Mids soccer among nation's best

Colleges and Universities A-Z Naval Academy - Annapolis
1

<p>Posted today on GoMids.com:</p>

<p><a href="http://navy.scout.com/2/580958.html%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://navy.scout.com/2/580958.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

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In an era when players are trying to beat in their opponent’s heads in the middle of a football game using various medieval tactics and even a pair of crutches, it’s good to know there are better college sports stories out there. There is, in fact, a brighter side to the antics displayed last weekend in the Orange Bowl.

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The Navy women’s soccer team is the last unbeaten and untied team in the country. At 16-0-0, the Mids are ranked #17 in the Soccer America poll, and they are four regular season games away from perfection.

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<p>:) :) :)</p>

2

<p>Navy has won a nation's-best 17-straight games, including five in a row in the Patriot League.</p>

<p>ANNAPOLIS, Md. - Senior Meggie Curran (Silver Spring, Md.) scored a pair of goals, while sophomore Sam Schroth (Chester Springs, Pa.) added a goal and an assist as the 17th-ranked Navy women's soccer team produced a 4-0 victory over Patriot League foe Lehigh (7-7-1/3-1-1 PL) Friday night at the Glenn Warner Soccer Facility. The Mids extended their winning streak to 17 in a row, tying the school record for wins (1998, '03), and have clinched one of the four Patriot League play-off spots. </p>

<p>Early in the game, Lehigh was patient and maintained possession, while the Mids looked to settle into their offense. The Mountain Hawks did a good job of closing in on Navy's long balls in the corners, but a handball in the box off a Julie Reynolds (Sherman, Conn.) shot in the 34th minute set up a penalty kick for the Mids and turned the momentum in the direction of Navy. Senior midfielder Carmen Myers (Woodbridge, Va.) scored on the penalty kick, putting the Mids on the board and in the lead for good. </p>

<p>Curran scored the first of her two goals just three minutes into the second half when she sped past her defender and launched a shot from nearly 30 yards out on the left sideline, sending the ball just out of reach of diving goalkeeper Julie Kafka. </p>

<p>Navy increased its lead to 3-0 when Schroth took a near-identical shot to Curran's goal, striking the ball on the left side of the field and rippling the right corner of the net. </p>

<p>Curran scored the Mids' final goal of the contest in the 74th minute when defender Lauren Bresnahan (Weston, Fla.) found Schroth streaking up the middle of the field. Schroth took off with the ball and played it to Curran who again shot from the left side and struck the right corner of the goal. </p>

<p>With her two-goal performance, Curran moved past Justine Fisher ('01, 114 pts) into second on the Mids' all-time career scoring list with 115 points and trails all-time leading scorer, the late Stacy Finley, by 11 points. Curran also moved into fourth on Navy's career goals list with 37. </p>

<p>The Mountain Hawks' Kafka played a solid game in goal where she stopped six of Navy's shots on goal, including a a diving save in the 21st minute off a Brittany White (Carmel, Ind.) shot from 10 yards out on the right side of the box. </p>

<p>Navy keeper Lizzie Barnes (New Orleans, La.) made three saves in the 84-plus minutes in goal, while rookie Beth Reed (Indianapolis, Ind.) came in to make one save in five minutes of action. </p>

<p>The Midshipmen continue Patriot League action on Sunday when they play host to Lafayette. Game time is set for 1:00 pm at the Glenn Warner Soccer Facility. Navy will hold a postgame autograph session, while the knights from the Medieval Times Dinner and Entertainment show will be on-site to sign autographs before the game and will performance an exhibition joust at the half. In addition, there will be a free raffle for four tickets to a Medieval Times show held at the Arundel Mills Mall.</p>

3

<p>Collegiate Women's Soccer: Navy Breaks School Record for Wins with Victory over Lafayette 4-0</p>

<p>Navy Sports Information 102206 (C10-23)
Collegiate Women's Soccer
Navy def. Lafayette, 4-0</p>

<p>For Immediate Release
Sunday, Oct. 22, 2006
Women's Soccer Contact: Stacie Michaud (410) 293-8773</p>

<p>Navy Breaks School Record for Wins with Victory over Lafayette
ANNAPOLIS, Md. - Four players scored goals for the Mids, including Sam Schroth's (Chester Springs, Pa.) game-winner in the 44th minute, to lead Navy (18-0-0/6-0-0 Patriot League) to a 4-0 victory over Lafayette (4-10-2/0-5-1 PL) on a windy Sunday afternoon at the Glenn Warner Soccer Facility. Producing its 18th win of the season, the Navy women's soccer team set the program's single-season wins mark, breaking the previous record of 17 set in 1998 and later matched in 2003.</p>

<p>"Our goal this season was to peak at the end of the year, playing our best soccer heading into the Patriot League Tournament," said Navy head coach Carin Gabarra. "We have a few more games to go before the tournament, but we've seen continued improvement as each game goes by and our team effort has been a driving force in our success this season."</p>

<p>Both teams battled the wind and fought to find their teammates' feet early in the game. Navy began to get into a rhythm midway through the first stanza and just came up short on each of its four corner kicks.</p>

<p>At 43:26, newcomer Jen Grijalva (Pleasanton, Calif.) played the ball to Schroth who pulled the keeper out of the goal, dribbled around her and kicked the ball into an open net for Navy's first goal of the game.</p>

<p>Navy tacked on a second goal less than a minute later when Kari Weniger (St. Petersburg, Fla.) served the ball to sophomore forward Kristen Laraway (Long Valley, N.J.) who fired a high-arching shot from 25 yards out that went over Lafayette keeper Mary Kate Erdman's head.</p>

<p>Junior Brigitte Fox (La Mesa, Calif.), a member of three national teams of the week this past week, fired in her eighth goal of the season when freshman Lauren Bresnahan (Weston, Fla.) passed off to team captain Molly Burd (Englewood, Colo.), who one-touched it to Fox. Fox took the shot from eight yards out on the left side, finding the lower right-hand corner.</p>

<p>Navy's final goal of the afternoon came at 76:04 when Weniger won the battle in a scrum, kicking the ball into the left side of the goal from 4 yards out.</p>

