Sept. 17, 2010
Box Score
LEXINGTON, Va. - The Navy women's soccer team evened its record at 4-4-1 with a 4-0 win over VMI (1-7-0) on Friday afternoon at Patchin Field. The Mids have now outscored their opponents 9-0 over the past two games and move to 4-0-0 all-time against VMI. Four different players scored goals for Navy and eight Mids appeared on the score sheet.
The Navy defense continued its strong play, as the goalkeeping tandem of sophomore Hannah Legler and freshman Alexes Lopez-Shaw, along with a stout backline, posted its fourth shutout of the season.
"We've worked hard on our defending," head coach Carin Gabarra said. "When we do that we can create better chances for ourselves and we can go forward with numbers and attack as a team."
The offensive outburst began in the 12th minute when sophomore Brittany Fruin sent a ball into the box to senior Anastasia Abid. Abid gained control of the ball in front of the VMI keeper, and made a move to her right around the goalie and then slid the ball into the net.
It looked as if Navy would score again four minutes later, but junior Amanda Serfass' shot clanked off the post.
Lopez-Shaw was tested just once in net during the opening half, when VMI's Sarah Strand took a shot on goal in the 29th minute that Lopez-Shaw had to make a great play to prevent the hosts from scoring the equalizer.
With less than two minutes remaining in the first half, Navy got their second tally as freshman Hannah Morse ripped a low-driving shot into the goal from 20 yards out for her first career goal.
Navy outshot VMI 12-1 in the first half and held a 5-1 advantage on corner kicks.
The Midshipmen started off strong in the second half, wasting only five minutes before connecting on their third goal of the game.
Freshman Morgan Tilley served a ball into the box, which was headed by freshman Ashlynn Soellner to the middle of the box about five yards off the goal line. Senior Carissa Youker than took the ball and knocked it, scoring her fourth goal in the last five games.
Just as she did in Navy's 5-0 win over Manhattan on Sunday, freshman Paloma Perez added the final touches to the victory with a goal in the 72nd minute. Freshman KD Woolard fed Morse who got the ball to Perez streaking down the right side of the field. As Perez approached the net, she unleashed a rocket into the net above the goalkeeper to tack on the Mids' final goal and extend the lead to 4-0.
Sophomore Hannah Legler subbed into net for Lopez-Shaw after half time and only needed to make two saves to preserve the shutout.
Navy outshot VMI 24-5 in the game.
The Mids will next play at James Madison on Sunday.
Notes:
*Abid, Perez and Youker have all scored in back-to-back games.
* Tilley had her first career assist.
* Perez now has two goals in three games this season.
* Navy has doubled their season goal total from nine to 18 in the past two games.
*Youker is now in sole possession of eighth place on the Navy career goal list with 23.
