Ykoruk Selected as ECAC DIII Metro Coach of the Year; Bertucci Named to All-Star 1st Team
DANBURY, Conn. --- Moravian College Head Women’s Soccer Coach Jeff Ykoruk has been honored as the 2016 ECAC Division III Metro Coach of the Year after leading the Greyhounds to a 10-7-1 record and a berth in the Landmark Conference Championship match this fall, and junior defender Lauren Bertucci was named to the Metro All-Star First Team.
DANBURY, Conn. --- Moravian College Head Women's Soccer Coach Jeff Ykoruk has been honored as the 2016 ECAC Division III Metro Coach of the Year after leading the Greyhounds to a 10-7-1 record and a berth in the Landmark Conference Championship match this fall, and junior defender Lauren Bertucci was named to the Metro All-Star First Team.
The Greyhounds' campaign included a 4-3 double-overtime win over The Catholic University of America in the Landmark Conference Semifinals, the first home postseason victory for the program since 2008.
Ykoruk, who was also selected as the Landmark Conference Co-Coach of the Year this fall, finished his third year leading the Moravian program and his 13th as a collegiate head coach. He earned his 100th career victory on October 5 with a 3-1 victory over King's College, and Ykoruk has a collegiate record of 106-89-20 with the last 21 wins at Moravian.
"Jeff has shown to be an outside of the box professional who brings an unparalleled set of skills and experiences to Moravian," commented Director of Athletics & Recreation George L. Bright. "He has demonstrated a keen ability to implement coaching strategies to inspire and has elevated our women's soccer program to a championship-caliber team."
Bertucci earned her second postseason honor of the fall after earning a spot on the Landmark All-Conference First. Bertucci is a three-time Landmark All-Conference player with selections to the Second Team in 2014 and 2015. She had one assist in 2016 while helping the Greyhounds allow just 22 goals in 18 matches, and Bertucci has two goals and an assist for five points in her career.
"We are very happy for Lauren, and she had an outstanding year," stated Ykoruk. "She was our anchor in the back and was relentless in her play. She is by far the best player in the air that I have coached and she is always there to clean up other players' mistakes. In her three years, I can honestly say we can't pick one game where she didn't play to her full potential."
To view the entire 2016 ECAC DIII Metro Women's Soccer All-Star Team, visit http://ecacsports.com/news/2016/11/30/gen_1130160656.aspx?elinkdata=54895.
