CAA WOMEN'S SOCCER WEEKLY REPORT - SEPT. 2
CAA WOMEN’S SOCCER PLAYER OF THE WEEK:
Elizabeth Brewster, Old Dominion
Sr., D, Clifton, Va./Centreville
Brewster recorded a goal and an assist and also excelled defensively as ODU improved to 3-0 with overtime road wins at George Washington (2-1) and Loyola (3-2). The senior netted the game-winning goal as time expired in overtime at GW, and also had an assist in the contest. At Loyola, Brewster anchored a defense that allowed just six shots, including none in the final 30 minutes.
CAA WOMEN’S SOCCER ROOKIE OF THE WEEK:
Erin Pardini, UNC Wilmington
Fr., MF, Smithtown, N.Y./Smithtown West
Pardini contributed a goal and two assists in UNC Wilmington’s three road matches last week. The freshman midfielder scored her first career goal and had an assist on the game-winner as UNCW blanked Gardner-Webb 2-0. She also recorded her first career assist in a 3-2 setback at Charlotte.
CONFERENCE NOTES:
Four CAA Teams Ranked Regionally: Four CAA teams are ranked regionally this week by SoccerBuzz and the NSCAA in its Sept. 2 polls. In the MId-Atlantic region, William & Mary (#5 SB/#6 NSCAA), Old Dominion (#8 NSCAA/#10 SB) and James Madison (#10 NSCAA/#11 SB) are among the top 11, while Hofstra is ranked #6 in the Northeast region in both polls.
UNCW’s Pratt Receives National Honor: UNC Wilmington senior goalkeeper Emily Pratt was named to the Soccer Buzz Elite Team of the Week on Aug. 27 after making a career-high 11 saves in the Seahawks’ 0-0 tie with South Carolina on Aug. 23. It was Pratt’s sixth career shutout.
CAA Race Expected To Be Close: The CAA race should be extremely tight in 2008 based on a pre-season poll of the league’s coaches. William & Mary earned five first-place votes and was picked first, but second-place James Madison received four first-place votes and third-place Hofstra got three. A complete listing of the poll is included in this release.
Five CAA Players On Hermann Trophy Watch List: Five CAA players were among a group of 47 who were placed on the Watch List for the 2008 Hermann Trophy, which is awarded to the nation’s top collegiate player. Making the list were William & Mary’s Dani Collins and Claire Zimmeck, James Madison’s Kim Germain and Cate Tisinger, and Hofstra’s Edel Malone.
DELAWARE (1-1 overall, 0-0 in CAA):
The Blue Hens split two games in the Blue Hen Classic, edging Lafayette 1-0 in their opener before falling 1-0 to St. John’s on Sunday. Senior midfielder Alli D’Amico, who missed most of last season due to injury, headed in the game-winning goal versus Lafayette off a pass from freshman Laura Klebe early in the second half. UD out-shot St. John’s 12-11, but was unable to find the net. Senior Caitlyn Germain took six of the Hens’ 12 shots versus SJU and had a team-high 11 shots in the tournament. Senior goalkeeper Annie Bevan allowed just one goal in 180 minutes and made seven saves.
DREXEL (2-0 overall, 0-0 in CAA):
The Dragons improved to 2-0 after posting a 1-0 victory over Rider last Friday. Freshman Jenna Lindsay scored the game-winning goal in the 73rd minute, knocking home the rebound of a Michelle Donnelly shot that hit the post. It was Lindsey’s second goal in as many games. Drexel senior goalkeeper Kaitlin Bond needed to make just one save to record her second consecutive shutout. Bond now has 16 shutouts in her impressive career with the Dragons. Drexel plays its first road contest at Fairleigh Dickinson on Friday.
GEORGE MASON (0-3 overall, 0-0 in CAA):
The Patriots slipped to 0-3 after losses at UNC Greensboro (6-3) and Virginia Tech (2-0). All three Mason setbacks have come on the road. Junior Kelly Keelan scored two of the Patriots’ three goals while playing forward against UNCG, and then stepped in as Mason’s starting goalkeeper at VT and stopped nine shots, including the first eight she faced. The Patriots also got a goal from Theresa DeLucca in the UNCG contest. Mason hosts Hartford and Mississippi State in its own tournament this weekend.
GEORGIA STATE (3-0 overall, 0-0 in CAA):
The Panthers are off to a 3-0 start for the first time in school history after rolling past Jacksonville State (4-0) and Winthrop (4-0). Georgia State has out-scored its first three foes this season 13-1. Senior forward Kay Harbrueger contributed a goal and an assist at JSU and also scored a goal at Winthrop. She has at least one goal in all three matches and tops the CAA in goals (4) and points (9). Harbrueger is also ninth in career goals (20) and points (56) at State. Sophomore Apryl Goodwin tallied two goals and an assist over the weekend and senior Kara Vezza also scored twice. Sophomore keeper Heidi Blankenship hasn’t allowed a goal in 212 minutes of action this season.
