champions of Character Five-Star institution. The Bears received the highest score amongst Mid-South schools and the sixth-highest score in the country.