Nov. 12, 2007
Lewisburg, Pa. - It was a picture-perfect Sunday afternoon in Lewisburg as the No. 1 seed Bucknell Bison hosted the No. 3 Navy Midshipmen to decide the 2007 Patriot League Women's Soccer Tournament Champion. When it was all said and done, the Mids escaped the beautiful Varsity Soccer Complex with a 1-0 victory to advance to their second consecutive NCAA tournament.
The first half was full of fast-paced action, with a flurry of corner kicks and set pieces occurring in the game's opening moments. Each team weathered their opponents best shots and the score looked as if it would remain scoreless at the intermission. With about six minutes remaining in the first half, however, Navy Head Coach Carin Gabarra substituted freshman forward Carissa Youker into the lineup to give senior forward Brigitte Fox a break before the half. Fox had scored nine goals in the last four games, which included two in Friday's semifinal. Youker made the best of her time on the pitch, however, and scored what would end up being the game-winning goal with a few minutes remaining in the half. The goal came off of a beautiful chip from defender Lauren Bresnahan who found forward Sam Schroth at the top of the box. Schroth took Bresnahan's pass and chipped it off of her foot in the air, finding Youker for her second goal of the season.
The Bison had several chances to score in the second half, including a stretch where the home team had three consecutive corner kicks midway through the second stanza. The high-scoring offense of Bucknell was unable to find the back of the net, though, and ended the game without scoring a goal.
Fox was named the 2007 Patriot League Tournament MVP after scoring two goals in Friday's semifinal vs. American. The senior has scored 16 goals this season.
Navy won its second-consecutive Patriot League Tournament title, and are now 6-0 in their last three tournaments dating back to 2003. Junior goalkeeper Lizzie Barnes earned her fourth-consecutive shutout in Patriot League Tournament play. The Mids will learn their NCAA tournament destination at 8 p.m. on Monday evening, when the NCAA Division I Women's Soccer Selection show airs on ESPNews.
2007 Patriot League Women's Soccer All-Tournament Team
Kelsey Brasher, American, So., F
Annette Scott, American, Sr., D
Elizabeth Costello, Army, Sr., D
Jenna Roberts, Army, Sr., F
Jennifer Dervarics, Bucknell, Jr., F
Molly Linhart, Bucknell, So., M
Chelsea McGorry, Bucknell, So., F/M
Lizzie Barnes, Navy, Jr., GK
Lauren Bresnahan, Navy, So., D
Shelly Moeller, Navy, So., D
Carissa Youker, Navy, Fr., F
Tournament MVP - Brigitte Fox, Navy, Sr., F
