Oct. 5, 2007

Box Score

LEWISBURG, Pa. - Sophomore midfielder Molly Linhart's shot in the ninth minute grazed the inside right post to give Bucknell (5-6-0 / 1-0 PL) a 1-0 victory over the Navy women's soccer team (6-4-2 / 0-1 PL) in both squads' Patriot League opener Friday night at Varsity Soccer Field in Lewisburg, Pa. The Mids, who have struggled to find wins on the road this fall, are 6-7-1 in Patriot League openers.

"It's disappointing that we were unable to walk away with a win tonight because I felt like we played well," said Navy head coach Carin Gabarra. "In particular it was one of our best attacking nights. We were able to generate shots and as a team, we played a complete 90-minute game.

"It was a hard fought game between two solid teams. I'm encouraged by how we've played the last few games, but now we need to work to put the pieces together."

Both teams were able to generate their fair share of shots, as Navy booted 11 (6-5) and Bucknell took 13 (6-7) shots. The Mids, who got several looks from 15-20 yards out in the closing minutes of the contest, fired off all three of their shots on goal in the opening half. Meanwhile, Bucknell put two shots on goal in the first half, while Navy keeper Lizzie Barnes (New Orleans, La.) made four of her five saves over the second 45 minutes of play.

The Bison gained the early advantage when senior forward Krista Lee Gentile fed Linhart in behind the defender who was able to tuck her grounder just inside the right post at 8:45 in the contest. It was Linhart's second goal of the 2007 campaign. Meanwhile, Bucknell's defense was able to stave off Navy's offensive arsenal and through 11 games, the Bison have given up just one goal in the first half.

Seven players accounted for Navy's 11 shots, including reserve forward Kristen Laraway (Long Valley, N.J.) who fired off three shots, while senior captain Kari Weniger (St. Petersburg, Fla.) put one of her two shots on goal.

Navy, who met the Bison in its season opener for just the second time in 14 years, is now 1-5-1 in Patriot League openers played away from Annapolis. Meanwhile, Navy will need to solve its road woes in short order as three of its next four games are played on the road with all three contests coming against conference foes.

The Midshipmen return to action on Sunday when they return home to play host to NJIT at 5:00 pm at the Glenn Warner Soccer Facility. The Highlanders are in their first year as a Div. I team and the women's soccer program is first women's sport at NJIT to achieve full Div. I status.

Support Navy soccer with a family night out. The Naval Academy Athletic Association is offering a special family package for the NJIT game that consists of four tickets, four hot dogs and four drinks for $20.

Additionally, Sunday night is the Design-A-Sign contest where kids 12 and younger will have the opportunity to design a Navy soccer spirit poster to cheer with during the game. Materials to design the sign will be provided and at the end of the game, the Navy soccer team will pick its favorite with the winner earning a special prize.