Crusader Athletics

WOMEN'S SOCCER
The 2001 season proved to be the best ever for the Crusader women's soccer team. A final mark of 18-2 was a school record for victories. UIW won its third straight Heartland Conference championship and received its second bid in three years to the NCAA Division II National Tournament. After an opening round victory at home over West Texas A&M, the Crusaders went to Denver for the regional finals and got revenge for their only regular season loss with a 3-1 triumph over Regis, then ranked number three in the nation. The Crusaders ranked ninth in the nation advanced to the Elite Eight in Division II, but lost a heart-breaker 2-0 at the University of California, San Diego, the defending national champions and the team which would eventually win another national title. UIW swept the honors for the Heartland-Coach of the Year, Tina Patterson; Player of the Year, Brooke Hopkins; Goalkeeper of the Year, Missy Howard; and Freshman of the Year, Jamie Gunthorp. Seven Crusaders were voted all-conference. Brooke Hopkins ended her Incarnate Word career as the all-time leader in points and goals scored. Four players-Audrey Gould, Katie Heier, Whitney Welsch and Lindsay Mijares were nominated for national academic honors.

VOLLEYBALL
The Crusaders produced their second straight winning season with a final mark of 18-16. That record included a third place finish in the Heartland Conference tournament after wins over Drury (MO) and higher seeded St. Mary's. After the tournament, senior outside hitter Keelie Rader was voted all-conference, the second year for her to receive that honor. Rader, along with sophomore Julee James and Adria Martineau were nominated for Verizon Academic All-America honors based on their on-court performances and their standings in the classroom. During the season Coach Mark Papich reached the 100-win plateau for his career at Incarnate Word.

MEN'S SOCCER
Under the guidance of new Coach Dennis Currier, the Crusaders continued the winning tradition at Incarnate Word with a final 12-8-1 season mark. That included winning the Heartland Conference championship after sweeping through the post-season tournament undefeated. Currier was voted conference coach of the year and sophomore Ricardo Lara was co-MVP of the league. Fernando Jorge was named freshman of the year for the Heartland. Five players were named to the all-conference team at the conclusion of the season. Incarnate Word was ranked number five in the NCAA Division II Midwest Region. Lara and Matt Hood were named to the Verizon Academic All-District Team, while Lara was named NSCAA All-America third team.

CROSS COUNTRY
Both the men's and women's teams competed in three cross country meets during the fall. The teams also traveled to Joplin, Mo., in early November to run in the NCAA Division II South Central Regional meet. Gilbert Salinas and Cecilia Iniguez proved to be the most consistent Crusader runners over the course of the season.

SWIMMING
The Crusaders, both men and women, entered the New South Intercollegiate Swimming Conference championships in Cleveland, Miss. On the women's side, UIW's Dorothy Ingle finished sixth in the 400-yard individual medley event while Jennifer Gillen was eighth in the 200-yard freestyle.

SYNCHRONIZED SWIMMING
This was the first year for UIW to sponsor a synchronized swimming team. While the event is not yet fully sanctioned by the NCAA, Incarnate Word did host a three-meet schedule in the new Ann Barshop Natatorium. The University of Alabama at Birmingham and Ohio State came to San Antonio for competition with UIW. Also, the Crusaders posted their first-ever dual-meet victory over Stanford University.

MEN'S BASKETBALL
A Heartland Conference co-championship and an invitation to the NCAA Division II post-season tournament were the highlights of an outstanding season for the Crusader men. Coach Al Grushkin's team had a final mark of 25-4, with the fifth most victories in school history. UIW was the third seed in the South Central Regional Tournament and defeated Tarleton State in the first round before falling to Northwest Missouri, the eventual winner of the regional event. In the final poll, Incarnate Word was ranked third in the South Central Region. At the end of the season, All-Heartland Conference first team honors went to Derrick Lang and Jamar Love while Chris Johnson was second team. Also, Love was voted newcomer of the year.

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
The Crusader women made significant improvements over Coach Angela Lawson's first year at Incarnate Word. Finishing the year 11-16, the team won twice as many games as the previous season, including ending 5-5 in the Heartland Conference in fourth place. Post-season Heartland Conference second team honors went to Amy Mueller and Michelle Viverette. April Walker was honorable mention all-conference. Mueller also was voted freshman of the year.

SOFTBALL
Using a different strategy than their baseball counterparts, the softball Crusaders got off to a fast start on their season with a six-game winning string and by mid-March were working on a better than .500 record. The first weekend of March the Crusaders played in the prestigious Schutt Leadoff Classic in Irving, Texas, and in that event defeated West Florida, then the number five team in the nation. Also, the Crusaders hosted their own Alamo Invitational which featured 12 of the top NCAA Division II teams in the region. UIW again will compete in the Heartland Conference Tournament set for the final weekend of April.

BASEBALL
In the early going the Crusaders struggled with a series of injuries to key players but by mid-March had fashioned a seven-game winning string and had pulled the record to the .500 mark. With a 50-game schedule the Crusaders have an excellent opportunity to post another winning mark. In mid-May UIW will go to the Heartland Conference Tournament as the defending champions.

GOLF
The men's team is seeking another invitation to the NCAA Division II regional tournament while the Crusader women this spring for the first time are fielding a complete team. This spring the men will play in five tournaments in advance of the Heartland Conference post-season event set for mid-April at San Antonio's Cedar Creek Golf Club. Meanwhile, the UIW women's team have a schedule of four tournaments.

TRACK AND FIELD
As in past springs, the Crusader track and field teams will be competing in events with goals of posting times and distances which will merit invitations to the NCAA Division II Championships in late May. The Crusaders will enter six meets this spring seeking the qualifying levels.

TENNIS
Both the men's and women's teams will be seeking return invitations to the NCAA Division II regional tournaments, repeats from a year ago when both squads were among the nation's best. Prior to the regional tournaments, the Crusaders will play in the Heartland Conference post-season tournament set for late May in Springfield, MO.