<p>The Mids outshot Lafayette, 21-7, including a 10-4 shots on goal advantage.</p>

<p>Sophomore keeper Lizzie Barnes (New Orleans, La.) made three stops in her 76-plus minutes of action, while freshman Beth Reed (Indianapolis, Ind.) played the final 13:40 and made one stop. The Leopards' Erdman made six saves against the Midshipmen. </p>

<p>Navy tied the school record for shutouts, producing its 15th this season, including six in Patriot League play. The Mids have outscored their opponents 65-3 this fall, including 20-0 in conference action. </p>

<p>Navy will be back in action on Thursday night when the Mids play host to ninth-ranked Penn State in a nonconference matchup. Action is slated for 7:00 pm at the Glenn Warner Soccer Facility. The Naval Academy Athletic Association is offering a special 2-for-1 ticket. To take advantage of the offer, log on to <a href="http://www.navysports.com%5B/url%5D"&gt;www.navysports.com&lt;/a> and navigate to the women's soccer page where on the left-hand side of the page there is a link to print out the coupon. In addition, all Naval Academy faculty/staff members can receive up to four FREE tickets to Thursday night's contest with a valid USNA I.D. Show your I.D. at the Glenn Warner ticket window on the night of the game to receive your free tickets.</p>

4

<p>Collegiate Women’s Soccer: Mids earn a spot in three national polls</p>

<p>Navy Sports Information 102406 (C10-24)
Collegiate Women’s Soccer
Mids earn a spot in three national polls</p>

<p>For Immediate Release
Tuesday, Oct. 24, 2006
Women’s Soccer Contact: Stacie Michaud (410) 293-8773</p>

<p>Navy Soccer Ranked in Three Polls
ANNAPOLIS, Md. — For the first time in program history, Navy is ranked in three national soccer polls — Soccer America, Soccer Times and Soccer Buzz. The Mids have turned in nine-straight shutout victories and have won a program-record 18 games. Navy also owns the nation’s longest unbeaten streak, winning 18 in a row.</p>

<p>Navy improved to 18-0-0 after producing three wins last week, including a pair of victories against Patriot League foes Lehigh (4-0) and Lafayette (4-0). The Mids, who have appeared in the Soccer America poll in each of the last five weeks, have earned their highest ranking in school history with a No. 14 ranking this week. Last week, Navy made its debut on the Soccer Buzz poll where the Mids stood 26th. This week, the Mids cracked the top 20 and are ranked 19th. Finally, Navy is making its first appearance in program history on the Soccer Times poll where the Mids are ranked 25th. Navy was just a point shy of making the Soccer Times poll a week ago.</p>

<p>According to the last RPI released by the NCAA on Oct. 1, Navy was ranked 15th in the country. Since that report was generated, the Mids have picked up six more wins and have gone undefeated in the Patriot League.</p>

<p>With two regular-season contests and the Patriot League Tournament remaining, the following are just some of Navy team and individual accomplishments. </p>

<p>• Navy has won 18-straight games, the longest winning streak in the country.
• With its 4-0 win over Lafayette, Navy broke the school record for most wins in a season with 18 … the previous record was 17 set in 1998 and later matched in 2003.
• Navy is 6-0 in Patriot League play for the first time in program history … it equals the most wins by the Mids in league action since posting six in 2001 and again in 2003.
• Navy has played 851:15 since last giving up a goal … the Mids surrendered a goal against Albany on Sept. 22 in the 59th minutes … Navy has since put together a school-record nine-consecutive shutouts.
• Adding on three shutouts this past week, Navy pushed its total for the year to 15, tying the school record that was set in 2002.
• Navy has outscored its opponents, 65-3, and out-shot its opponents, 346-166 … in Patriot League action, Navy has outscored its foes 20-0 and own a 125-69 shot advantage.
• 10 different players scored for the Mids in their 10-0 win over Howard (10/16) and now all 20 field players have scored, while sophomore keeper Lizzie Barnes also earned a point in the win.
• 11 different players have recorded the Mids’ 18 game-winners this season.
• 13 of Navy’s 18 wins have been at home, the most wins at home in program history and the most consecutive home wins in a season • Navy has set program records in points (206), goals (65), assists (76), shutouts (15-tied), goals-against average (0.17) and victories (18) this season, leaving only shots and saves as the untouched categories.
• Navy is ranked No. 1 in the nation in goals-against average, shutout percentage (0.83) and save percentage (0.955) ... sophomore keeper Lizzie Barnes is ranked No. 1 in goals-against average (0.069) and save percentage (0.981) ... senior Meggie Curran is ranked No. 2 in assists per game (0.78), while rookie Cassie Barbaresi is third (0.75) and team captain Molly Burd is 24th (0.50).</p>

<p>Navy returns to action on Thursday when it plays host to Penn State. The 12-3-3 Nittany Lions are ranked ninth in the National Soccer Coaches Association of America poll. Thursday’s matchup is slated to start at 7:00 pm at the Glenn Warner Soccer Facility in Annapolis.</p>

5

<p>Mids Remain Only Unbeaten And Untied Team in Division I</p>

<p>Published in today's Washington Compost:</p>

<p><a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/10/24/AR2006102401173.html%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/10/24/AR2006102401173.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

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Of all the staggering numbers the Navy women's soccer team has compiled this fall, from the 841-minute scoreless streak to the 65 goals scored and three allowed, the Midshipmen are most proud of this one: 18-0.</p>

<p>The 14th-ranked Midshipmen will take that record -- the only unbeaten, untied mark in Division I among men and women -- into tomorrow night's game against No. 10 Penn State (12-3-3) in Annapolis.

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6

<p>Published in today's Baltimore Examiner:</p>

<p><a href="http://www.examiner.com/a-363271%7EMids_ready_to_make_validation_pitch.html%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.examiner.com/a-363271~Mids_ready_to_make_validation_pitch.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

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[quote]
The Navy women’s soccer team has received a lot of national attention after getting off to a school-record 18-0 start.</p>

<p>The Midshipmen are currently ranked 14th nationally, are in first place and have clinched a berth in the Patriot League tournament, and own the longest winning streak in the nation. Still, Navy has its doubters, but it has a shot to prove them wrong by knocking off ninth-ranked Penn State tonight at 7 p.m. at the Glenn Warner Soccer Facility in Annapolis.

