Click here for printer-friendly (PDF) version of release

BAY CITY, Mich. - Ashland University senior midfielder James Livingston (Aughton, England/Liverpool) earned GLIAC Men's Soccer "Athlete of the Week" honors after leading the Eagles to a pair of wins to open the 2009 campaign.

GLIAC Men’s Soccer Athlete of the Week:
James Livingston - Ashland
Sr./Midfield
Aughton, England/Liverpool

Senior James Livingston led the Eagles to two victories this past week. In the match against Shippensburg, Livingston scored the first and game-winning goal, then assisted on the second goal. Against 18th-ranked Slippery Rock on Sunday, he assisted on the only goal in the game. Livingston now leads the team in points, assists and is tied for the team lead in goals.

-----GLIAC Men's Soccer Weekly Notes-----

Ashland Eagles (2-0-0, 0-0-0 GLIAC)

The 24th-ranked Eagles started off their season in the same manor they did last year by winning their first two games. Ashland won at Shippensburg on Friday, 2-0, and then defeated 18th-ranked Slippery Rock on Sunday, 1-0. Senior James Livingston led the Eagles with a goal and two assists on the week. Seniors Tom Rankin and Ross Ashley scored the other two goals for Ashland on the week. Senior goalkeeper Blaize Lishewski helped AU put together back-to-back shutouts. He finished the week with three saves. It is the first time Ashland has opened the season with back-to-back shutout victories since 1998. The Eagles open up at home on Friday against Tusculum at 7:30 p.m. AU then hosts Notre Dame (OH) on Sunday at 3 p.m.

Findlay Oilers (0-1-0, 0-0-0 GLIAC)

The Oilers lost 2-0 to Bellarmine in their first game of the season…The Oilers managed only two shots in the game as the Knights scored two first half goals to prevail.

Northwood Timberwolves (1-1-0, 0-0-0 GLIAC)

The Northwood men’s soccer team went 1-1 against GLVC opponents last week to open the season, dropping a 2-0 contest to No. 12 Lewis before earning a 1-0 victory over Saint Joseph’s … NU keeper Matt Renouf (Romsey, England) had a strong week for the Timberwolves, allowing two goals in two matches … he made eight saves against Lewis before finishing with four saves against St. Joseph’s … the shutout against the Pumas was the first in Renouf’s Northwood career … senior forward Ross Aitchison (Berwick, Scotland) scored the lone goal of the match against Saint Joseph’s, heading in a corner kick … it was Aitchison’s 24 career goal for the Timberwolves … NU returns to action September 9 in a home match against Urbana University at 4:30 p.m.

Saginaw Valley State Cardinals (0-1-1, 0-0-0 GLIAC)

The Saginaw Valley State University men’s soccer team opened up the 2009 season with a 5-4 loss to the Pumas of St. Joesph’s College (8/28) before drawing-even with #12 Lewis University, 0-0 (8/30). Against St. Joe’s, the Cardinals were led offensively by freshman mid-fielder Mackenzie Bechard (Shelby Township, Mich/Utica), who scored twice in the losing effort. Senior mid-fielder Kevin Fox (Flushing, Mich.) added a goal and an assist. In the match versus Lewis, senior goalkeeper Piotr Kazmierczak stopped all nine shots he faced. The play of the game may have been at the 52:35 mark when defenseman Brock Humphries (Shelby Township, Mich. / Utica Eisenhower HS) made a team save for the Cardinals after a Flyer slipped past Kazmierczak. The Cardinals move their record to 0-1-1 on the season. Saginaw Valley State will return to the field on Sept. 5 when it hosts John Carroll University at 5:00 p.m.

Tiffin Dragons (1-0-0, 0-0-0 GLIAC)

Jeff Frisch made 7 saves in goal over 90 minutes to pick up the 2-1 win at Roberts Wesleyan…GLIAC Player of the Year Ashton Campbell opened his season by scoring the winning goal in the 44th minute…Rhys Cannella also scored a goal in the victory, while Michael O’Neill and Rabii Karanouh added assists…the Dragons improved to 5-8-1 overall against the Raiders, avenging last year’s 4-1 opening season loss.