By Nicholas Huenefeld/Owens Sports Information

San Francisco, Calif.---Marissa Ramirez, who held two of the nation's leading scorers to zero goals in the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Division I National Tournament, is headed to NCAA Division II Academy of Art University.

The sophomore defender held Butler Community College's Morgan Foster, the nation's leading scorer, and Darton State's Lyana Perez, the nation's third leading scorer, without a point in their games against Owens in the national tournament this past fall. That duo combined for 81 goals and 190 points this past season.

Ramirez recorded one goal and two assists as a sophomore. She scored her lone career goal in a win over Delta College on Oct. 23. Following the season, she was named National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Second Team All-Region XII and NSCAA All-Central Region. Additionally, she was the recipient of the team's Coaches Award for the second straight season.

The 2012 Northwood High School graduate was named Second Team All-Region XII after her freshman year, as well.

Ramirez joins Erika Brinkman (Purdue University Calumet, NAIA), Jill Burkholder (University of Saint Francis, NAIA) and Elizabeth Theaker (MidAmerica Nazarene University, NAIA) as one of four sophomores to sign with four-year schools from last year's Owens women's soccer team.

Academy of Art University finished 3-14-1, but will be led by first-year head coach Katie Awerkamp, as well as former Owens women's soccer head coach Mary Whisler, who is in her first year as an assistant there. The team competes in the Pacific West Conference (PacWest).

Notes

Aside from Ramirez being from Northwood High School, the other three signees are also local players with Brinkman from Kalida High School, Burkholder from Bryan High School and Theaker from Maumee High School.