Nov. 18, 2008

Academic All-America Team Release

TOWSON, Md. - Navy senior Lizzie Barnes (New Orleans, La.) has been named to the 2008 ESPN The Magazine Women's Soccer Academic All-America First Team, as selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).

Barnes, who qualified for the national ballot after being named to the District II first team for the third-straight year, is just the second Navy women's soccer player to garner First-Team Academic All-America honors twice during their career, joining Nicole Aunapu, who earned first-team laurels in 1997 and '98.

Carrying a 3.86 grade-point average as a double major in computer science and information technology, Barnes is one of the most well-rounded student-athletes to have ever come through the Naval Academy.

A First-Team Academic All-American in 2006, the New Orleans native is ranked 30th in overall order of merit (combining academic and military performance) among 1,073 students in the Class of 2009.

She has earned a 4.0 GPA in her last three semesters, while posting a 4.0 in her classes within her major in each of the last five semesters. In addition, she has been named to the Dean's List four times and twice to both the Superintendent's and Commandant's lists.

Earlier this season, Barnes' triumphs on- and off- the-field were recognized on a national scale, as she was chosen as one of 10 finalists for the Lowe's Senior CLASS award, the premier tribute for NCAA Division I collegiate seniors. The winner of that award will be announced at the Women's Soccer Division I National Championship scheduled for Dec. 12-14.

On the field, the accomplishments of Navy's standout senior keeper have been equally as impressive. She has been instrumental in leading the Navy women to their most successful run in the program's 16-year history, which has included their first back-to-back league and NCAA Tournament appearances in 2006 & '07, as well as a regular season title this fall.

Moreover, she will graduate as part of an eight-member senior class that will leave Annapolis as the winningest in program history with a four-year record of 60-19-10, good for a sterling 73.9 winning percentage

Barnes wrapped up her decorated athletic career as Navy's all-time record holder in goals-against average (0.65) and shutouts (29), while standing second in save percentage (84.5).

This fall, she was named the Patriot League Goalkeeper of the Year for the second time in her career after posting a 0.65 GAA, including a stingy 0.26 mark in league action, an 85.5 save percentage and eight solo shutouts.

She also became the third Navy player to garner the Patriot League Women's Soccer Scholar-Athlete of the Year award.

In addition to Barnes, Navy's Shelly Moeller (Milford, Ohio) was also part of the national ballot after each player was named to the All-District II First Team last month.

Barnes is the third player in program history to earn Academic All-America status twice. In addition to Aunapu and Barnes, 2007 team captain Kari Weniger was also twice named an Academic All-American in 2006 and '07.

2008 ESPN THE MAGAZINE Academic All-America ®Women's Soccer Team (University Division) as selected by CoSIDA
First TeamPos.    Name                SchoolGK  Lizzie Barnes       NavyD   Elizabeth Betterbed     ArmyD   Kristi Eveland      North CarolinaD   Jenae Gibbens       Cal State FullertonD   Blakely Mattern     South CarolinaM   Yael Averbuch       North CarolinaM   Sarah Goss      ArmyM   Ahna Johnson        FairfieldF   Brittany Bock       Notre DameF   Nikki Labuda Czaplicki  CharlotteF   Theresa Ferraina    Loyola (Md.)
Second TeamPos.    Name                SchoolGK  Anna Rodenbough         North CarolinaD   Emily Anderson          TexasD   Allison Falk        StanfordD   Jenn Johnson        AuburnD   Lauren Olson        Saint LouisD   Elise Weber         Notre DameM   Hailey Beam         CharlotteM   Amanda Gallow       DaytonM   Yolanda Odenyo          Oklahoma StateF   Ashleigh Gunning    Coastal CarolinaF   Taryn Hemmings          DenverF   Erin Kasmarik       South Dakota State
Third TeamPos.    Name                SchoolGK  Kira Maker      StanfordD   Rachel Friedman     Western KentuckyD   Jessica Jarrell     Oklahoma StateD   Abigail Lauer       William & MaryM   Zoe Bouchelle       Penn StateM   Jamie Markaverich   Oklahoma StateM   Emily McColl        Coastal CarolinaF   Lindsay Cunningham  BrownF   Kayla Lambert       EvansvilleF   Cynthia Morote-Ariza    Loyola (Ill.)F   Erin Scott      Rice
ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America ® of the Year:Yael Averbuch, North Carolina
### Go Navy ###