Bellevue University Athletics, Women's Bruin Soccer

Women's Soccer

Coach Roster Stats Schedule/Results POW
Overall (0-0-0), MCAC (0-0-0), Streak (--)

Tranquility Park -- DIRECTIONS --
(Enter from 120th Street.)

2007 Women's Soccer Schedule

August 24, 2007

WOMEN'S SOCCER OPENS FRIDAY

The Women's Soccer team, which is recieving votes in the NAIA preseason polls, will open their season this Friday evening in Sioux Falls against the University of Sioux Falls. The match will begin at 6 p.m.

Last year, the team finished the season 16-4-1 winning the 2006 MCAC Tournament Championship.

August 13, 2007

Park University Picked as Favorite in 2007 MCAC Women's Soccer Preseason Coaches' Poll
(courtesy; Jerod Dahlgren - MCAC SID)

POINT LOOKOUT, MO. -- The Park University women’s soccer team earned the top spot in the 2007 Midlands Collegiate Athletic Conference Preseason Coaches’ Poll released Tuesday (Aug. 14).

Park, the 2006 MCAC Regular Season and Region IV Tournament Champion, compiled a 16-5 record (5-0 MCAC) last season, qualifying for the NAIA National Tournament for the ?fth consecutive year.

Bellevue University, which posted a 16-4-1 record a year ago, earned enough votes for second place in the 2007 coaches’ poll. The Bruins captured the MCAC Tournament Championship in 2006.

The College of Saint Mary ranked third in the preseason coaches’ poll, a year after posting a 4-1 MCAC record (12-7-2 overall).

Rounding out the preseason poll are Central Christian College, Oklahoma Wesleyan University and York College.

2007 MCAC Women’s Soccer Preseason Coaches’ Poll

1.  Park University *
2.  Bellevue University #
3.  College of Saint Mary
4.  Central Christian College
5.  Oklahoma Wesleyan University
6.  York College

*2006 MCAC Regular Season Champions
#2006 MCAC Tournament Champions

2007 Women's Soccer Preview

The 2006 season turned out to be another excellent year for the Bruin women’s soccer program. During the season, the Bruins were ranked as high as 10th in the NAIA national poll which was the highest ranking ever in Bruin soccer history. The team finished the season ranked 20th in the polls with a 16-4-1 record and claimed the programs first ever MCAC Tournament Championship. This was all accomplished with a core leadership of seven experienced seniors who will all be missed heading into the 2007 season.

The women’s soccer team will welcome seven new freshman; Jaclyn Walsh (UNL transfer), Amy Fox (Omaha Bryan), Erika Roberts (Papillion-LaVista), Andrea Perez (Papillion-LaVista South), Kristina Jaime (Omaha South), Linda Slottje (Bellevue East) and Molly Collins (Council Bluffs – St. Albert). In addition to the freshman recruiting class, red-shirt freshman, Ashley Engdahl and Vannessa Ramos, will add to the depth of the team. This season there will be nine new faces taking the field at some point in 2007.

The senior’s this season will be the stronghold of the team with years of college experience. Jessica Wachtler (MCAC Defensive Player of the Year, Two-Time NAIA All American), Ashley Carter, Valerie Bohls, Marisol Ramos and Ali Fauble (All-Region Team) will add strength, experience and leadership on and off the field. Coach Nicolarsen believes that “the team will rely heavily on the leadership of the seniors.” The Bruins return three dynamic juniors in Rebecca Hake, Stephanie Balkovec (All-Region Team) and Priscilla Flores. The sophomore class returns second team All-Region selection Whitney Ferguson, and midfielder, Anastasia Dascalos. Rounding out the returning sophomore class will be starting keeper Jessica Baker (0.80 GA, 1800 Min., 9 SHO) and defender Chelsea Hailey.

Coach Nicolarsen is excited about the future of 2007 team, “This group is the most talented that I have had [at Bellevue University] and will end up facing some of the programs toughest tests. Not only are we playing the most challenging schedule ever in recent history but we will also need to quickly fill the void left by a strong group of close-knit seniors. These challenges, without a doubt, this year will be exciting and will test the players’ character often and early. The rewards of success can be limitless, but will lie in the balance of the team’s chemistry.” -->

The Coach

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Andrew Nicolarsen, Women's Soccer Coach

Andrew Nicolarsen is entering his fourth season as the Bruins head coach. He finished his first three years with a combined record of 43-17-3 and qualified for the NAIA regional tournament in 2005 and 2006. In 2005, the team went 16-6-1 and was the NAIA Region IV and MCAC conference runners up reaching as high as 21st in the national poll. During the 2006 season, the Bruins were rated as high as 10th in the nation and finished the season ranked 20th in the national polls with a 16-4-1 record. The team ended the season as NAIA Region IV semifinalist and captured the MCAC tournament championship which was the first women's soccer championship in school history. Nicolarsen holds a masters degree in exercise science from the University of Nebraska Omaha and looks to emphasize conditioning and team building as he continues to coach the Bruins into the 2007 season.

Nicolarsen began his coaching career as an assistant women's soccer coach at the University of Nebraska Omaha from 2001-2003. At UNO he assisted with practices, player selection and development, defense and goalkeeper training. A successful NCAA Division II program, UNO made back to back Final Four appearances in 2002 and 2003. Nicolarsen is also the head coach of the 2006 Nebraska State Cup champion 89/90 Gladiator Tango girls.

A four-year varsity letterman and three year starter at NCAA Division I Hartwick College in Oneonta, New York, Nicolarsen graduated in 1999. Hartwick reached the Sweet Sixteen in the NCAA Division I National Tournament during Nicolarsen's freshman year in 1995 and earned top twenty national rankings his senior year. Nicolarsen received a degree in anthropology at Hartwick, earning honors in Lambda Alpha, the National Anthropological Society. While at Hartwick he participated in a five-year grant funded study on sport, racism and nation-building in post-apartheid South Africa, traveling to Cape Town and Johannesburg during his junior year at Hartwick to work on the study.

After graduating from Hartwick, Nicolarsen played professional A-league soccer (USL 1st Div.) with the Hershey Wildcats in Hershey, Pennsylvania, from 1999 to 2000. While playing for Hershey the team finished the 1999 season as Atlantic conference champions and reached the quarterfinals in the playoffs.

Coach Nicolarsen holds an NSCAA National coaching license and teaches as an adjunct faculty member in the University's Physical Education Department. He was born in Omaha but grew up in Prairie Village, Kansas, where he graduated from Shawnee Mission East High School as an All State soccer player. He and his wife Katherine reside in Omaha.

Contact: Phone (402) 557-7419 or E-mail andy.nicolarsen@bellevue.edu

Assistant Head Coach

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Mike Dean, Assistant Women's Soccer Coach

Mike joins the coaching staff for his third season as an assistant coach and after a successful four-year career with the Bellevue men's team. Mike holds his Premier coaching license from the NSCAA as well as his USSF D license. He primarily works on the technical development of the team and player selection and placement.

In addition to his duties at Bellevue, he is also the head JV coach and assistant Varsity coach for the Millard West high school boys program and is head coach of the U 14 premier boys Gladiator Red Star. Mike is heavily involved in the sport of soccer and this along with his playing experience and soccer knowledge are valuable assets to the program.

Contact: Phone (402) 557-7419