Sept. 2, 2015 ANNAPOLIS, Md. - The Navy women's soccer team (2-2) will play two matches in the state of Tennessee for the first time in program history, beginning with the University of Tennessee (1-0-3) on Friday (7 PM) and then East Tennessee State (3-1) on Sunday (1 PM). Live statistics will be available on navysports.com.
KEY NOTES FOR TENNESSEE:
• The Volunteers were picked to finish fifth in the SEC Preseason Coaches' Poll after finishing the 2014 campaign 10-10-2 overall and 4-6-1 in the conference.
• Tennessee has begun 2015 with a 1-0-3 mark and 1-0-1 in Knoxville.
• The Vols defense has started the season out strong, blanking three of their first four opponents and holding then-No. 7 Virginia Tech to one goal.
• SEC Defensive Player of the Week goalkeeper Julie Eckel opened the season with 396 consecutive minutes of scoreless defense. Eckel, who redshirted in 2014, ranks second or third in every major Tennessee goalkeeping category. She is second in saves (273), shutouts (26.3) and goals-against average (0.86) and third in matches played (67) and started (65) by a goalkeeper, minutes in goal (6,104) and victories (38).
KEY NOTES FOR EAST TENNESSEE STATE:
• After a 15-6 finish in 2014, East Tennessee State was picked to finish third in the Southern Conference behind Samford and Furman.
• The Bucs have opened the season with a 3-1 mark and owning a 1-1 mark in Johnson City, Tenn. After stringing along wins at USC-Upstate, 2-0, at Radford, 3-1 and versus Tennessee Tech, 1-0, ETSU battled NC State to a 2-0 loss. Despite the score, the Bucs outshot the Wolfpack, 13-9 and on net, 5-3, while NC State had a slight advantage in corner kicks, 6-4.
• Senior midfielder Sarah Zadrazil has paced the Bucs offense, tallying seven points on three goals and one assist. All three of Zadrazil's goals this season have been game winners.
• Junior Jasmine Elliot has started all four games in net for ETSU, owning a 0.75 goals-against average and a .786 save percentage with two shutouts.
THE STATE OF TENNESSEE
• The Navy women's soccer program can check off another state that it has played a soccer match in this weekend. Navy's matches against the University of Tennessee and East Tennessee State will help mark off the 16th different state that the Mids have traveled to, to play a game in.
• The other 15 states that Navy has traveled to are California, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Illinois, Massachusetts, Missouri, New Jersey, North Carolina, New York, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas, West Virginia and Virginia.
THE ARCHITECT OF THE PROGRAM
• Navy head coach Carin Gabarra has seen the growth of the program from its first Division I season to now its 23rd season. Gabarra is one of 20 active head coaches across the ranks of 331 Division I women's soccer teams to have been with a program for at least 20 years since its inception.
• UNC's Anson Dorrance, who is entering his 37th year with the Tar Heels, is the longest tenured head coach who began his respective program and is still coaching there.
Active Head Coaches With At Least 20 years At The Same Program They Started
UNC - Anson Dorrance (37th year) Nebraska - John Walker (22nd year)
Stony Brook - Sue Ryan (31st year) Pacific - Keith Coleman (22nd year)
William & Mary - John Daly (29th year) Boston University - Nancy Feldman (21st year) Delaware - Scott Grzenda (26th year) BYU - Jennifer Rockwood (21st year)
James Madison - David Lombardo (26th year) Florida - Becky Burleigh (21st year)
Cal Poly - Alex Crozier (24th year) Missouri - Bryan Blitz (20th year)
Detriot - Mike Lupenec (23rd year) Missouri State - Rob Brewer (20th year)
Navy - Carin Gabarra (23rd year) North Texas - John Hedlund (21st year)
Texas A&M - G Guerrieri (23rd year) Richmond - Peter Albright (20th year)
Longwood - Todd Dyer (22nd year) West Virginia - Nikki Izzo-Brown (20th year)
BOUNCING BACK
• Navy has historically found a way to bounce back from any loss throughout any season and continued that kind of success on Friday, Aug. 28 against VMI with a 2-1 victory. The Mids own a 66-23-9 mark following a loss.
• Over the last 10 seasons, Navy is 27-6-6 after dropping a match to an opponent, including 4-0 marks during the 2009 and 2013 seasons.
• Following a Maryland loss, the Mids are now 7-1-1 all-time and 6-0 when playing in Annapolis the next game. Navy has outscored its opponent 14-5 in Annapolis.
FRESHMAN FIRSTS
• Navy's freshmen wasted very little time making an impact on the team, tallying two goals in the final 10 minutes of the Mids' season-opener versus UMBC to earn a decisive 3-2 win. Mary August scored the first goal in the 83rd minute and Margaret Woodward followed up in the 84th minute to tally their first career goals.
• Karli Sottung tallied her first collegiate goal against #25 UConn in the 64th minute.
• Eleanor Pratt recorded her first two career assists in back-to-back contests, first against VMI (8/28) then against #25 UConn (8/30).
• Abby Goodrich grabbed her first assist of her career against VMI (8/28).
WEEKLY LEAGUE HONORS
• Freshman midfielder Margaret Woodward (Palm Harbor, Fla.) earned Patriot League Rookie of the Week honors on Monday, Aug. 21.
• In her first collegiate game, Woodward came off the bench for the Mids in the 74th minute against UMBC in the season opener and made an instant impact 10 minutes later. After classmate Mary August (Arnold, Md.) tallied the equalizing goal in the 83rd minute, Woodward headed in her first career goal off a corner kick in the 85th minute for the game-winning goal.
• Woodward is the 19th different freshman in program history to be honored with the weekly laurel since its inception in 2001. She is the first Mid to garner the weekly honor since teammate Clare MacAdam was recognized twice last season.
