CAA WOMEN'S SOCCER WEEKLY REPORT - AUG. 23
CAA WOMEN’S SOCCER PLAYER OF THE WEEK:Danielle Axenfeld, William & MarySr., F, Lorton, Va./Bishop Ireton
Axenfeld scored the game-winning goal late in the first half to lift William & Mary to a 1-0 victory over Big East foe Syracuse last Friday night. The senior forward headed in a crossing pass from freshman Audrey Berry in the 42nd minute to record just the third goal of her Tribe career.
CAA WOMEN’S SOCCER ROOKIE OF THE WEEK:Jewel Evans, Georgia StateFr., F, Alpharetta, Ga./John’s Creek
Evans scored the game-winning goal in the 103rd minute to give Georgia State a 3-2 double-overtime road victory at Jacksonville State on Sunday. The freshman forward received a pass from senior Apryl Goodwin and then beat the JSU keeper one-on-one to give the Panthers the win.
CONFERENCE NOTES:Successful Start To The Season: Six CAA women’s soccer teams got off to 1-0 starts over the weekend as Delaware Drexel, Georgia State, James Madison, VCU and William & Mary all posted victories. Five of the six wins came by just one goal. The conference went 6-4-1 overall, with two of the losses coming to nationally-ranked foes.
CAA Race Expected To Be Wide Open: The CAA race should be extremely tight in 2010 based on a preseason poll of the league’s coaches. James Madison earned five first-place votes and was picked first with 108 total points, but second-place Hofstra got one first-place vote and was just one point behind with 107 and third-place UNC Wilmington received four first-place votes and 103 points. William & Mary and Northeastern also picked up a first-place vote, adding to the uncertainty of the race for the top spot. A complete listing of the poll is included in this release.
Three CAA Players On Hermann Trophy Watch List: Three CAA women’s soccer players were among a select group of 45 named to the Watch List for the Hermann Trophy, which is awarded to the nation’s top player at the end of the season. Chosen to the list were George Mason senior midfielder Omolyn Davis, Northeastern sophomore forward Devin Petta and James Madison senior midfielder Teresa Rynier.
DELAWARE (1-0) - The Blue Hens scored six second-half goals and rolled past Delaware State 7-0 on Sunday in the second annual Route 1 Rivalry. Sophomore midfielder Ali Miller scored goals from 25 and 30 yards and also picked up an assist, while freshman Andrea Luttio chipped in a goal and an assist.
DREXEL (1-0) - The Dragons opened the season with an exciting 1-0 victory over UMBC on Sunday. Junior Ashley Klun broke the scoreless tie with just 6:13 remaining in regulation as she found the net off of an assist from junior Andi Stampone. Freshman keeper Victoria Trocoli made a pair of saves in the second half to lock up the victory.
GEORGE MASON (0-0) - The Patriots open the regular season on Wednesday night with a trip to Howard. Mason tuned up with a 1-0 exhibition victory over George Washington last Saturday. Capricia Alston scored the game-winner for Mason.
GEORGIA STATE (1-0) - The Panthers pulled out a thrilling 3-2 victory in double overtime at Jacksonville State on Sunday. Freshman forward Jewel Evans scored the game-winning goal in the 103rd minute off a pass from senior Apryl Goodwin. GSU also got goals from senior Kaila Muecke and sophomore Sarah Bennett in the win.
HOFSTRA (0-0) - The Pride opens its season on Friday night at 7th-ranked Boston College. Hofstra won the Supervior’s Cup last Saturday by blanking Marist 3-0 in an exhibition contest. Junior midfielder Courtney Breen received MVP honors.
JAMES MADISON (1-0) - The Dukes opened the season with a 2-1 road triumph at Richmond on Friday. Senior midfielder Teresa Rynier scored JMU’s first goal and moved into sole possession of ninth place on the school’s all-time scoring list with 64 points. Senior defender Corrina Strickland netted the eventual game-winner on a 40-yard free kick. It was her first career goal.
UNC WILMINGTON (0-2) - The Seahawks fell 4-0 to 10th-ranked Wake Forest in their home opener last Friday and were beaten 2-0 at Davidson on Sunday. It was the first time since 1995 that UNCW has suffered back-to-back shutout losses to open the season. Goalkeeper Chandler Follett made four saves and didn’t allow a goal over the final 63:33 at Davidson.
NORTHEASTERN (0-1) - The Huskies dropped a 3-0 decision to 12th-ranked South Carolina in their home opener on Sunday. Sophomore Greta Samuelsdottir had a team-high three shots while Devin Petta took two shots in her first game back from a knee injury. Senior goalkeeper Sarah Fylak made seven saves.
OLD DOMINION (0-0-1) - The Lady Monarchs battled to a 0-0 double-overtime time with Syracuse on Sunday. Sophomore goalkeeper Brianna Alvarado made three saves and recorded the seventh shutout of her young career. It was the fourth straight game that ODU has been shutout dating back to last year. ODU is 0-2-2 in those contests.
TOWSON (0-1) - The Tigers suffered a 3-2 setback at neighboorhood rival Loyola last Saturday. Junior forward Kaysi Ward gave Towson a 1-0 lead in the 26th minute and then added a game-tying goal in the 41st minute. It was the first multi-goal game of Ward’s career. Seven freshmen saw action for Towson, including Katie Holtzapple and Emily Banes who recorded assists.
VCU (1-0) - The Rams opened the season with a 2-1 victory over Longwood last Friday. VCU out-shot the Lancers 21-6 and put 10 shots on net. Freshman forward Bex Kunz gave VCU a 1-0 lead in the 15th minute and junior Heather Hovanesian recorded the game-winner in the 69th minute. Kunz finished with a team-high five shots, including four on goal.
WILLIAM & MARY (1-0) - The Tribe knocked off Big East foe Syracuse 1-0 last Friday in their home opener. Senior Danielle Axenfeld scored the game’s lone goal on a header in the 42nd minute off a cross from freshman Audrey Berry. Sophomore keeper Katherine Yount made a pair of saves and posted the shutout in her first career start.