Around The USCAA – 12-04-2017
Around the USCAA is a weekly article that highlights current happenings, key matchups, and relevant news stories from across the association. If you have a relevant news piece that you would like considered for inclusion please send it to info@theuscaa.com.
Ashley Magruda Named Women's Soccer Head Coach
Nov 29, 2017
Franklin, Mass. – Ashley Magruda, an assistant coach at Division I Duquesne University, has been named the head women's soccer coach at Dean College, Director of Athletics Todd Vasey announced on Wednesday. The announcement of Magruda's hiring comes following an intensive national search of more than 100 applicants.
In addition to her role as the head women's soccer coach, Magruda will oversee game management and operations for the athletic department as Dean continues its transition to the NCAA Division III level.
"Ashley stood out as the candidate we wanted early on in the process," said Vasey. "We are thrilled to have her here at Dean and are so excited to see her lead our women's soccer program."
Magruda arrives at Dean after two seasons on the sidelines as the goalkeeper coach with the Dukes. In that role, she helped guide them to a pair of Atlantic-10 Tournament appearances (quarterfinals in 2016, semifinals in 2017) and consecutive 11-6-3 seasons.
She played an integral role in the development of Kyra Murphy who set Dukes' records in career wins (30), single season victories (11) and goals against average (1.12).
Prior to her time in Pittsburgh with Duquesne, Magruda spent two incredibly successful seasons at the University of Northwestern Ohio. With the Racers, she worked with the goalkeepers and they posted an impressive 42-5-3 overall record with 39 shutouts on their way to the NAIA championship game in 2014 and the NAIA semifinals in 2015.
As a student-athlete, Magruda began her collegiate career at Division I West Virginia before eventually transferring to Division II California University of Pennsylvania where she played under current Duquesne head coach Al Alvine.
While with the Vulcans, she was a member of four straight NCAA Tournament appearances, advancing as far as the third round as a junior in 2013. During that magical run in 2013, she went 10-1-2, set a school record with a 0.29 GAA and then backstopped the Vulcans to a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Championship by not allowing a goal in the three tournament games on her way to PSAC Tournament MVP honors.
A second-team all-conference selection as a sophomore in 2012, Magruda's 26 wins and 0.59 career GAA rank second and third, respectively, in Vulcan history.
A decorated high school soccer star in the greater Pittsburgh area at Belle Vernon Area, she was named all-state as a senior in 2008 and was a three-time all-conference selection. Magruda holds the school records for shutouts in a season (13, twice) and in a career (45), and led BVA to sectional championships all four years.
*Article courtesy of Dean College Athletic Website
Ethan Wells Appointed Head Women’s Soccer Coach
Nov 28, 2017
SOUTH PORTLAND, Maine— The Southern Maine Community College (SMCC) Athletics Department has announced the hiring of Ethan Wells as Head Women’s Soccer Coach effective Nov. 29.
Wells replaces Julia Cyr who achieved a 25-23-4 in four seasons at the helm of the Lady SeaWolves. SMCC is coming off back-to-back Yankee Small College Conference (YSCC) post-season appearances, and a conference championship and United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA) national tournament appearance in 2015. This 2017 season, the SeaWolves finished at 6-5-1 overall.
A New Hampshire native, Wells played four seasons as a member of the men’s soccer program at the University of New England, and captained the Nor’easters his senior season while attaining a bachelor’s degree in Sport Management (2013). Following his undergraduate career, Wells served a two-year stint as the Assistant Men’s Soccer Coach at UNE under Coach Peter Ostergaard and as a Head Coach/Player Development Officer for Global Premier Soccer for one year.
Wells went on to earn his Masters of Education degree in Athletic Administration, with a concentration in Intercollegiate Athletics, from Endicott College in 2016.
Wells commented, “I’m thrilled for the opportunity to head the women’s soccer program—a challenger for the conference title every season. I plan to take a tactical approach in teaching an organized brand of soccer and intend to implement offseason programming immediately to carry us to into the spring. As a full-time administrator at the college, my goal is to grow and develop this program in all facets.”
Hired in June of 2016, Wells served a two-season appointment as the Head Golf Coach at SMCC leading the SeaWolves to two runner-up conference finishes. In addition to his duties on the soccer pitch, Wells will continue his role as Assistant Director of Athletics at the college.
* Article courtesy of SMCC Athletic Website
Key Weekly Matchups
Men’s Basketball
12-04-17 – Florida National University at Vaughn College 7:00 P.M. EST
12-05-17 – Penn State York at Penn State Brandywine 8:00 P.M. EST
12-05-17 – University of Maine Machias at University of Maine Fort Kent 7:00 P.M. EST
12-05-17 – Paul Quinn College at Southwest Adventist University 7:00 P.M. CST
12-08-17 – Penn State Greater Allegheny at Penn State DuBois 8:00 P.M. EST
12-09-17 – Paul Smith’s College at Central Maine CC 3:00 P.M. EST
12-09-17 - Warren Wilson College at University of Cincinnati Clermont 3:00 P.M. EST
Women’s Basketball
12-05-17 – University of Maine Machias at University of Maine Fort Kent 5:00 P.M. EST
12-05-17 – Penn State York at Penn State Brandywine 6:00 P.M. EST
12-07-17 – Central Penn at Vaughn College 6:30 P.M. EST
12-08-17 – Penn State Wilkes Barre at Penn State Lehigh Valley 6:00 P.M. EST
12-08-17 – University of Maine Fort Kent at NHTI 6:00 P.M. EST
12-09-17 – Warren Wilson College at University of Cincinnati Clermont 5:00 P.M. EST