HOFSTRA (0-2 overall, 0-0 in CAA):
The Pride was beaten by a pair of nationally ranked foes at the Penn State Invitational, losing 1-0 to #11 Connecticut and 4-1 to #9 Penn State. Sophomore midfielder Tiffany Yovino scored Hofstra’s lone goal versus PSU and was the Pride’s top offensive threat all weekend with 11 total shots. After missing all of last season with a knee injury, sophomore keeper Krysten Farriella played the second half versus PSU and made four saves. Sophomore Dana Bergstrom, a transfer from Syracuse, assisted on Yovino’s goal.
JAMES MADISON (1-1-1 overall, 0-0 in CAA):
The Dukes went 1-0-1 in the JMU/Comfor Inn Invitational, tying Washington State 2-2 before cruising past Syracuse 4-1. JMU is now undefeated (16-0-2) in its last 18 home matches dating back to Oct. 1, 2006. Junior forward Corky Julien scored a goal in each game, including the game-winner versus Syracuse. She moved into a tie for 12th on JMU’s career goals list with 16. Sophmore midfielder Teresa Rynier tallied a goal and three assists over the weekend and has at least one assist in all three games this season. Julien and Rynier were joined on the all-tournament team by midfielder Ashley Flateland (1g, 1a) and junior defender Teri Maykoski.
UNC WILMINGTON (1-2-1 overall, 0-0 in CAA):
The Seahawks went 1-2 on a three-game road swing, topping Gardner-Webb (2-0), but losing at Charlotte (3-2) and #15 Wake Forest (5-0). Freshman Meagan Simeone and junior Erica Rodgers recorded goals at Charlotte, while senior Brittany Croce earned assists on both scores. Freshman Erin Pardini and senior Kelly Renkin each tallied a goal and an assist in the victory at Gardner-Webb. Renkin netted her 12th career game-winner, which is tied for the most in program history. Senior goalkeeper Emily Pratt earned her second shutout of the year and the seventh of her career at Gardner-Webb.
NORTHEASTERN (0-1-1 overall, 0-0 in CAA):
The Huskies fell 1-0 to Manhattan and battled to a 0-0 tie with St. Francis (Pa.) on their opening weekend of action. Northeastern dominated the action, out-shooting its two opponents 34-15, but was unable to get on the board. Freshman goalkeeper Stephanie Gordon made 10 saves and gave up just one goal in 200 minutes of action. The Huskies also got a strong defensive effort from freshman Kelly Matthews, who had three shots in each contest. NU heads to Minnesota this weekend where it meets Creighton and Ohio University.
OLD DOMINION (3-0 overall, 0-0 in CAA):
The Lady Monarchs improved to 3-0 for just the third time in school history after overtime road wins at George Washington (2-1) and Loyola (Md.) (3-2). Senior Shavon Knight scored a pair of goals at Loyola, including the game-winner in the 97th minute. Knight is tied for the CAA lead in goals with four and she ranks fourth on ODU’s career goals (28) and points (64) chart. Senior defender Elizabeth Brewster netted the game-winning goal at GW as time expired in overtime and also had an assist in the contest. Freshman Victoria Johnson also contributed a goal and an assist over the weekend. Goalkeeper Lauren Tupman is now 6-1-2 in overtime contests during her career.
TOWSON (2-2 overall, 0-0 in CAA):
The Tigers split games at the Blue Hen Classic last weekend, beating Lafayette 1-0, but losing to St. John’s 1-0. Three of Towson’s four games this season have been decided by one goal. Sophomore defender Samantha Young scored the game-winning goal versus Lafayette in the 73rd minute off an assist from junior Sarah Thomas. Both Young and Thomas earned a spot on the all-tournament team. Freshman goalkeeper Jocelyn Papciak made her collegiate debut, playing the second half of both contests in relief of senior Kendie Bauer.
VCU (0-2 overall, 0-0 in CAA):
The Rams dropped a pair of matches at in-state foes to open the season, losing 1-0 to Richmond and 5-0 to Virginia. VCU was limited to three shots at UR, but was solid defensively, allowing the only goal of the game on a penalty kick. VCU only trailed 1-0 at the half at #7 Virginia before the Cavaliers broke loose. Goalkeeper Lauren Hardison made four saves at UVA as VCU was out-shot 14-2 in the contest. The Rams face host N.C. State and UNC Greensboro this weekend at the N.C. State Invitational.
WILLIAM & MARY (1-1-1 overall, 0-0 in CAA):
The Tribe went unbeaten at the JMU Invitational, defeating Syracuse 2-1 on Friday before tying Washington State (0-0) on Sunday. Senior forward Claire Zimmeck scored both goals against SU, including the game-winner on a deflected ball in the box in the 84th minute. Zimmeck, who put five shots on net versus WSU, has scored all three W&M goals this season and ranks fourth in career goals with 45. Senior keeper Meghan Walker recorded the 21st shutout of her career versus WSU, which is one shy of the Tribe’s all-time record. She also moved to ninth in career saves with 158. John Daly will coach his 450th career game at W&M on Sunday versus Columbia. Only five other Division I coaches have reached that milestone at one school.