Nov. 12, 2008
Center Valley, Pa.- Army is set to open up NCAA Tournament play when it travels to Charlottesville, Va. To take on No. 16 Virginia (13-4-3, 6-3-1). The NCAA Women's College Cup game will take place at the University of Virginia's Klockner Stadium at 5 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 14.
Army Women's Soccer NCAA Release 
Army earned its first ever NCAA Tournament berth after winning the Patriot League Championship last weekend.
The Black Knights had a solid season thus far, posting an overall record of 12-5-3 and a record of 4-1-2 in Patriot League play. Army has played on game against an NCAA Tournament team this season, beating Central Connecticut St., 3-0, on Sept. 28.
Army earned the Patriot League's automatic berth to the Women's College Cup by winning its first title since 1993. The Black Knights, the tournament's No. 3 seed, advanced 5-4 on penalty kicks to the Championship match after a scoreless tie with No. 2 seed Bucknell in the semifinals. Army followed up that win with a double overtime 1-0 victory over archrival and No. 1 seed Navy.
Army had four players named All-Patriot League selections. Freshman forward Dymon Washington was named to the First-Team All-Patriot League after winning three Rookie of the Week awards this season and placing fifth in the League with 17 points. The Black Knights had three Second-Team selections: senior midfielder Sarah Goss, junior defender Elizabeth Betterbed and sophomore goalkeeper Alex Lostetter. Goss has one Offensive Player of the Week award under her belt this season, while Betterbed helped lead a staunch Army defense that went 4-1-2 in the Patriot League. Lostetter is second in the League in goals-against average and save percentage, but leads the League in shutouts with nine. Lostetter also won three consecutive Goalkeeper of the Week awards.
Lostetter and Betterbed were selected for the Patriot League All-Tournament Team, as well as seniors Pia White and Sarah Goss, who was named the Tournament MVP. Lostetter was fantastic in goal, shutting out Bucknell's high-octane offense and keeping Navy off the board. Betterbed and Goss played fantastic defense throughout the tournament, while White scored the game-winner against Navy to secure the victory.
Army and Virginia will meet for the first time ever in Friday's match. The Cavaliers, the No. 2 seed in the region, were eliminated from the ACC Tournament Semifinals last Friday after losing a shootout with Virginia Tech, 2-1. Virginia is making its 15th straight and 21st overall appearance in the NCAA Tournament.
Patriot League Notebook
First Time For Everything
Army is making its first NCAA Tournament appearance in program history. The Black Knights will face Virginia in the first round, the first-ever meeting for the two programs.
Shutting Them Down
Army has blanked 12 of its 19 opponents, one shy of the school record, and has yielded just three goals over its last 11 games. The Black Knights posted a 6-2-3 mark over this span, with five games going into overtime.
Patriot League in the NCAA Tournament
Since the League received its first NCAA automatic bid in 1997, Patriot League teams are 2-11 in the Tournament. In 2004, Colgate defeated Arizona, 1-0, in the first round of the tournament before falling 4-0 to Connecticut in the second round. In 2006, Navy tied William and Mary, 0-0, and advanced 5-4 on penalty kicks to the second round. The Mids lost to North Carolina, 4-0, in the second round.
ACCepting the Challenge
Patriot League teams are 0-2 against the ACC in the NCAA Tournament. Colgate lost to Maryland, 1-0, in 2002 and Navy lost to North Carolina, 4-0, in 2006.
Quotable
"It's so exciting to be playing a team of Virginia's caliber. I don't know much about them, but obviously they are a quality team from the ACC."
-Army Head Coach Gene Ventriglia, on playing Virginia
