Oct. 9, 2005

Box Score | Team Stats

ANNAPOLIS, Md. - Navy scored three first half goals and added a fourth in the 73rd minute to pick up its first Patriot League women's soccer win of the 2005 season, a 4-0 triumph over Holy Cross Sunday afternoon at the Glenn Warner Soccer Facility. Navy's four goals were a scoring outburst, as the Mids had been held scoreless in their previous two league competitions.

"We responded well after losing a tough game to Army Friday night," said Navy head coach Carin Gabarra. "We had several goal-scoring opportunities today and did a better job of finishing. I'm happy for both Heather (Thomas) and Katie (Traster) who scored their first goals of the season.

The Mids scored the game-winner in the 14th minute as senior midfielder Heather Thomas (Pismo Beach, Calif.) scored her first goal of the year. Fellow midfielder Molly Burd (Englewood, Colo.) fought her way past two Holy Cross defenders on the right sideline before sending the ball to Thomas who was at the right center of the box where she kicked in the seven-yard shot.

Navy tacked on a goal just over minutes later when forwards Kristen Laraway (Long Valley, N.J.), Iris Boivin (Pittsburgh, Pa.) and Meggie Curran (Silver Spring, Md.) worked together like a well-oiled machine. Laraway headed the ball to Boivin who then flicked the ball to Curran. Curran took the ball to the middle of the field where she fired off a 15-yarder to give Navy a 2-0 lead. Curran, meanwhile, moved into fifth place on Navy's all-time points scored list where she owns 71-career points.

In the 40th minute freshman Sam Schroth (Chester Springs, Pa.) made a strong play intercepting the ball and getting it to Laraway, who found the back of the net.

Sophomore midfielder Katie Traster (Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.) produced her first goal of the season when she took Elise McCaskey's (Butler, Pa.) serve and launched a bullet from 30 yards out on the left side.

The lop-sided affair enabled Gabarra to give her stable of goalkeepers an opportunity to play. Haley Crain (Friendswood, Texas) played just over 61 minutes and stopped three shots on goal before giving way to freshman Lizzie Barnes (New Orleans, La.). The first-year player knocked away one shot on goal in 19 minutes of play before fellow rookie Jill Lyons (Clifton Park, N.Y.) came in for the final 9:34.

Navy owned a 23-10 shot advantage over the Crusaders and a 7-2 edge in corners. The Mids, who have never lost to Holy Cross in Annapolis (7-0-0), now lead the series 9-2-1.

The Mids return to action next Saturday when they play host to league rival Colgate. Game time is set for 10 a.m. at the Glenn Warner Soccer Facility.

"Next weekend's game against Colgate will be a pivotal match-up in our journey to make the playoffs."

Goals By Period 1 2 OT F
Holy Cross (2-11-0/0-3-0 PL) 0 0 - 0
Navy (8-4-2/1-2-0 PL) 3 1 - 4

Scoring Summary
NAVY 13:51 Heather Thomas (1) from Molly Burd
NAVY 19:17 Meggie Curran (8) from Iris Boivin and Kristen Laraway
NAVY 39:30 Kristen Laraway (2) from Sam Schroth
NAVY 72:46 Katie Traster (1) from Elise McCaskey
() - # goals this year

Shots: Holy Cross 6-4 - 10; Navy 11-12 - 23
Corners: Holy Cross 1-1 - 2; Navy 5-2 - 7
Saves: Holy Cross 1-2 - 3, Navy 3-2 - 5
Fouls: Holy Cross 2-7 - 9; Navy 2-2 - 4

G-o N-a-v-y