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7

<p>C++. Make that 19-0-0 with a 1-0 victory over Penn State!</p>

8

<p>Published in today's Washington Compost:</p>

<p><a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/10/26/AR2006102601593.html%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/10/26/AR2006102601593.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

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[quote]
Navy's perfect record in women's soccer has been largely dismissed because of a weak schedule, but last night in Annapolis, the Midshipmen proved their worth against elite competition....</p>

<p>The Midshipmen (19-0-0) will close the regular season Sunday afternoon at home against Bucknell, needing only a tie to clinch the top seed in next week's Patriot League tournament.

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9

<p>Unbeaten Midshipmen top Penn State women</p>

<p>Published in yesterday's Annapolis Capital:</p>

<p><a href="http://www.hometownannapolis.com/cgi-bin/read/2006/10_27-61/NAS%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.hometownannapolis.com/cgi-bin/read/2006/10_27-61/NAS&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

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[quote]
It was an incredible night at the Glenn Warner Soccer Facility.</p>

<p>A facility-record crowd of 2,412 turned out to watch No. 14 Navy take on ninth-ranked Penn State in a late-season women's soccer showdown. They were loud and raucous throughout and ultimately helped the Midshipmen register a monumental upset....

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10

<p>Navy earned a share of the Patriot League regular-season title by finishing 6-1-0.</p>

<p>ANNAPOLIS, Md. - Bucknell forward Krista Lee Gentile scored in the 69th minute to lead the Bison (12-4-1/6-1-0 Patriot League) to a 2-1 victory over the 14th-ranked Navy women's soccer team (19-1-0/6-1-0 PL) Sunday afternoon at the Glenn Warner Soccer Facility. The loss snapped Navy's 19-game winning streak, the longest in the nation. </p>

<p>The loss couldn't have come at a more critical point in the season with Navy needing to defeat or tie Bucknell to earn the right to host the Patriot League Tournament next Friday and Sunday. Instead, Bucknell has earned the No. 1 seed by virtue of its win over the Mids and will play host to the four-team tournament in Lewisburg, Pa. Seeded second, Navy will square off against third-seeded Lehigh Friday at 4:30 pm, followed by the Bucknell-Colgate match-up to be start at 7:00 pm. </p>

<p>"We are 19-1-0, it's okay. We're okay," said Navy head coach Carin Gabarra. "We will use this week to regain our focus which all along has been to win the Patriot League. We still have the opportunity to win the tournament and get an at-large bid into the NCAA Tournament." </p>

<p>Navy gained the early advantage in the game when senior forward Meggie Curran (Silver Spring, Md.) took the ball from the left sideline and dribbled it to the center of the field. With the wind at her back, Curran booted a near 30-yard shot that just grazed Bucknell keeper Katie Dry's fingertips and then rippled the net in the sixth minute. </p>

<p>"I knew that I had the wind at my back, so I went ahead and shot the ball from a ways out," said Curran who scored her team-best 12th goal of the game. "I put the ball up and the wind got up underneath it and carried it in." </p>

<p>The Mids missed an opportunity to go up by two when sophomore CiAnna Weikle (Lakeville, Minn.) dribbled up the middle to the top of the box where she had a one-on-one shot against the keeper, but sent it wide left with 18 minutes remaining in the half. </p>

<p>Navy held its lead until three minutes before the break when rookie midfielder Chelsea Brinkman sent her corner kick to the far post where sophomore Nicole Marotta was able to head in the Bison goal. For Marotta, the goal was her first of the season. For the Mids, it was the first goal they had surrendered since Sept. 22, against Albany - 983:28 minutes. </p>

<p>The Bison also missed an opportunity to go up earlier in the game, as Brinkman sent a free kick from 30 yards out that Navy keeper Lizzie Barnes (New Orleans, La.) was able to punch up in the air and that snatch from play. </p>

<p>Bucknell broke the tie in the 69th minute when Brinkman fired off a shot that was stopped by Barnes. Barnes was unable to reel the ball in as Bison forward Jennifer Devarics settled the ball to Gentile who tucked it in the right upper corner of the goal. </p>

<p>Navy, who fought the wind in the second half, outshot the Bison in the second half, 10-6, however nearly every shot the Mids took was pushed up by the wind. The Mids' best chance to score in the closing minute was a shot by junior midfielder Katie Traster (Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.) from five yards out on the left side of the box. Traster got off a good shot, but it was kicked out by Bison freshman defender Lauren Stoller to seal the win for Bucknell. </p>

<p>Navy held a 19-11 shots advantage, as well as earning a 7-3 edge in corners. Barnes stopped five shots on goal, while Dry made three saves. </p>

<p>"It's disappointing to lose at the end of the regular season like this," added Curran. "It's really been an amazing season. We'll regroup this week and we'll be ready for next week's Patriot League Tournament."</p>

11

<p>Published in today's Washington Times:</p>

<p><a href="http://www.washingtontimes.com/sports/20061030-125422-1058r.htm%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.washingtontimes.com/sports/20061030-125422-1058r.htm&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>
[quote]
Bucknell authored a sad chapter yesterday in the otherwise inspiring story of Navy's women's soccer team....

