Jan. 5, 2007

From Navy Athletic Communications

Annapolis, Md. - The honors continue to flood in for members of the Navy women's soccer team, as Soccer Buzz has named Shelly Moeller (Milford, Ohio) and Cassie Barbaresi (Bradenton, Fla.) to its Freshman All-America Team. Moeller was one of 12 players named to the first team and one of just four defenders, while Barbaresi earned a spot on the 13-player second team in which she was one of five midfielders.

Moeller, who emerged as a leader on Navy's record-setting defense in just her first season playing center back, was recently named to the NSCAA's (National Soccer Coaches Association of America) All-Mid-Atlantic Region First Team, as well as garnering Second-Team All-Mid-Atlantic Region honors by Soccer Buzz. In addition, she was named the Patriot League's Co-Defensive Player of the Year, the Patriot League Tournament Most Valuable Player, was selected to the All-Patriot League First Team and was named to the the Soccer Buzz All-Mid-Atlantic Freshman Team.

Moeller anchored a defensive unit gave up nine goals this fall, including just five during the regular season. The Mids' 0.372 goals-against average was the nation's best and the 14th-lowest GAA in the NCAA record books. In addition, Navy turned in a program-record 19 shutouts in 24 games, the seventh most in the NCAA annals. Meanwhile, the Mids' .790 shutouts per game average was No. 1 in the nation and the fifth-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.

Moeller was one of Navy's most explosive players in the air and in particular, on corner kicks. She turned in three assists to accompany her eight goals this fall with seven of the eight goals coming off corners, including four headers. She scored game-winning goals against both Lehigh and Colgate in the Patriot League Tournament. Moeller was named the Patriot League Defensive Player of the Week three times during the season, including Oct. 30 when she made a pair of defensive saves against No. 9 Penn State to lead the Mids to their first victory over a ranked opponent.

Barbaresi was a First-Team All-Patriot League midfielder who amassed 25 points on six goals and 13 assists in her first season donning a Navy uniform. She was named the Patriot League's Co-Rookie of the Year and received Second-Team All-Mid-Atlantic Region honors from the NSCAA and third-team recognition from Soccer Buzz. The product of IMG Soccer Academies in Florida provided the Mids 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 paced the league's freshmen in points (1.14 ppg), assists (0.59 apg) and goals (0.27 gpg). Ranked eighth in the country in assists per game, Barbaresi 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.