Albright Represented on MASCAC Fall Academic Honor Roll

Tuesday, December 9, 2008 

ANNVILLE, PA - The Middle Atlantic States Collegiate Athletic Corporation Fall Academic Honor Roll, which notes academic excellence by student-athletes, contains 561 honorees which was announced by Executive Director Ken Andrews Tuesday morning.

The Honor Roll comprises those student-athletes of sophomore class standing or higher who participated in a varsity-level sport and registered a cumulative grade point average of 3.20 (4.00 scale) or higher and completed the playing season in good standing.

Albright College had a solid representation on this year’s Academic Honor Roll as 36 student-athletes were recognized by the conference.  Included on this year’s team was Men’s Soccer First Team All-Conference selection Maarten Kootstra (Mt. Penn, PA/Antietam), and Football First Team All-Conference honorees Tanner Kelly (Clearfield, PA/Clearfield) and Matt Christ (Birdsboro, PA/Reading Central Catholic).

2008 MASCAC Fall Academic Honor Roll 

Click here to view Albright honorees

Click here to view entire list of honorees

 Kootstra Named Commonwealth Conference First Team Selection for Men’s Soccer

Wednesday, November 12, 2008 

ANNVILLE, PA - On Wednesday, the Commonwealth Conference announced the names of the 2008 First and Second All-Conference teams.  Earning a place on this year’s first team was senior defender Maarten Kootstra (Mt. Penn, PA/Antietam).

At Right:  First Team All-Conference Selection Maarten Kootstra

Kootstra who just ended his collegiate soccer career at Albright late last month, was the driving force behind the Lions 1-0 season ending victory against Arcadia University.  As a member of the Red and White, Kootstra started in all 16 games played this season and totaled two goals, both of which came on penalty-kick opportunities. 

"I am very happy to see that Marty made all-conference.  I definitely think it is something he deserved.  Over the last three years he has gotten better and better, and I think the other coaches in the conference recognized that," said Head Coach Pat Stanco who just completed his fourth season at the helm of the Albright Men's Soccer program. 

Over the past three seasons the senior defender has dominated the defensive third for the Lions, with his ability to hit the long ball as well as his size and strength which he used to shut down some of the top forwards in the conference.  Having appeared in 50 games over the last three years, Kootstra  netted six goals and had two assists.  On top of that Kootstra's ability to lead the Lions from the back field made him a stand out player anytime he stepped on the field. 

"Marty definitely led by example, he was one of our hardest workers on the field and in the gym.  At practice he was always the leader of the group, and when he was playing well and working hard everyone else fell into place.  During games we looked for him to take all of our free-kicks, as well play both offense and defense," added Coach Stanco.

 Hannaford Breaks All-Time Career Shutout Record with 1-0 Victory over Arcadia

Saturday, November 1, 2008 

READING, PA - Senior goalkeeper Wendell Hannaford (Long Island, NY/Walt Whitman) ended his career at Albright College in dramatic fashion becoming the all-time career shutout leader following a 1-0 victory over Arcadia University Saturday evening at Shirk Stadium. 

Hannaford who tied the original record of eight back on October 18th became the all-time leader following a very physical and intense conference match between the Lions and the Knights.  The victory marked the first conference victory of the season for the Red and White as they closed out their 2008 campaign with a final record of 5-11, 1-5 in the Commonwealth.  Arcadia dropped to 6-12 on the year and is also 1-5 in the conference.

For the entire 90 minutes Albright dominated their conference rival.  Totaling 15 shots by the final whistle, the Albright defense led by senior sweeper Maarten Kootstra (Mt. Penn, PA/Antietam) limited the visiting Knights to only five shots, one of which was one goal earning Hannaford his lone save.

Albright’s goal which was netted in the early on goings of the first half was credited to freshman forward Adam Toroniewski (Warminster, PA/William Tennent).  Assisting on the goal was Reading local Mark Yost (Reading, PA/Holy Name) who played the ball right to Toroniewski’s foot which he then pushed past Knights goalkeeper Jeff Kratohwill. 

With the early 1-0 the Albright defense and midfield settled down immensely and did a phenomenal job of containing the Arcadia offense.  Albright did manage to keep it’s composure despite some chippy play throughout the second half. 

Overall, the Lions led their opponents in corner kicks 5 to 2 and had quite a few chances to extend their lead.  Besides Hannaford and Kootstra, Saturday’s match was also the final game in the careers of Dan Martin (Farmingdale, NJ/St. Rose), and Shawn Gentile (Reading, PA/Reading Senior)

Arcadia University 0, Albright College 1
Box Score

Scoring: AC-Adam Toroniewski (Mark Yost) 15:27

Shots: AU-5, AC-15; Saves: AU-Jeff Kratohwill 7, AC-Wendell Hannaford 1
Corner Kicks: AU-2, AC-5