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12

<p>Four Navy freshmen earned All-Patriot League recognition, including three on the first team.</p>

<p>Nov. 1, 2006</p>

<p>CENTER VALLEY, Pa. - Nine Navy women's soccer players were named to the 2006 All-Patriot League Women's Soccer Teams Wednesday, including senior Meggie Curran (Silver Spring, Md.), a three-time member of the league's first team. It's the most Midshipmen honored since 1998 when Navy put eight players on the first team and one on the second team. </p>

<p>Navy topped the list of 2006 selections with nine, including six first-teamers, followed by Bucknell with six, Lehigh and American with three, Colgate with two and Army had one. The last time six Mids earned first-team recognition was in 1998. </p>

<p>Eight of Navy's nine all-league picks were first-time winners, including four freshmen. The last time a Navy rookie earned All-Patriot League kudos was in 2001 when Xochitl Piedra was a second-team selection and was named the co-rookie of the year. It's the most Navy freshmen to earn postseason recognition since 1996 when Shannon Filbin, Michelle Nance and Kristen Riismandel were honored. </p>

<p>Curran was named to the Patriot League First Team for the third-consecutive season after leading the league in points (38), goals (12) and assists (14). She has led the Mids in all three categories in each of the last three years. She is averaging 0.7 assists per game and is ranked third in the country, while her 1.90 points per game is the 14th-best average in the nation. Curran is ranked second on the Mids' all-time scoring list with 117 points on 38 goals and a program-record 41 assists. The three-year starter not only is the first Navy player to reach 40-plus assists in her career, she is only the third player in Patriot League history to achieve the feat. As she heads into her final Patriot League Tournament, Curran needs just two points to become only the second player to produce 40-plus points in a season. </p>

<p>After suffering a season-ending injury just four games into the 2005 campaign, junior Brigitte Fox (La Mesa, Calif.) returned to the playing field this fall without missing a beat and has been named to the Patriot League First Team. Fox is Navy's third-leading scorer with 20 points on eight goals and four assists, and has booted in a team-high tying three game-winners. She became only the seventh different player in program history to record a hat trick when she scored three goals in Navy's victory at Colgate. The following week, she was named the Patriot League Offensive Player of the Week as well as being named to three national teams of the week - Soccer America, Soccer Buzz and Soccer Times. </p>

<p>First-Team All-Patriot League midfielder Cassie Barbaresi (Bradenton, Fla.) has had a sensational rookie campaign, amassing 24 points on six goals and 12 assists. A product of IMG Soccer Academies in Florida, Barbaresi has provided the Midshipmen with a tremendous spark coming off the bench. Three of her six goals were game-winners, including her goal to lead the Mids past the SEC's LSU. She is pacing the league's freshmen in points (1.33 ppg), assists (0.67 apg) and goals (0.33 gpg). Ranked fifth in the country in assists per game, Barbaresi has turned in four multi-assist games, including two three-assist days. Barbaresi earned weekly honors from the Patriot League three times in the first four weeks, twice being named the rookie of the week and once as the offensive player of the week. </p>

<p>Sophomore goalkeeper Lizzie Barnes (New Orleans, La.) is Navy's fourth member of the Patriot League First Team after pacing the Mids to 16 shutouts this fall. Barnes has been the top-ranked goalkeeper in the nation over the last two months for goals-against average and save percentage. She heads into the Patriot League Tournament having given up just three goals this season (0.18 GAA) and has produced a 95.3 save percentage, stopping 61 of the 64 shots she has faced on goal. A three-time Patriot League Goalkeeper-of-the-Week selection, Barnes stood in goal for 859:23 without giving up a goal between Sept. 17-Oct. 29, a mark that will go down in the NCAA record books as the seventh-longest scoreless streak. Her 95.3 save percentage stands No. 1 in the Navy record books, as does her 0.18 goals-against average. Meanwhile, her 10 solo shutouts are the third most by a Navy player in program history. </p>

<p>As the goalkeeper, Barnes is the most prominent member of Navy's defense and as a result has received most of the credit for the Mids' outstanding season. However, the Mids' defensive line as a whole has been as impressive and well-rounded as a coach could ask for. Freshmen centerbacks Lauren Bresnahan (Weston, Fla.) and Shelly Moeller (Milford, Ohio) are the final two members of the Patriot League First Team, while senior defender Kristi Coonfare (Aurora, Colo.) and sophomore defensive midfielder Julie Reynolds (Sherman, Conn.) garnered Second-Team All-Patriot League recognition. </p>

<p>As a defensive unit, Navy gave up just five goals this fall and finished the regular season ranked No. 1 in goals-against average, allowing the opponent to score just 0.25 goals per game. It's the sixth-lowed GAA in the NCAA record books. The Mids turned in a program-record 16 shutouts in 20 games, a .800 shutouts per game average that is No. 1 the nation and tied as the fourth-best mark in NCAA history. As a group, Navy played more than 980-straight minutes without surrendering a goal over the course of 12 contests. </p>

<p>All four players have the ability to attack out of the back for the Midshipmen. Bresnahan turned in seven points on a goal and five assists. She was named the Patriot League Defensive Player of the Week on Sept. 4 and two days later became the first Navy player to be named to the Soccer America Team of the Week since 2000. </p>

<p>Moeller is one of Navy's most explosive players in the air and in particular, on corner kicks. Moeller turned in three assists to accompany her six goals this fall with all six goals coming off corners, including three headers. She was named the Patriot League Defensive Player of the Week three times, including last week when she made a pair of defensive saves to lead the Mids to victory over ninth-ranked Penn State. </p>

<p>Reynolds has been tremendous in the middle of the field, possessing the ball on offense, while styming the opponent's attack. A two-year starter, Reynolds turned in four points on a goal and two assists, scoring the game-winner versus Siena. She was named the Patriot League Defensive Player of the Week on Oct. 16, after helping hold Colgate to just four shots on goal. </p>

<p>Coonfare has been one of the most underrated players throughout the years, but her experience and knowledge of Navy's system has been instrumental in spearheading the Mids' defensive lineup this fall. She turned in her first-collegiate goal in Navy's 10-0 rout against Howard. </p>

<p>Navy's final all-league selection is second-team member Brittany White, a freshman out of Carmel, Ind. A two-time rookie-of-the-week selection, White turned in 13 points on five goals and three assists. In her first-collegiate appearance, she scored a goal and added an assist to lead the Mids to a 4-0 victory over Binghamton. With a pair of goals and an assist against Mount St. Mary's, she was one-of-two Navy freshmen (Barbaresi) to turn in a five-point game this fall. Two games later, she booted in a pair of goals in her first appearance against arch rival Army, leading the Mids to an N-Star victory. </p>

