Hudson takes over at Bethany

BETHANY, W. Va. -- Melissa Hudson, a former Beaver Local High soccer player and coach, is facing a big challenge as she returns to her collegiate alma mater as the Bethany College women's soccer coach.
Not only is Hudson inheriting a Bethany team that struggled to a 3-14-1 record last year (including 2-7-1 in the Presidents' Athletic Conference), but the Bison have lost two starters to injuries, including sophomore Jennifer Burin, a Warren JFK graduate.
"It definitely will be a rebuilding year. We had two major injuries," said Hudson, who came to Bethany from Beaver Local where she compiled a 22-11-4 record the past two years and led the Beavers to back-to-back sectional championships and one district title.
While a player for Bethany for coach Rob Clune, Hudson was a goalie and captain, allowing just five goals in eight games as a senior, including one shutout, and registered 35 saves.
As a Beaver Local player, she played stopper and goalie for coach John Diffenderfer.
Burin sidelined
Hudson said Burin, a two-time returning starter and a team captain who is from Vienna, broke her ankle about a week ago in an off-the-field accident, and will be sidelined for the rest of the season.
The other injured player is junior Andrea Summer from Buckeye Valley High in Delaware, Ohio, who tore her anterior cruciate ligament in a scrimmage.
Burin played in all 18 games last year and shared team high-scoring honors with five points on two goals and one assist, and also led the team in shots with 28. In 2002, she started all 20 games and had one goal and one assist for three points, and took 23 shots.
Although Bethany's outlook is not bright, Hudson is right where she wants to be.
"This was what I always wanted to do," she said of her new job. "It's always been a dream of mine to be at the college level, and the fact that the Bethany job opened made it a job I just couldn't pass up."
Also is teaching
In addition to coaching soccer, Hudson is teaching two coed golf classes and elementary physical education and health classes at Bethany.
"I really love what I am doing," said Hudson, who is looking forward to using her ideas and strategies to develop a successful team.
"We try to improve individual skills to improve the team," she said.
Hudson recorded her first win at Bethany Sept. 4 when the Bison won their home opener over Lake Erie College, 2-1, behind freshman Rachelle Smith's goal and assist. Bethany then fell to a 1-3 record as of last week.
Eyes area players
Hudson is looking for Youngstown-area talent. "I plan on recruiting in this area," she said.
She encourages high school students interested in attending Bethany and playing soccer, and their parents and coaches, to call her at (304) 829-7031.
Hudson actually coached girls soccer for the last three years at Beaver Local, but her first season was as an assistant.
She also has coaching experience in girls track and basketball, having coached the Beaver Local girls track team for two years, and the Beaver Local Junior High girls basketball team for three seasons.
But Hudson also focuses on teaching, education and academics.
She was an elementary school teacher in the Beaver Local School District, teaching physical education for students in kindergarten through fourth grade.
She received a master of arts degree in teaching from Marygrove College in Detroit in 2004, and plans to begin work toward a second masters degree at West Virginia University next semester.
The daughter of Bill Croxall and Lari French, Melissa and her husband, Jacob, live in East Liverpool.
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