Oct. 6, 2006

Box Score

WEST POINT, N.Y. - With a goal and an assist, senior forward Meggie Curran (Silver Spring, Md.) became just the fourth player in program history to score 100 points during her career, as she led the 22nd-ranked Navy women's soccer team (13-0-0, 2-0-0 Patriot League) to a 4-0 win over archrival Army (4-8-1, 0-1-1 PL) Friday night at Clinton Field in West Point, N.Y.

Navy, who owns the nation's longest winning streak at 13, wasted little time in mixing up the action as junior midfielder Katie Traster (Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.) put the Mids on the scoreboard nearly four minutes into the contest. Junior forward Brigitte Fox (La Mesa, Calif.) generated the scoring play by sending the ball to team captain Molly Burd (Englewood, Colo.). Burd quickly found Traster running on the right side of the field who fired off a 15-yard shot. It marked Traster's second-collegiate game-winner, the first since her freshman campaign, while at the same time she is the 10th different player to score a game-winning goal for the Midshipmen this season.

In the 21st minute, Curran booted a free kick that freshman Brittany White (Carmel, Ind.) was able to knock into the net. The assist by Curran was the 36th of her career as she joined the late Stacy Finley ('03), Justine Fisher ('01) and Cori Thornton ('97) as the only 100-point scorers in Navy's 14-year history. In addition, Curran gained sole possession of fourth place in the all-time Patriot League assists standings.

Nearly three minutes later, freshman forward Cassie Barbaresi (Bradenton, Fla.) was able to thread her serve through traffic to Curran who gave the Mids a 3-0 lead. Barbaresi now has eight assists this fall, setting the Navy record for assists by a freshman. The previous mark was seven and was accomplished by Nadia Sheikh in '99, Katie Moore in '98 and Kristen Riismandel in '96.

Curran had a shot to add to the Mids lead when her shot in the 79th minute ricocheted off the post and 30 seconds later, her second try at the goal just missed as it hit the cross bar.

The Mids scored a series-record fourth goal in the 87th minute as White, who was named the Patriot League Rookie of the Week on Monday, tapped in her second goal of the game off an assist from junior Kari Weniger (St. Petersburg, Fla.). White is just the third player in program history to score a pair of goals against the Black Knights in a single game. Stacy Finley scored both Navy goals in the Mids' 2-0 victory over Army in 2000, the last time Navy topped the Black Knights on their home field. Vanessa Solon was the first Navy player to target a pair of goals, that coming in a 3-1 win at home in 1999.

Navy keeper Lizzie Barnes (New Orleans, La.) posted her seventh shutout of the season, as the nation's leader in goals-against average had a solid game between the pipes. She made a career-high tying seven saves, including an electrifying diving save by the left post in which Army co-captain Silvia Longo let loose from 20 yards out. As a team, the Mids have held their opponents scoreless 10 times in 13 contests, the third-most shutouts in a season.

The four-goal decision is the largest margin of victory by either Army or Navy in series history. No game had been decided by more than two goals and each of the last three games had been 1-0 finishes. Navy's four goals are the most by a team in the series, bettering the previous high of three set by Army in a 3-2 victory in '96 and later matched by the Midshipmen in a 3-1 win in '99.

"I'm very proud of our effort tonight," said Navy head coach Carin Gabarra. "The Army game is always an important game on our schedule because we not only play for ourselves, but for our school and the Navy and Marine Corps. It was another great team effort starting with the leadership from our seniors.

"Meggie had a great game tonight," Gabarra added. "She continuously finds a way to contribute to this team whether it be scoring, play making or setting an example as a leader. I'm happy that she was able to achieve a great milestone for her career."

The Midshipmen, who are tied with Bucknell and Lehigh atop in the Patriot League standings at 2-0-0, return to action Sunday when they travel to Worcester, Mass., to face Patriot League foe Holy Cross (2-9-2, 0-1-1 PL). Action is set for 12:00 pm.