<p>The major award winners - Offensive Player of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year, Goalkeeper of the Year, Rookie of the Year and Coach of the Year - will be announced Thursday night at the league banquet. </p>

<p>The Midshipmen open the 2006 Patriot League Tournament on Friday afternoon against third-seeded Lehigh. Game time is set for 4:30 pm in Lewisburg, Pa. and admission to the tournament is free of charge. Should Navy win its opening-round contest, the Mids will face the winner of Friday night's Bucknell-Colgate match-up on Sunday at 1:00 pm in Lewisburg.</p>

13

<p>Published yesterday on ESPN.com:</p>

<p><a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/ncaa/news/story?id=2645520%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://sports.espn.go.com/ncaa/news/story?id=2645520&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

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[quote]
At some point during the next few weeks, a women's soccer team that escapes attention when the bracket is announced for the NCAA Tournament will make a splash in the postseason, scaring a contender or even winning a game or two before gracefully exiting the stage. It's a great story, repeated on an almost annual basis, but it's not the United States Naval Academy's story. Not this season. After a 19-1 regular season, Navy has earned the right to succeed or fail as a favorite. </p>

<p>After all, Cinderella rode in a carriage; she didn't navigate an EA-6B Prolwe* through the air or serve on a destroyer sailing into harm's way....

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14

<p>The last time the Midshipmen played in the Patriot League Tournament (2003), they claimed the championship title.</p>

<p>Nov. 2, 2006</p>

<p>ANNAPOLIS, Md. - After claiming a share of its sixth Patriot League regular-season title, the Navy women's soccer team (19-1/6-1 PL) will face third-seeded Lehigh in the semifinals of the 2006 Patriot League Women's Soccer Tournament this Friday. The second-seeded Midshipmen will face the Mountain Hawks, last year's regular-season champion, at 4:30 p.m. on the campus of Bucknell University at Varsity Soccer Field. The top-seeded and host Bucknell Bison will battle No. 4 Colgate following the Navy-Lehigh contest at approximately 7:00 pm. The winners of the two contests will square off Sunday at 1:00 pm. for the 2006 Patriot League Tournament title and an automatic NCAA Tournament bid. </p>

<p>"We are excited to be back in the Patriot League Tournament," said 14th-year Navy head coach Carin Gabarra. "We need to play our best soccer this weekend to advance no matter who the opponent is and play with the attacking mentality and defending presence we have shown this season. To have a chance for the league championship trophy, we must come together as a team." </p>

<p>The Midshipmen enter Friday's contest with a 19-1-0 record, including a nearly-flawless 6-1-0 conference mark. Navy owned the nation's longest winning streak with 19 in a row before Bucknell derailed the Midshipmen, 2-1, in the regular-season finale last Sunday in Annapolis. That loss is what ultimately gave the Bison home field advantage, as both teams ended the season 6-1. </p>

<p>Navy has enjoyed a storybook season, setting countless team and individual records along the way. The Mids' 19 wins bettered their previous record of 17 set in 1998 and later matched in 2003. Navy received its first ranking in program history when it entered Soccer America's top 25 on Sept. 25. The Mids have been ranked a Patriot League-best six-straight weeks, achieving the league's highest rank of 14th last week by Soccer America. </p>

<p>Navy turned in a 14-1 record at home, including a 1-0 win over ninth-ranked Penn State a week ago, and set a school record for consecutive home wins with 14. In addition, better than 2400 fans packed the Glenn Warner Soccer Facility to cheer on the Mids against Penn State, setting a facility attendance record. </p>

<p>The Mids have set records for points (211), goals (67), assists (77), shutouts (16) and goals-against average (0.25) this fall. Navy has outscored its foes 67-5 this fall and played nearly 1000-consecutive minutes without giving up a goal. </p>

<p>Three-time All-Patriot League forward Meggie Curran (Silver Spring, Md.) has enjoyed a solid senior campaign, where for the third-straight season she leads Navy in points (38), goals (12) and assists (14). She is averaging 0.7 assists per game and is ranked third in the country, while her 1.90 points per game is the 14th-best average in the nation. Curran is ranked second on the Mids' all-time scoring list with 117 points on 38 goals and a program-record 41 assists. The three-year starter not only is the first Navy player to reach 40-plus assists in her career, she is only the third player in Patriot League history to achieve the feat. As she heads into her final Patriot League Tournament, Curran needs just two points to become only the second player to produce 40-plus points in a season. </p>

<p>After missing nearly all of last season with an injury, forward Brigitte Fox (La Mesa, Calif.) has also had the good fortune of a strong junior season. Fox has scored four of her eight goals in Patriot League action and is the Mids' second-leading scorer in league contests. The 2006 First-Team All-Patriot League selection has booted in a team-best three game-winners this fall, including a stellar three-goal performance against Colgate. </p>

<p>Cassie Barbaresi (Bradenton, Fla.) has made an impact for the Midshipmen in her rookie campaign and was rewarded by being named to the Patriot League First Team. She is Navy's second leading scorer with 24 points on six goals and 12 assists (Navy freshman record). Additionally, three of her six goals have been game-winners. </p>

<p>Navy has assembled one of the most well-rounded defensive lineups in recent memory. The Mids have given up five goals this season to post a nation's-low 0.25 goals against average. Navy has held 16 opponents scoreless in 2006, boasting a .800 shutout percentage, the fourth-best (tied) in NCAA history. Meanwhile, its string of 10-consecutive shutouts from Sept. 24 through Oct. 26 are tied as the fifth most in NCAA history. </p>

<p>Sophomore Lizzie Barnes (New Orleans, La.), a First-Team All-Patriot League pick this fall, has been spectacular in goal, as she has given up just three goals this season. She is ranked No. 1 in the country in goals-against average (0.18) and save percentage (.953), while as a team, the Mids are warding off 93.8 percent of the shots they've faced. Barnes played 859:23 without surrendering a goal which will go down as seventh in the NCAA record book. </p>

