With each passing year, the achievements continue to mount for head coach Michael Moynihan. Entering his 10th season at the helm of the Panther soccer team, Moynihan is coming off arguably the most accomplished season in school history. In addition to a sixth-straight Horizon League regular season championship, UWM won the league tournament to advance to the NCAA Tournament for the third time in five seasons. In the tourney, the Panthers held Purdue scoreless for 110 minutes and advanced on penalty kicks to the second round for the first time in school history. Following the season, UWM received votes in the Soccer Buzz national poll, its first national votes since 1997, and finished fourth in the Great Lakes Region poll. Last season's squad broke the school consecutive shutout record with a six-game ride that carried into the NCAA Tournament. That streak was part of a school-record 13-game unbeaten streak (10-0-3). The Panthers also tied the school record with 13 shutouts. Off the field, several players were honored regionally and nationally. Ginny Graczyk was named All-Region First Team by both the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) and Soccer Buzz, while Erin Kane and Sarah Teegarden were named Freshman All-Americans with Kane garnering a First Team nod from Soccer America. All three players were selected to the All-Horizon League First Team. Already the winningest coach in history of the UWM women's soccer program, Moynihan became the fourth soccer coach in school history to reach 100 wins towards the end of the 2005 regular season and now has 103 for his career. The Milwaukee native has been rewarded for his efforts as he has won four league coach of the year awards. He was honored after his first season in 1997, then in back-to-back years in 2000 and 2001. He was last honored in 2004. He has also guided four players to Horizon League Player of the Year awards, including three straight from 1999 to 2001 (Fanta Cooper, 1999 and 2000; Erin Blaedow, 2001). A big reason for his league honors is that Milwaukee has been unstoppable under Moynihan against league foes, boasting a 43-5-4 (.900) league record, uncluding 34-1-2 (.946) since 2000. In fact, UWM did not lose a league game from 2000 through 2003, a league-record 21-game unbeaten streak (20-0-1). The team currently has the third-best streak of 15 games (14-0-1). Milwaukee has made a total of four NCAA Tournament appearances, including last season's trip to the tourney's second round. It also never experienced a losing season under Moynihan, while winning at least 10 games in all but one season. The 2001 campaign saw the Panthers set numerous records, establishing single-season marks for wins (15), shutouts (13), consecutive wins (9) and consecuting shutouts (4). UWM also did not allow a goal during Horizon League play or during the league tournament--a span of eight games. Milwaukee began its dominance of Horizon League foes during the 2000 season. The Panthers posted the league's first perfect season since 1995 by going 5-0. They followed that up with a 6-0 campaign in 2001 and then posted a 7-0 league record in 2004. In 1997, Moynihan's first season as head coach, Milwaukee earned the school's first berth in the NCAA Tournament by virtue of winning the league tournament. The Panthers went 13-3-4 that season, which ties the 2001 campaign as the best single-season winning percentage in school history. The next season saw the Panthers pull off their first victory over a ranked foe, as they topped No. 8 Nebraska, 2-1, in overtime, in Lincoln, Neb., to open the season. In 1999, the Panthers spent the entire season ranked in the top 10 of the Great Lakes Region by the NSCAA, another first for the program. Moynihan began is collegiate coaching career in 1993 as an assistant coach with Milwaukee. Coaching under his sister, Susan, he helped the Panthers to a 40-33-4 mark in four seasons as an assistant. Moynihan has taken pride in his soccer ties to the community. Giving back to the area that supported his growth as a player, Moynihan has coached and influenced many local soccer clubs and players. He currently serves on the board of directors for the Shorewood Kickers and formerly was the the director of coaching for the Wisconsin Girls Olympic Development Program. Moynihan also coached both the Milwaukee Pius XI varsity girls and Marquette High School freshman boys teams, along with club soccer for F.C. Milwaukee. Moynihan and his players regularly host soccer camps and clinics throughout the area to help spread their knowledge and love of the game. His coaching philosophy is based on his players having a simple desire to learn. He excels in developing not only players' skills, but also their appreciation for the game. He graduated from Wisconsin in 1990 with a degree in history. While at Wisconsin, Moynihan was a four-year letterwinner with the Badger soccer team. He served two years as team captain and was also the recipient of the team's Bill Reddan Award for Sportsmanship as a senior. In addition, he was named the team's most valuable freshman in 1986. Continuing his education, he earned a teaching certificate in secodary education from UWM in 1993. Moynihan holds a USSF `A' coaching license as well as a USSF national youth license. He is currently on the advisory staff for Region II ODP, the head coach for the `91 ODP regional team and coach for the `89 ODP team at the state level. Moynihan and his wife, Holly, welcomed their first child in September of 2005, a son, Gabriel. |
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