Patriot League Official Athletic Site

Senior Computer Science and Information Technology Major Adds to Numerous Season and Career Honors

July 7, 2009

Center Valley, Pa. - Lizzie Barnes earned a trophy case full of honors and awards during her four years as a women's soccer standout for the United States Naval Academy, and the recent graduate claimed one more significant achievement on Tuesday as she was selected as the 2008-09 Patriot League Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year, it was announced by Patriot League Executive Director Carolyn Schlie Femovich. Barnes earned the Patriot League's highest honor after being named the 2008 Patriot League Women's Soccer Scholar-Athlete of the Year in November.

Barnes receives the female scholar-athlete honor after garnering praise for her success on the field and accomplishments in the classroom. She earned recognition in both areas as a finalist for the Lowe's Senior CLASS Award and with a spot on the Lowe's All-Senior All-America First Team in the fall. Barnes also received a First-Team Academic All-American honor from ESPN The Magazine for the second time and became one of six female Division I women's soccer players to earn an NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship. Barnes was also selected to the NSCAA/adidas Scholar All-East Region Second Team. In addition, she made the Patriot League Academic Honor Roll in her final three seasons in Annapolis.

Barnes posted a cumulative 3.9 grade point average while double-majoring in Computer Science and Information Technology. Barnes graduated 15th in her class of 1,065 students in overall merit, and ranked ninth in military performance. She maintained a perfect 4.0 GPA within both of her majors and was named to the Navy's Dean's List, Superintendent's List or Commandant's List in each of her eight semesters. She was named to more than one of the lists in four of her eight semesters. Barnes was also part of the Upsilon Pi Epsilon Honor Society, serving as the chapter president for the past year.

Barnes concluded her career in the fall with another outstanding season. She won the Goalkeeper of the Year award for the second time, previously claiming the honor in 2006. She claimed First-Team All-Patriot League recognition in both 2006 and 2008 as well, and was named the Patriot League's Goalkeeper of the Week three times last season. Barnes led the Patriot League in goals against average (0.65) and save percentage (85.5), and finished second in the League with eight shutouts. Barnes was even better in Patriot League action, allowing just two goals while posting five shutouts and a 0.26 goals against average. She helped Navy to the Patriot League regular-season title and a runner-up finish in the League Tournament after leading the Mids to the Patriot League Championship in each of the previous two years.

Barnes also exits Annapolis as one of the most decorated women's soccer players in both school and Patriot League history. She concluded her career with a 0.652 goals against average, setting the school and League record and posting the 20th-lowest mark in NCAA annals. Barnes also set Navy and Patriot League records for conference goals against average (0.411). She is tied for second in League annals with 29 career solo shutouts, and set a Patriot League record while posting the 10th-best mark in NCAA history with 13 solo shutouts in 2006. Navy posted a record of 50-11-8 (.782) during Barnes' three years as the starting goalkeeper.

Barnes is Navy's fifth winner of the Female Scholar-Athlete award, and third consecutive honoree from Annapolis. She follows last year's winner, Kelly Zahalka (swimming and diving), and 2007 honoree Kirsten Andrews (track and field). Nicole Aunapu (1999) and Kate Macfarlane (2002) also won the award from the Navy women's soccer team. Navy's five awards are more than any other Patriot League institution.

The winner of each sport's Patriot League Scholar-Athlete of the Year award is put in the running towards the Patriot League Male and Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year honors, with the League's sports information directors selecting one male and one female for the award. Others in contention for the Patriot League Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year award were Army sophomore Erin Anthony (basketball), Bucknell sophomore Alyssa DeLorenz (lacrosse), Navy senior Kerry Hannon (rowing), American senior Irene Schickhardt (field hockey), Army senior Briana Stremick (Volleyball), Lehigh senior Lisa Sweeney (softball), Lafayette senior Sarah Sykes (tennis), Zahalka (swimming and diving) and Navy junior Erica Ziel (cross country, indoor and outdoor track and field). All class years are from the 2008-09 academic year.

To be eligible for the Patriot League Scholar-Athlete of the Year award, a student-athlete must have at least a 3.20 cumulative grade point average and be a starter or key player in his/her sport. Freshmen are not eligible for this honor.