<p>Freshman center back Shelly Moeller (Milford, Ohio), who has earned Patriot League recognition three times this fall and was named a member of the All-Patriot League First Team, has played an instrumental role not only as a defender, but her ability to score goals is uncanny. In addition to being a part of a defensive line that is giving up less than 10 shots per game, Moeller has targeted six goals and assisted on three others. </p>

<p>Lehigh earned the third seed by way of its 1-1 tie over Army, giving it a one-point advantage over Colgate in the seeding breakdown. The Mountain Hawks enter the tournament with an 8-8-1 record, including a 4-2-1 mark in Patriot League contests. Lehigh has been challenged over the last seven games, dropping three contests and tying one. The Mountain Hawks snapped their three-game winless streak with a 2-1 decision over Holy Cross last Sunday in their regular-season finale. </p>

<p>The Mountain Hawks are paced by senior midfielder/forward Daniela Molina who has scored a team-high six goals and added three assists. All-league midfielder Gina Lewandowski has scored three goals this fall, all three resulting in game-winners for Lehigh. Sophomore keeper Julie Kafka stands between the pipes for the Mountain Hawks where she owns a 1.69 goals-against average and a 73.2 save percentage. She has allowed 30 goals in nearly 1600 minutes, while stopping 82 shots and earning four shutouts. </p>

<p>"Lehigh is a talented and strong team, so we are completely focused on the first match," added Gabarra. </p>

<p>Navy owns a 9-3-2 series advantage over Lehigh, winning nine of the last 11 games. Nearly three weeks ago, the Mids defeated the Mountain Hawks, 4-0, in Annapolis with Curran turning in a pair of goals. </p>

<p>The Mids and Mountain Hawks have never faced one another in the Patriot League Tournament.</p>

<p>Patriot League Tournament Schedule
Friday
No. 2 Navy vs. No. 3 Lehigh 4:30 pm
No. 1 Bucknell vs. No. 4 Colgate 7:00 pm</p>

15

<p>Painful as it may be to see that "1" to the right of "19" :( ,it may be best thing that could happen to the midettes. :) Confidence, tempered by a recent dose of humility can be powerful medicine. ;)</p>

16

<p>Rookies Cassie Barbaresi and Shelly Moeller each came away with an award.</p>

<p>Nov. 2, 2006</p>

<p>LEWISBURG, Pa. - A day after nine Navy women's soccer players garnered All-Patriot League recognition, four Midshipmen and head coach Carin Gabarra were the recipients of major awards handed out at the 2006 Patriot League Women's Soccer Banquet held on the campus of Bucknell University Thursday evening. </p>

<p>A three-time First-Team All-Patriot League selection, senior forward Meggie Curran (Silver Spring, Md.) was named the 2006 Patriot League Offensive Player of the Year. Curran is the third different Midshipmen to earn the honor, joining Justine Fisher (1999) and the late Stacy Finley, who won it in back-to-back years (2001, '02). </p>

<p>Curran paced the league in points (38), goals (12) and assists (14) this fall and has led the Mids in all three categories in each of the last three years. Ranked third in the country, she is averaging 0.7 assists per game, while her 1.90 points per game is the 14th-best average in the nation. Curran is ranked second on the Mids' all-time scoring list with 117 points on 38 goals and a program-record 41 assists. The three-year starter is the first Navy player to reach 40 assists in her career and is only the third player in Patriot League history to achieve the feat. As she heads into her final Patriot League Tournament, Curran needs just two points to become only the second player to produce 40-plus points in a season. </p>

<p>"Meggie has really turned into a complete attacking player," said Navy head coach Carin Gabarra. "It is impossible for opposing defenses to shut her down with her ability to score goals, as well as create chances for teammates. She also will not accept anything but her best effort every game. She continued to add new dimensions to her game each year, has overcome adversity with knee injuries, and is certainly finishing her career at Navy with a flourish." </p>

<p>Fielding the nation's top-ranked defense, it is only fitting that Navy receive a pair of defensive awards. Sophomore keeper Lizzie Barnes (New Orleans, La.) was named the 2006 Patriot League Goalkeeper of the Year, while freshman center back Shelly Moeller (Milford, Ohio) was named the 2006 Co-Defensive Player of the Year, sharing the award with Bucknell's Nicole Marotta. Three years ago, the Patriot League added the goalkeeper of the year award and it is the first time a Navy player has been the recipient. Moeller, meanwhile is the third different Midshipmen to earn the league's top defensive player award and the first since all-league goalkeeper Kate Macfarlane claimed the award in 2001. </p>

<p>Barnes, who is featured in the Nov. 6 issue of Sports Illustrated's Faces in the Crowd, has been the top-ranked goalkeeper in the nation over the last two months for her stellar goals-against average and save percentage. During the regular season, she surrendered just three goals (0.18 GAA) and produced a 95.3 save percentage, stopping 61 of the 64 shots she faced on goal. A three-time Patriot League Goalkeeper-of-the-Week selection, Barnes stood in goal for 859:23 without giving up a goal between Sept. 17-Oct. 29, a mark that will go down in the NCAA record books as the seventh-longest scoreless streak. Her 95.3 save percentage stands No. 1 in the Navy record books, as does her 0.18 goals-against average. Meanwhile, her 10 solo shutouts are the third most by a Navy player in program history. </p>

<p>"Lizzie truly had an outstanding year," Gabarra said. "She has a great presence in the goal and has been dominant on air balls. She worked hard in the off-season on her goal kicks, punts, and coming off her line and that work really paid off. She also organizes the defense in front of her and makes sure we maintain our proper shape." </p>

<p>While Barnes has received wide-spread recognition for her duties in goal, the defensive line in front of her has been as impressive. Moeller has played an important part in leading the Mids to a school-record 16 shutouts in 20 games this fall. She is a starting member of a defensive unit that owns a .800 shutout percentage, the fourth-best mark in NCAA history. Navy's five goals allowed are tied as the fewest in the country, alongside top-ranked Notre Dame who has played one fewer game. Heading into the Patriot League Tournament, Navy's 0.25 goals-against average is a school record, as well as the sixth-lowest GAA in the NCAA record books. </p>

