Over the course of the rest of the spring and the summer months, one Tiffin Athletics program will be highlighted every Saturday on their accomplishments during the year. This week's Saturday Spotlight focuses on the women's soccer program.
The Dragons started the season picked to finish in a tie for seventh in the GMAC Preseason Poll.
Tiffin had a very exciting game early in the nonconference slate when they hosted Lewis on Sept. 8. Down 3-1 with 12 minutes to go in the second-half, Tiffin tallied two goals as Lauryn Grcic scored in the 79th minute and Leila Hannaoui connected on a screamer in the 89th minute to send the game into overtime. The momentum ran out in the extra period, though, as the Flyers grabbed a 4-3 win.
The Dragons also looked impressive in their GMAC opener on Sept. 21 at Findlay, keeping the Oilers off the score sheet and settling for a 0-0 draw. The game did not go to overtime due to lightning in the area, getting called after 90 minutes of action. Nahomi Lopez had five saves for the Dragons.
Shortly after, Tiffin picked up a big win on Oct. 17 when they went on the road and routed Alderson Broaddus 5-0. The five-goal output was TU's highest since Sept. 29, 2017, when they defeated Purdue Northwest 5-1. To find the last time that Tiffin won a match by at least a five-goal margin, you have to go back nine years to Oct. 31, 2010, when the Dragons blasted Lake Erie 7-0. Sierra Besecker, Claudia Santillan, Emma Siler, and Lily Cady all scored in the match, with an AB own goal providing the fifth tally.
Before the end of the season, the Dragons notched another draw with a 1-1 decision at Malone. Besecker scored in the 31st minute and Tiffin very nearly held on for the win, keeping the one-goal lead until a Pioneer tally with less than two minutes left sent the game to overtime. Molly Miller had eight saves in goal in her first collegiate start.
Leila Hannaoui was named to the GMAC All-Conference team once the season came to a close, earning Honorable Mention honors.
In March, Dragon alum Dean Joseph was tabbed to be the next head coach of the women's soccer program.