KANSAS CITY, MO.---Jane Hoops, a senior goalkeeper for the Nebraska Wesleyan University women's soccer team, and Stewart Wagner, a freshman forward on the men's soccer team at Bard College, were named today as the recipients of the October 2003 Association of Division III Independents Student-Athlete of the Month awards.

Hoops, a secondary education history and social sciences major from Lincoln, NE, recorded five shutouts in eight October contests. For the month, she allowed just six goals (0.73 goals-against average) and made 47 saves as Nebraska Wesleyan improved its record to 13-6. The Prairie Wolves completed a nine-game turnaround from last year, and Hoops' play in goal was a big reason for the improved play.

"Jane made the most of her senior season," said head women's soccer coach Taylor Haynes. "Individually, she played a major role in our team's turnaround by giving us the chance to win every match."

Hoops earned conference player-of-the-week honors (NAIA Great Plains Athletic Conference) October 20, and she recently was named the conference's co-player of the year.

Said Haynes, "She deserves this award because of the sense of ownership she took with our games and her job as our goalkeeper. She set the tone for every player on our team with her toughness."

Wagner scored 22 goals and had five assists in 10 October games, an average 2.2 goals and .5 assists per game. The Brookline, MA, native scored half of Bard's goals during the month, leading the team to a 6-4 record. He scored the game-winning goal in five of the six victories.

Wagner was named Hudson Valley player of the week three times in October, as well as being named the Hudson Valley Tournament MVP. He recently set new single-season records at Bard for goals and points, surpassing the previous marks with his performance in October alone. He finished the season with 25 goals and 10 assists, for a total of 60 points. Wagner ranked among the Division III statistical leaders in goals per game average (1.29-5th) and points per game average (3.12-5th).

Bard head coach Scott Swere noted that Wagner started the season playing center midfield and did a solid job, scoring two goals and assisting on another during the first nine games of the season. But when the team had difficulty finishing, he decided to give Wagner the opportunity to run up front.

Said Swere, "Stewart responded with 23 goals and nine assists in our last 10 games, and really turned the season around for us. He is an exceptional athlete with a tremendous work ethic, and I think his performance in October, as well as the entire season, is an indication of even better things to come."

The Association of Division III Independents consists of 20 Division III independent institutions that have come together to face the unique challenges that confront independent institutions. The Association strives to enhance communication and professional development among administrators of Division III independent institutions; contributes to effective participation by independent institutions in the Division III governance structure; and seeks equitable opportunities for participation in NCAA championships for student-athletes at its member institutions.

The awards are the second of nine monthly awards offered by the Association, which began formal operations in September 2002. All student-athletes from the Association's 20 members were eligible for the award. Each school was allowed to nominate its top performing male and female student-athletes from October. The award recipients were selected unanimously after a vote of the Association's Student-Athlete Recognition Committee.

More information about the Association of Division III Independents is available at www.d3independents.org.

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