Aug. 31, 2009

Center Valley, Pa.--Preseason favorite Navy has started the season at full-speed, racing out to a 4-0 record. As a result, the Mids took home three of the Patriot League's four weekly awards. Lehigh, which knocked off Big XII foe Nebraska, claimed the League's other weekly honor.

Patriot League Weekly Release 8.31.09

Offensive Player of the Week

Christine Calderon, Navy Jr., F, Yorktown, Va. Calderon notched three goals and two assists for a total of eight points, helping the Mids start the year with a 4-0 record. She scored a goal in each of Navy's first three contests. Calderon then recorded an assist on each of the Mids' goals in Navy's 2-1 win over Boise State. With three goals this season, she has doubled her career goal total.

Defensive Player of the Week

Shelly Moeller, Navy Sr., D, Milford, Ohio Moeller helped lead the Navy defense to a pair of shutout victories. She helped hold USC-Upstate without a shot in the Mids' season-opening 3-0 victory. Playing center back, Moeller has helped Navy limit its four foes to an average of 0.75 goals and three shots on goal per contest. In addition, Moeller has notched six points (two goals, two assists). She recorded a career-high two assists in the Mids' victory over Fairleigh Dickinson.

Goalkeeper of the Week

Lauren Mains, Lehigh Jr., GK, Scotch Plains, N.J. Mains made a career-high 10 saves to lead Lehigh to a 3-1 victory over Big XII foe Nebraska. She made five more saves in a 1-0 defeat to ACC opponent Virginia Tech. She stopped 88 percent of the shots she faced, earning her a spot on the Villanova Classic All-Tournament Team.

Rookie of the Week

Brittany Fruin, Navy Fr., M, McLean, Va. Fruin produced two goals, including one game-winner, and an assist in her first four collegiate outings. She recorded a career-high three points (one goal, one assist) in the Mids' road win against Francis Marion. She also scored the game's first goal in Navy's 2-1 victory against Boise State.

Honorable Mention Performances Last Week

Friederike Engel, American Jr., D, Hamburg, Germany Led an American defensive unit that allowed just one goal and four shots on goal in two weekend contests. For the season, the American defense has allowed just three goals and 12 shots on goal.

Alex Lostetter, Army Jr., GK, Pittsburgh, Pa. Went 1-1-1 with a 0.93 GAA in three contests. Produced back-to-back shutouts, giving her 18 career shutouts, which is one shy of a school record. Made nine saves in a loss to Maryland.

Maddie Malone, Colgate So., M, Glen Ridge, N.J. Scored in back-to-back contests, including the game-winner in the Raiders' victory over Buffalo. Also scored Colgate's only goal in a 2-1 loss to Niagara.

Paige Harrison, Holy Cross Sr., M, Sutton, Mass. Recorded the first Holy Cross goal of the season in the Crusaders' victory over UMass. Harrison's goal proved to be the game-winner.

Liz Carlos, Lehigh Sr., F, Southbury, Conn. Registered a goal and an assist to key Lehigh's victory over Nebraska, the Mountain Hawks' first win over a Big XII team in women's soccer.

Beth Reed, Navy Sr., GK, Indianapolis, Ind. Helped Navy record four victories, including two shutouts. She stopped 82 percent of the shots she faced while posting a 0.54 GAA. She made a career-high five saves against Fairleigh Dickinson.

Patriot League Notebook

2009 Patriot League Preseason Poll The United States Naval Academy was chosen to win the 2009 Patriot League Women's Soccer Championship in a vote by head coaches and sports information directors. The Mids received six first-place votes and 90 overall points, marking the third straight season Navy has been selected as the preseason favorite. Colgate, which garnered a League-best seven first-place votes, followed closely behind Navy, with 83 points. Bucknell received three first-place votes and was selected to take third place with 76 points. Defending Patriot League Tournament champion Army was picked fourth with 61 points, followed by American (50), Lehigh (39), Holy Cross (35) and Lafayette (14).

Matlack, Moeller Receive Preseason Awards Bucknell's Christa Matlack was selected as the Preseason Patriot League Offensive Player of the Year, while Navy's Shelly Moeller received the nod for Preseason Patriot League Defensive Player of the Year for the second consecutive season. Matlack was a First-Team All-Patriot League selection last season. As a sophomore, she tallied eight goals and four assists. Moeller has been named Patriot League Preseason Defensive Player of the Year for the second straight season. She was named the 2008 Patriot League Defensive Player of the Year as a junior after anchoring a Navy back line that led the Mids to the top Patriot League regular season record.