<p>Moeller has gained praise from Gabarra during the season. </p>

<p>"Shelly was a great addition to our defensive unit this season. She adapted to a new position quickly and really helped our defenders mesh into a solid unit. She dominates in the air both offensively and defensively, and her speed and athleticism make her hard to beat one on one." </p>

<p>First-Team All-Patriot League midfielder Cassie Barbaresi (Bradenton, Fla.) added to her list of accomplishments in her first season at the Academy, as she picked up Patriot League Co-Rookie-of-the-Year honors, sharing the award with Colgate's Jessica Bitsack. Barbaresi is Navy's second-leading scorer, producing 24 points on six goals and a freshman-record 12 assists. In addition, she paced the league's freshmen in points (1.33 ppg), assists (0.67 apg) and goals (0.33 gpg). Three of her six goals were game-winners, including her goal to lead the Mids past the SEC's LSU. Ranked fifth in the country in assists per game, Barbaresi has turned in four multi-assist games, including two three-assist days. Barbaresi earned weekly honors from the Patriot League three times in the first four weeks, twice being named the rookie of the week and once as the offensive player of the week. </p>

<p>Like Moeller, Gabarra also applauded the efforts of another one of her rookie sensations. </p>

<p>"Cassie had a great freshman season. She provided a boost every time she came on the field and gave us a huge offensive spark. Her creativity and flair on the ball make a dangerous combination, and her ability to dribble at speed but also serve the final pass on the run, enable her to set up teammates for goal chances." </p>

<p>Finally, 14th-year Navy head coach Carin Gabarra was named the 2006 Patriot League Coach of the Year after leading the Midshipmen to a program-record 19 wins with just one blemish. Under her leadership, Navy has won at least a share of six Patriot League regular-season titles, including this fall. A week ago, she led the Midshipmen to the program's first win over a top-10 ranked program, a 1-0 decision over ninth-ranked Penn State. </p>

<p>"The entire Navy family sends our most enthusiastic congratulations to Carin," said Naval Academy Director of Athletics Chet Gladchuk. "She has again proven she is one of the finest coaches and educators at the Naval Academy. What she has accomplished this year is historic and sets the benchmark for the rest of our programs." </p>

<p>The Midshipmen open the 2006 Patriot League Tournament on Friday afternoon against third-seeded Lehigh. Game time is set for 4:30 pm in Lewisburg, Pa. and admission to the tournament is free of charge. A Navy win in the opening round would pit the Mids against the winner of Friday night's Bucknell-Colgate match-up in the championship game on Sunday at 1:00 pm in Lewisburg.</p>

17

<p>Navy will face the winner of the Bucknell-Colgate game on Sunday at 1:00 pm in the Patriot League Championship Game</p>

<p>Nov. 3, 2006 </p>

<p>LEWISBURG, Pa. -- Navy freshman defender Shelly Moeller (Milford, Ohio) broke a scoreless tie in the 62nd minute to lead second-seeded Navy (20-1) to a 2-0 victory over third-seeded Lehigh (8-9-1) Friday evening in the semifinal round of the 2006 Patriot League Women's Soccer Tournament held in Lewisburg, Pa. </p>

<p>"We had a good team performance this afternoon and I felt like we were prepared mentally from the opening whistle," said Navy head coach Carin Gabarra, who was named the Patriot League Coach of the Year on Thursday night. "We didn't have a lot of quality scoring chances, but the ones that were there, we took advantage of. The ones we didn't score on, Lehigh's keeper did a great job of saving. </p>

<p>"We wanted to refocus heading into the tournament and now we are taking one game at a time." </p>

<p>Navy was held to just one shot in the opening half, a header by Patriot League Co-Rookie of the Year Cassie Barbaresi (Bradenton, Fla.), which bounced off the cross bar. </p>

<p>Lehigh, meanwhile, took five shots on goal, including its first shot in the 24th minute when Navy defender Carey Young (Virginia Beach, Va.) slipped and fell and Lehigh's Lauren Calabrese pulled keeper Lizzie Barnes (New Orleans, La.) out of the goal. Calabrese fired the shot from 20 yards out on the right side of the box, hitting the ball off Barnes' torso and out of play. </p>

<p>The Mountain Hawks nearly put a goal on the board five minutes into the second half when Melissa Montalvo took a shot from 15 yards out on the left side of the box, but was denied as Barnes made a diving save. </p>

<p>Navy countered 30 seconds later when senior Carmen Myers (Woodbridge, Va.) headed the ball at the Lehigh goal, but a Mountain Hawk defender was there to kick the ball out of the goal. </p>

<p>At the 61:31 mark, Barbaresi set up Navy's corner from the left side, sending the ball to the middle of the box where Moeller made contact and headed in her seventh goal of the season and gave Navy a 1-0 lead. </p>

<p>Ten minutes later, teammates CiAnna Weikle (Lakeville, Minn.) and Kari Weniger (St. Petersburg, Fla.) worked together to serve second-year forward Kristen Laraway (Long Valley, N.J.) in the box. Laraway misdirected her defender and crossed over to shoot over the right shoulder of Lehigh keeper Julie Kafka to give Navy its final 2-0 decision. </p>

<p>Barnes, the 2006 Patriot League Goalkeeper of the Year, made six stops against the Mountain Hawks to secure her 11th shutout of the year. </p>

<p>The Mids will face the winner of the Bucknell-Colgate semifinal on Sunday in the Patriot League Championship Game. Action is slated for 1:00 pm in Lewisburg, Pa., with the winner earning an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.</p>

18

<p>The winner of Sunday's Patriot League Championship will receive an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament</p>

<p>Nov. 4, 2006</p>

<p>ANNAPOLIS, Md. - Fresh off its 2-0 victory over Lehigh in the semifinals of the Patriot League Women's Soccer Tournament, Navy will now battle fourth-seeded Colgate (13-5) in the title game Sunday at 1:00 pm in Lewisburg, Pa. The 20-1 Mids are looking to secure their second Patriot League championship and the program's second NCAA Tournament berth with a win over the Raiders. Admission to Sunday's Patriot League Championship is free. </p>

