2008 Woodie Awards
ERAU gets nod for 2007 nat'l tournament
Alison Smalling
Issue date: 1/30/07 Section: Sports
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The national tournament will take place Nov. 14-20 and will bring over 600 student-athletes and coaches representing 20 NAIA institutions from around the country to the Daytona Beach area.
"We are really excited to have the opportunity to host what we hope will be one of the very best women's soccer national tournaments in the history of the NAIA," Athletic Director Steve Ridder commented. "Having hosted seven national championships since 2002, including the last two men's soccer national tournaments, has shown the officials at the national office that if Embry-Riddle is given a chance to host a national tournament, we are committed to making it a special experience for the student-athletes."
Embry-Riddle also hosted the 2004 women's golf national championship at the LPGA International course
"I think our program deserves the opportunity to host another national tournament," Ridder added. "I have really enjoyed watching the development of our women's soccer program and the work and commitment that our coaching staff has shown, in particular Dan Blank. I think that our former student-athletes in women's soccer can feel very proud that they've had something to do with building a special program and all those things make a difference. When the NAIA selects institutions to host national tournaments, they're not going to give that opportunity to an institution or program that is not run the right way and that has not had success in all areas."
"I think that we have earned the right to host this tournament as a university based on how well we've hosted other national championships, especially the men's national tournament, which has been called one of the best, if not the best, NAIA soccer national championships ever," ERAU head women's soccer coach Dan Blank said.
The women's soccer team lost in the Region XIV semifinals in 2006 and 2005, and thus did not qualify for nationals. As tournament host, however, the Eagles would have an automatic berth in the 20-team tournament.
The Eagles made the tournament in 2004, falling to the Robert Morris College Eagles in the second round after beating the Spring Arbor Cougars in the first round.
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