Betterbed Nominated For Lowe's Senior CLASS Award Army soccer standout Elizabeth Betterbed has been selected as a candidate for the 2009 Lowe's Senior CLASS Award, based on personal qualities that define a complete student-athlete. An acronym for Celebrating Loyalty and Achievement for Staying in School, the Lowe's Senior CLASS Award focuses on the total student-athlete and encourages students to use their platform in athletics to make a positive impact as leaders in their communities.

Reed Ready To Run Navy senior goalkeeper Beth Reed has her hands full. In addition to replacing two-time Patriot League Goalkeeper of the Year Lizze Barnes, Reed is also a guard on the Mids' women's basketball squad. She is also ranked second out of 1,032 students in her class.

Rookies Running The Show Two first-time head coaches have made their debuts with Patriot League schools this season. Stephanie Golan became the second coach in the history of the Army program, taking over for the retired Gent Ventriglia. Scotland-native Darren Gallagher, who previously coached in the USL W-League, has taken the reigns at Holy Cross.

Back In Business Patriot League teams return 64 starters from last year's squads, an average of eight per team. Six teams return nine starters, while another brings back eight. Only Army returns less than half of its starting lineup. The Black Knights welcome back five returning starters.

Spreading The Wealth Army will attempt to become just the second team this decade to win back-to-back Patriot League championships. Navy, which won titles in 2006 and 2007 is the only team to win consecutive crowns since Colgate won six straight from 1994 to 1999. Six different Patriot League teams have claimed a championship this decade.

Patriot League Tournament The 2009 Patriot League Tournament will be held Friday and Sunday, November 6 and 8 at the site of the highest seed. The teams with the top four regular-season records will qualify for the Patriot League tourney.

Team Notebooks

American has not left the District of Columbia for its first three games. After dropping their season-opener at Georgetown, the Eagles rebounded to win home contests against Georgia Southern and Bryant. Mikaela Weaver scored the game-winning goal in overtime to help American claim a 2-1 victory over Bryant on Sunday. It was the Eagles' first overtime win since September 8, 2004, when then-freshman Siohban Gillan gave the Eagles a 2-1 victory at Towson.

Army started the season with a win, a loss and a tie. After falling to Maryland, the Black Knights gave first-year head coach Stephanie Golan her first collegiate victory, a 3-0 triumph over NJIT on Friday. Senior Elizabeth Betterbed notched two assists in the win over the Highlanders. Army then finished with a scoreless draw against Fordham. The Black Knights are unbeaten in their series against Fordham (6-0-1) and NJIT (2-0).

Bucknell began the season with a pair of losses at the JMU/Comfort Inn Invitational in Harrisonburg, Va. The Bison were defeated by Colonial Athletic Association foes Towson and James Madison. After dropping a 4-1 decision to the Tigers on Friday, Bucknell was handed a 3-0 defeat by the host Dukes on Sunday. Casey Crowley and Megan DeGennaro were named to the All-Tournament Team.

Colgate commenced the 2009 season with a 2-0 victory over Buffalo. Freshman goalkeeper Ashley Walsh made four saves while earning the shutout in her first collegiate outing. Her classmate, Alyssa Manoogian, also made her presence felt in her debut. Manoogian recorded an assist against the Bulls. On Sunday, the Raiders were topped by Niagara, evening Colgate's record at 1-1. Maddie Malone, who scored the game-winner against Buffalo, added another goal against Niagara.

Holy Cross is one of two undefeated Patriot League teams after picking up a 2-0 win over Massachusetts. It was first-year head coach Darren Gallagher's first win as coach of the Crusaders. Senior Paige Harrison scored the Crusaders' first goal of the season on a penalty kick at the 6:22 mark in the first half. Senior goalkeeper Jessica Stone made two saves to pick up the shutout.

Lafayette will have to wait until Tuesday to begin its season after Sunday's season-opener at St. Peter's was postponed due to rain. The Leopards will play at home Tuesday against LaSalle. Lafayette is seeking its first season-opening victory since a 2001 win against Central Connecticut State in Orono, Maine.

Lehigh began the year at the Villanova Classic, taking on teams from the Big XII and the ACC. The Mountain Hawks opened the event with a 3-1 win over Nebraska, giving Lehigh its first-ever victory over a Big XII foe. The Mountain Hawks were then edged by Virginia Tech, 1-0, on Sunday. Lauren Mains, Natalie Hojnacki and Liz Carlos were named to the All-Tournament Team.

Navy is 4-0 after winning two road games and two home contests to open the season. The Mids have outscored their first four opponents by a 17-3 margin, including shutout victories against USC-Upstate and Fairleigh Dickinson. Navy has scored six goals on two separate occasions, doing so against Francis Marion and Fairleigh Dickinson. Christine Calderon leads the squad with eight points (three goals, two assists).