FINAL 2009 CAA WOMEN'S SOCCER REPORT
NU’s Petta Earns All-America Honors: Northeastern freshman forward Devin Petta was selected to the NSCAA All-America second team. She was one of only three freshmen to receive All-America accolades. Petta was chosen as the CAA Player and Rookie of the Year after leading the conference with 14 goals and a school-record 35 points. Of her 14 goals, seven were game-winners.
Thirteen CAA Players Named All-Region: Thirteen players from the CAA were honored on the NSCAA All-Mid-Atlantic region squad. Six players were chosen to the first team: senior defender Teri Maykoski, junior midfielder Teresa Rynier and senior forward Corky Julien of James Madison, junior midfielder Tiffany Yovino of Hofstra, freshman forward Devin Petta of Northeastern and junior midfielder Omolyn Davis of George Mason. Earning 2nd team All-Region accolades were Georgia State junior goalkeeper Heidi Blankenship and Northeastern freshman defender Sandra Magnusdottir. Named to the third team were VCU junior defender Myriam Bouchard, senior defender Diane Caldwell and senior midfielder Courtney Breen of Hofstra and UNC Wilmington junior midfielder Megan Novak.
Seahawks Fall To Georgia In NCAA Women’s College Cup: UNC Wilmington dropped a 3-0 decision to SEC member Georgia in the first round of the NCAA women’s soccer College Cup in Chapel Hill, N.C. The Seahawks fell behind 1-0 in the 29th minute and then gave up two Bulldogs’ goals in a 56-second span early in the second half. UNCW limited Georgia to eight shots in the match, but took only one of its own. It was the Seahawks’ first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance.
UNCW Wins First CAA Women’s Soccer Championship: Sophomore Erin Pardini converted a penalty kick in the 80th minute to give third-seeded UNC Wilmington a 1-0 victory over #4 James Madison in the CAA women’s soccer championship game at Parsons Field in Brookline, Mass. It was the first CAA title for the Seahawks. The winning goal was set up after UNCW’s Stephanie Rose was taken down in the penalty box, which set the stage for Pardini’s laser into the right side of the goal. Seahawks’ freshman keeper Caitlin Hunter made five saves and recorded her third shutout of the season.
JMU, UNCW Advance To CAA Championship Match: Third-seeded UNC Wilmington edged #2 Hofstra 2-1 in overtime and #4 James Madison knocked off #1 Northeastern in the semifinals of the CAA Women’s Soccer Championship. UNCW sophomore Erin Pardini’s goal with 2:39 left in overtime sent the Seahawks to the CAA title game for the first time. Pardini lofted a 20-yard shot from near the left endline that went over the head of Pride keeper Krysten Farriella and landed just inside the right post. UNCW jumped out to a 1-0 lead on a goal by Meagan Simeone in the 17th minute. Hofstra got the equalizer in the 28th minute on a goal by Laura Greene. Junior midfielder Teresa Rynier registered three assists as JMU handed Northeastern its first home loss of the season. The Dukes scored the game-winning goal on a header by Yolie Anderson-Golhor in the 65th minute. JMU also got goals from Teri Maykoski and Cate Tisinger, while Northeastern received a game-tying goal from Sandra Magnusdottir early in the second half.
Variety Of Past Women’s Soccer Champions: UNC Wilmington became the seventh different team to win the CAA Women’s Soccer Championship over the past eight years. Hofstra is the only team to have won the event twice during that period, taking home the title in 2005 and 2007. Other champions include James Madison (2002), William & Mary (2003), VCU (2004), Old Dominion (2006) and Northeastern (2008).
Mason Has Nation’s Top Turnaround: George Mason had the top turnaround in Division I this season, improving its overall win total from five in 2008 to 14 in 2009. The Patriots closed the year on a five-match winning streak and eight-match unbeaten streak. Mason’s 14 wins were the most since 1997.
Six CAA Teams Among Top 76 In Final NCAA RPI: Half of the CAA’s 12 teams were ranked among the top 76 in the nation in the final NCAA RPI report for the 2009 season. Northeastern led the list of CAA squads at #54, followed by UNC Wilmington at #57, William & Mary at #67, Hofstra at #68, James Madison at #74 and George Mason at #76.
Six CAA Teams Ranked Regionally: Six CAA teams were ranked among the top 10 in the latest NSCAA Mid-Atlantic region poll that was released on Nov. 10. UNC Wilmington led all CAA teams at #3 in the poll, followed by James Madison and Northeastern at #4, Hofstra at #6, George Mason at #7 and William & Mary at #8.
Northeastern’s Petta Headlines All-CAA Team: Northeastern freshman forward Devin Petta was chosen as the 2009 CAA Player and Rookie of the Year, becoming the first player in league history to receive both awards in the same season. Other top CAA honors went to William & Mary sophomore Diana Weigel as the CAA Defender of the Year and Northeastern’s Ed Matz as CAA Coach of the Year. Petta topped the conference with 14 goals, seven game-winning goals and a school-record 35 points. She ranked 10th in the nation in points per game and 11th in goals per game. Weigel anchored a W&M defense that recorded nine shutouts and limited opponents to 22 goals in 19 games. She was also second on the team with five assists. Matz guided Northeastern to its first CAA regular-season title with a 7-1-3 mark. The Huskies set a school record for regular-season wins with 12.
Non-Conference Success For The CAA: The CAA was impressive in the non-conference portion of the schedule, combining for a 53-37-5 record this season. Eleven of the CAA’s 12 squads were .500 or better in non-conference play.
Four CAA Players Named To ECAC All-Star Squad: Four CAA players were named to the ECAC Division I women’s soccer All-Star team. Making the first team were Northeastern freshman forward Devin Petta and Hofstra senior defender Jess Crankshaw. Petta was also named the ECAC Rookie of the Year. Making the second team were James Madison senior forward Corky Julien and George Mason junior midfielder Omolyn Davis.