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Coach Moynihan: In His Own Words With each passing year, the achievements continue to mount for head coach Michael Moynihan. He enters his 13th season at the helm of the Panther soccer team with nine-straight Horizon League regular season championships in tow, a gaudy .887 wining percentage in league games, six league coach of the year awards and a school-record 150 wins overall. Last season was no exception, as the Panthers put together, arguably, their best season to date. Milwaukee won a school-record 18 games and spent much of the season in the national rankings. UWM ascended as high as No. 16 in the nation and No. 2 in the region while claiming a ninth-straight league regular season championship. The Panthers won their fifth league tournament crown to advance to the NCAA Tournament for the sixth time. They would finish the season nationally-ranked for the first time at No. 24. The key to Milwaukee's success in 2008 was due, in large part, to its high-scoring offense. The team set school records with 65 goals, 70 assists and 200 points. Sarah Hagen led the way as just a freshman with a league-record 24 goals and school-record 54 points. She and Sarah Teegarden then became the first teammates in school history to earn All-America honors. Hagen was a unanimous Freshman All-American First Team choice and was selected to Soccer Buzz's All-America Fourth Team. Teegarden was a third-team honoree by both the NSCAA and Soccer Buzz. Player success is not limited to their Panther playing days. Five players have experienced professional soccer in America with the WUSA and WPS. Lisa Krzykowski enjoyed a solid career with the Atlanta Beat of WUSA and later the San Diego Beat. Josha Krueger (Boston Breakers) and Fanta Cooper (Carolina Courage) spent time in WUSA training camps, while Cooper was later drafted by Sky Blue FC of WPS. Former goalkeepers Kane and Kathy Hoverman have also spent time in the pro ranks, as Kane is currently playing with St. Louis Athletica of WPS and Hoverman spent time with the Washington Freedom in 2002. The NCAA Tournament trip in 2008 was UWM's sixth overall, while its current streak of nine-straight regular season league crowns represent the second-longest current streak of its kind. Only Penn State in the Big Ten (11) has won more. In that time, the Panthers have gone 55-2-3 in league play, including the two longest league unbeaten streaks in league history. From 2003-08, Milwaukee went 31 (29-0-2) regular season league contests without a loss. Overall, Moynihan boasts a 64-6-5 (.887) record in league play and has led the team to 10 Horizon League regular season titles. The Panthers went 5-0 in 2000 to post the league's first perfect season since 1995. They followed that up with a 6-0 campaign in 2001 and then posted 7-0 league records in 2004 and 2006. UWM has also posted unbeaten seasons in 1997, 2002, 2005 and 2007 and has won the league tournament a league-record five times. The Milwaukee native has been rewarded for his efforts as he has won six league coach of the year awards. His players have also earned their fair share of awards, as four players have been named Horizon League Player of the Year, including three straight from 1999 to 2001 (Fanta Cooper, 1999 and 2000; Erin Blaedow, 2001). Panthers have also earned all-region honors 28 times and 65 all-league first or second team awards. On top of that, Erin Kane and Sarah Teegarden were both Freshman All-Americans in 2005. Moynihan began his 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. That time laid the groundwork for when he would take over the program in 1997. 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 secondary education from UWM in 1993. Moynihan holds a USSF `A' coaching license as well as a USSF national youth license. He has beem heavily involved in the Olympic Development Program for the past 20 years, coaching at the national, regional and state levels. This year he serves as head coach for the `93 state team and is an assistant with the `95 regional team. Moynihan and his wife, Holly, have one son, Gabriel, and reside in Shorewood. |
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