<p>Navy earned a spot in the championship game thanks to a header by Patriot League Co-Defensive Player of the Year Shelly Moeller (Milford, Ohio) in the 62nd minute, breaking a scoreless tie. Sophomore forward Kristen Laraway (Long Valley, N.J.) scored an impressive goal 10 minutes later to give the Mids an insurance goal. Meanwhile, sophomore Lizzie Barnes (New Orleans, La.), the Patriot League Goalkeeper of the Year, played a solid match in goal where she stopped six shots and picked up her 11th solo shutout of the year. </p>

<p>Colgate, meanwhile, knocked off the top-seeded Bucknell Bison in a 2-1 decision following the Navy-Lehigh contest. Freshman middie Jillian Arnault came up with a shot after a scrum ensued off a Colgate corner. Arnault's goal gave the Raiders a 1-0 lead 13 minutes into the contest. Just past the 30-minute mark, junior Franny Iacuzzi benefitted from her own miss, as her initial shot bounced off the cross bar and she was able to knock in the goal on her second try. Bucknell got to within a goal when Krista Lee Gentile produced her 10th goal of the year in the 82nd minute. With just 18 seconds remaining, Gentile nearing knotted the game, but Raiders' keeper Carly Sousa made a diving save to preserve the Colgate upset. </p>

<p>Navy defeated Colgate, 4-0, in mid-October thanks to a three-goal, one-assist effort by First-Team All-Patriot League forward Brigitte Fox. </p>

<p>Colgate leads the all-time series with the Midshipmen, 12-6-1, including wins in two of the last three contests. The last time the two programs met up in the Patriot League Tournament was in 2003, when Navy claimed a 3-2 win over the Raiders in the semifinals and eventually won the league crown over American.</p>

19

<p>Freshman Shelly Moeller drove in her second game-winner of the Patriot League Tournament.</p>

<p>Nov. 5, 2006 </p>

<p>LEWISBURG, Pa. - A goal in the eighth minute by freshman Shelly Moeller (Milford, Ohio) was all Navy needed as it captured its second Patriot League Tournament title with a 1-0 victory over fourth-seeded Colgate Sunday afternoon at Varsity Soccer Field in Lewisburg, Pa. Along with the tournament title, the Mids received an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament with the field of 64 being announced Monday between 3:00-4:00 pm on ESPNEWS. </p>

<p>"Our focus from the beginning of the season was to reestablish ourselves in the Patriot League," said Navy head coach Carin Gabarra who was named the Patriot League Coach of the Year on Thursday. "I was happy to make the tournament and it's fantastic to win the tournament. </p>

<p>We've played well all year, we've been healthy and we've played together. I've never coached a team that has played as one unit as well as what we have this fall. We are difficult to defend because so many of our players are able to attack and we have great depth. Our players will defend at all cost and today the championship came down to our defensive effort." </p>

<p>The Mids scored on their first shot of the afternoon, as Navy all-time assists leader Meggie Curran (Silver Spring, Md.) set up the goal on a free kick from 20 yards out on th left sideline. Curran sent the ball to the opposite post where Moeller, the 2006 Patriot League Co-Defensive Player of the Year, drove in her eight goal of the year and her second game-winner of the Patriot League Tournament. </p>

<p>Colgate spent the latter part of the opening half on the offensive, as it put its first shot on goal with 12 minutes remaining when Franny Iacuzzi took a shot from the top left corner of the box that was redirected by Josie Johnson. Navy keeper Lizzie Barnes (New Orleans, La.), a 2006 First-Team All-Patriot League selection, made the stop, but the ball bounced back out into play and Kelly Niland shot the ball wide right. </p>

<p>Navy sophomore forward Kristen Laraway (Long Valley, N.J.) saw a pair of second-half shots turned away. In the 70th minute, her shot was headed out of the goal by Kathleen Head, while four minutes later she nearly scored on an identical play that she netted Friday night, crossing over her defender and shooting left where Raiders' keeper Carly Sousa stretched out to save. </p>

<p>With just over 13 minutes remaining in the contest, Colgate took back-to-back corners, the second resulting in a ping-pong match between the two teams before the Raiders' Jackie Burch finally got a foot on it and sent a shot off the cross bar. Johnson's follow-up shut sailed wide right. </p>

<p>Barnes made a pair of stops on the afternoon, while Sousa was credited with one save. The two teams combined for a combined 14 shots with just five on goal. </p>

<p>Moeller was named the Patriot League Tournament MVP after driving in both game-winning goals for the Mids in the tourney. She was joined by teammates Lauren Bresnahan (Weston, Fla.), Julie Reynolds (Sherman, Conn.) and Barnes on the all-tournament squad. </p>

<p>Fans and media are invited to join the Mids at Dahlgren Hall on the Yard of the Naval Academy on Monday afternoon to watch the 2006 NCAA Div. I Women's Soccer Tournament Selection Show. The field of 64 teams will be unveiled, along with dates and times for the tournament contests. Sixteen first and second-round sites will be announced with games being held Nov. 10 and 12. The 2006 NCAA Div. I Women's Soccer Semifinals and Championship Game will be held at SAS Soccer Park in Cary, N.C. on Dec. 1 and 3, respectively. As Navy awaits its NCAA Tournament opponent, three of the Mids' opponents they beat during the regular season have captured automatic bids - Penn State (Big Ten), Columbia (Ivy League) and Jacksonville (Atlantic Sun).</p>

20

<p>Published in today's Annapolis Capital:</p>

<p><a href="http://www.hometownannapolis.com/cgi-bin/read/2006/11_06-52/NAS%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.hometownannapolis.com/cgi-bin/read/2006/11_06-52/NAS&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>
[quote]
A goal in the eighth minute by freshman Shelly Moeller was all the Navy women's soccer team needed as it captured its second Patriot League Tournament title with a 1-0 victory over fourth-seeded Colgate yesterday in Lewisburg, Pa.</p>

<p>Along with the tournament title, the Mids earned an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament with the field set to be announced today at 3 p.m. on ESPNEWS....

[/quote]
</p>