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Tuesday, Sept. 6, 2016
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Volleyball coach sets career-win mark Danielle Brown Staff writer
FARGO, N.D. | Volleyball Head Coach Ray Gooden broke NIU’s career wins record with win number 267 on Friday. The win moved Gooden past Pete Waite former head coach from ‘88 to ’98 when the Huskies (5-1) defeated Bradley University Friday in straight sets, 28-26, 2520, 25-12, in the first match of the North Dakota State University Classic in Fargo, North Dakota.
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[It’s an] incredible feeling to know that when you’re allowed to wear the letters you represent [signify] more than just a team, you represent a country.” Ray Gooden Head Coach
When he’s not coaching the Huskies, Gooden helps out with the United States National Men’s and Women’s Volleyball Camps. Gooden helps with camp tryouts every year and received a shoutout during an NBC broadcast in the 2016 Olympics. “[It’s an] incredible feeling to know that when you’re allowed to wear the letters you represent [signify] more than just a team,
Atlee Hargis | Northern Star
Volleyball Head Coach Ray Gooden provides instructions from the sideline in a game against University of Iowa on Aug. 28 at Victor E. Court.
you represent a country,” Gooden said when describing the feeling of working with U.S. volleyball. Gooden has helped out at camps, officiated numerous games
and assisted with many clinics. Gooden said of all the highlights in his career, the most important are the relationships he has formed here with the players
and staff. He will always feel fortunate for his first win and first Mid-American Conference championship, Gooden said. Gooden was aware he was coming close to beating the record for career wins, but what really mattered was for the team to succeed. To Gooden, this record is just a number, never a goal. His goal was to come to NIU to teach and help the program grow. “To get a final four, to be in that position is awesome,” Gooden said. There is little doubt the goal of reaching the final four is unattainable, Gooden said. Gooden has developed relationships with countless players over the years. Lauren Zielinski, redshirt senior middle blocker, describes playing for Gooden as fun and competitive. “As you get older you understand [Gooden] more, it is hard as a freshman, but [freshman] look to the upperclassmen and it brings the team closer,” Zielinski said. Sophomore middle blocker Meg Wolowicz said Gooden is a unique coach who gets to know you as a person and a player. “He breaks down the game and tells you specifics to get better,” Wolowicz said. “The way he
Men’s soccer falters over weekend Tom Burton Staff writer
ANNAPOLIS, M.D. | The men’s soccer team fell to the United States Naval Academy Midshipmen, 2-0, Friday at the Glenn Warner Soccer Facility in Annapolis, Maryland.
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I thought on the whole, our guys were fantastic. We played the vast majority of the game in their half [of the pitch], we created a large number of chances.” Eric Luzzi Head Coach
NIU (0-2-1) outshot Navy 11-8, but were unable to put one past the goalkeeper to earn their first win of the season. The coaching staff
gave credit to Navy for taking advantage of their opportunities. “Give full credit to Navy,” said Head Coach Eric Luzzi. “[Navy was] very opportunistic, they finished the chances they created, and once they went up, they did a good job to manage the game.” The Huskies created scoring chances all night but were unable to convert their scoring opportunities into goals. On the other hand, Navy (1-1-1) capitalized on their chances in Huskie territory. “I thought on the whole, our guys were fantastic,” Luzzi said. “We played the vast majority of the game in their half [of the pitch], we created a large number of chances.” The coach’s message to the team was simple; NIU played a good game and will need to carry the momentum into Sunday’s
game against University of Maryland-Baltimore County. Navy opened the scoring in the 26-minute when a midfield run by junior forward Daniel Zaremba created a scoring chance for the Midshipmen. Zaremba missed the initial attempt but followed his own miss for a 1-0 Navy lead. The Huskies continued to create scoring chances in the first half, but still went into halftime down a goal. Quickly after the break, the Midshipmen struck again. Navy’s freshman defenseman, Diego Manrique, crossed a ball toward the NIU goal where junior forward Aubrey Jones was waiting to put the ball into the net, giving Navy a 2-0 lead. The Huskies continued to be dominant in creating scoring
chances throughout the game but were unable to get on the board. NIU will be home this weekend for the NIU Adidas Invitational. They will play Friday and Sunday versus Binghamton University and Utah Valley State University, respectively.
Sunday’s Match Recap The men’s team played at 3 p.m. Sunday afternoon against University of Maryland-Baltimore County. After overtime didn’t decide a winner, the match ended in a 1-1 draw. Sophomore midfielder Kevin Rodriguez scored his first goal of season on a penalty kick in the 51 minute of the match. Maryland-Baltimore scored in the 57 minute to tie the game at one.
Coaching Legacy
Ray Gooden, former ‘89 Illinois High School Player of the Year, graduated from Ohio State University with his Bachelor of Arts in economics in 1994. Gooden began his NIU coaching career in 2002, but he made several other stops prior to his arrival in DeKalb. 1997 to 2001: Assistant head coach for Loyola University in Chicago 1997: Assistant head coach for Lewis University 1996: Assistant head coach for Northwestern University 1994: Men’s head coach and woman’s assistant head coach for Thomas More College communicates is different.” Although it is just a record, an explosion of effort will be seen from the Huskies, Gooden said. Gooden looks to add to his career wins midnight Saturday as the Huskies travel to Honolulu for the Outrigger Resorts Volleyball Challenge to face University of Hawai’i. NORTHERN STAR ONLINE EXCLUSIVE
Huskies lose on late goal
Krystal Ward Staff writer
DeKALB | Women’s soccer (1-2-1) fell to the University of Baylor Bears (4-1), 1-0 Friday night at the NIU Soccer Complex. A goal in the 88th minute headed in by Baylor’s sophomore midfielder Julie James from six yards out pushed the Bears past the Huskies. James also scored two goals in the previous matchup between the two teams last fall. NIU’s junior goalkeeper Amy Annala made two key saves in the first half, one save 30 seconds into the game.
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