Judson’s Hoffman garners NAIA honor

Judson University women’s soccer goalkeeper and Huntley High School product Sara Hoffman was recently named the NAIA national defensive player of the week. It was Hoffman’s second award in a short span of time. Earlier, she was named the CCAC player of the week for a second week in a row.

This was Hoffman’s second time in her career she has been named NAIA national player of the week. She also won the award last October.

Hoffman earned the high accolade after registering 2 shutouts and 11 saves in a 0-0 tie with Marian (Ind.) and a 1-0 victory over Saint Francis (Ind.).

After the Saint Francis game, Hoffman had not allowed a goal in a span of 477 minutes. The last goal up to that point scored against her came on Aug. 28 vs. No. 12 Graceland in the 37th minute.

The two strong performances lowered Hoffman’s goals-against average to 0.15, which ranked third at the time in the NAIA.

Hoffman’s strong performance between the pipes helped Judson storm out to a 6-1-1 record — its best start since 2006.

Hoffman’s scoreless streak came to a halt in Judson’s 2-1 win over fourth-ranked Robert Morris. Hoffman allowed a goal in the first half, ending her scoreless run at 486 minutes. Hoffman came into this week with a 0.26 goals-against average (2 goals allowed all season). She has 5 shutouts to her credit.

Beachler at Taylor: Westminster Christian alum Tyler Beachler is enjoying a fine senior season.

Beachler, now playing at Taylor University in Upland, Ind., was recently named the MCC offensive player of the week.

He earned the honor after scoring three goals, including two game-winners, and adding 3 assists to lead Taylor to 3 victories during a recent stretch.

Beachler scored a goal in each of the squad’s wins over Marygrove (Mich.), St. Francis (Ill.) and Siena Heights (Mich.). That pushed his season total at the time to 6 goals. The 3 assists during the span increased his season total to four, which already surpassed his total from last season. He increased his streak of games with at least one goal to five.

Taylor’s 7-1 start was the team’s best since 1988. A news release linked the strong start in part to Beachler’s leadership. After his 3-goal outburst, Beachler had 46 career goals in 64 games. He has served as team captain for two seasons.

Since winning the award, Beachler helped Taylor to two additional wins. He had a goal in the team’s victory over Marian. Taylor moved to 9-1 with the win, which was its conference opener.

Through the first 10 games of the season, Beachler was second on the team in goals with 7 and was leading the team in assists with five and points with 19. He also was tied for the team lead in shots with 37. He was leading Taylor with 3 game-winning goals.

Smith earns honors: Jacobs alum Annie Smith was recently named one of three UW-Whitewater Walmart women’s tennis players of the week.

Smith earned the award for the week ending Sept. 12. Smith and doubles teammate Sydney Divelbiss were named the Walmart women’s’ tennis doubles players of the week after scoring a pair of wins over Upper Iowa and Carthage. Smith and Divelbiss downed Upper Iowa by an 8-5 count and scored an 8-4 win over Carthage College.

Smith and Divelbiss were than named Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletics Conference players of the week for their performances at the recent UW-Whitewater invitational.

Divelbiss and Smith moved up to the No. 1 ranking in doubles with an 8-2 win over UW-River Falls. They returned to their normal position at No. 2 doubles and cruised to an 8-2 win to help give the Warhawks momentum in a 9-0 win over nationally ranked Wheaton College. The win moved the duo’s record up to 4-0 at the time..

According to the UW-Whitewater website earlier this week, Smith sported a 6-1 record in singles play and a 6-1 mark in doubles action.

Smith is a senior at Whitewater and is a three-time conference champion there.

Northern Illinois University women’s golf: A pair of local players are making early-season contributions to the Northern Illinois University women’s golf team.

Bartlett alum Carissa Burdi finished in 23rd place at the Green Bay invitational at the Green Bay Country Club. She logged a 165 for 36 holes, which included an 82.

Hampshire graduate Taylor Ellett, a freshman at NIU, moved up the ladder from 44th place to 30th place after shooting rounds of 85 and 83. NIU finished fourth in the event.

At the Ball State University Cardinal Classic at The Players Club, NIU finished eighth as a team. Ellett finished in 42nd place with a two-round total of 165. Burdi tied for 55th with a 171 score.

At the first day of the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Intercollegiate, NIU was fifth after the first round. Ellett sat in 16th place with an 85, while Burdi was tied for 40th place with a score of 92.

Holthus at Northwestern: Burlington Central graduate Stephanie Holthus is now a sophomore outside hitter on the Northwestern University women’s volleyball team.

Holthus was the runaway team leader in kills to start the week. She had 208 kills, while the second closest to her on the team had 90. Holthus was averaging 4.73 kills per set, while hitting at a .263 clip. She had 9 service aces and was ranked third on the team in digs with 129. She also was averaging 5.38 points per set (second closest on the team was 3.22).

In a 3-0 loss to Wisconsin in Madison, Holthus had 11 kills and 6 digs. Two days later in a loss to Minnesota in Minneapolis, she recorded 10 kills and 14 digs.

Northwestern was 9-4 to start the week and 0-2 in Big Ten Conference play.

Dryden at North Central: Huntley graduate Holly Dryden is a freshman on the North Central College women’s golf team. Dryden has gained plenty of experience in the early part of the 2011 season for the Cardinals. She finished 58th at the NCAA Fall Preview tournament in Angola, Ind. She shot rounds of 95 and 96.

She also took 52nd at the North Central Cardinal Classic with a 107.

At the Augustana Lady Viking Fall Classic, Dryden finished 32nd with a 92. At the Elmhurst Bluejay invitational, she took 35th with a score of 93. At the Millikin Fall Classic, she finished 52nd with rounds of 93 and 98.

Off at college wants your help: Send information and/or statistics on Fox Valley-area athletes playing collegiately to Mike Miazga at difibulator@aol.com.