Oct. 31, 2009

Box Score

WASHINGTON, D.C. - American (10-9-0, 5-2-0 PL) scored three times in the second half and became just the fourth team all season to hold Navy (13-4-2, 4-2-1 PL) without a goal in a 3-0 shutout victory Saturday afternoon in the Patriot League finale for both teams.

With the loss, just its second in conference play over the last two seasons, Navy finishes the year at 4-2-1 in the Patriot League and will now carry the No. 4 seed into next weekend's Patriot League Tournament.

For the second-straight year, the Mids will face Colgate (9-6-3, 5-1-1 PL) in the league semifinals (Time still TBD). The Raiders earned the top-seed and right to host the 2009 championship after knocking off Bucknell, 2-1 in overtime earlier this afternoon in Hamilton, N.Y.

"They really took it to us in the second half and they were just the better team out there today," said Navy head coach Carin Gabarra. "We had a chance or two early, but their keeper came up with some terrific saves. I thought we were inconsistent in our play and our effort. We're excited to be playing again, but we will need to play better soccer in order to have a chance of advancing next weekend."

Navy had the best scoring chance of the opening half for either team despite being outshot by a 9-2 margin. Junior Anastasia Abid (Williamsburg, Va.) received a feed from classmate Christine Calderon (Yorktown, Va.) and from eight yards out, sent a shot which seemed destined to give the Mids an early advantage, but American netminder Arianna Efstathiou made an incredibly athletic play, lunging to her right and tipping the ball over the cross bar and out of harm's way.

"It was one of the best saves I have seen a keeper make in a very long time," stated Gabarra. "It was just a terrific play."

After playing to a scoreless first 45 minutes, American carried the play out of the break and got on the scoreboard with a 67th-minute goal from freshman Michelle Montillo. Senior Kelsey Brasher provided the assist on Montillo's first tally and then gave the host Eagles a 2-0 lead at the 80:43 mark on her team-leading seventh goal of the season.

Trailing 2-0 late, Navy opted to empty its bench and avoid risking injury with the result seemingly in hand and the league playoffs looming next Friday. The Eagles would add a third goal in the 87th-minute to create the final margin.

Senior goalkeeper and Navy team captain Beth Reed (Indianapolis, Ind.) allowed two goals and made five saves in the losing effort.

Navy will be back in action on Sunday when it hosts Howard at 1:00 pm.

Match Notes:

* The 2009 Patriot League Tournament will be played Friday and Sunday, Nov. 6 and 8 at Van Doren Field in Hamilton, N.Y.

*The three second-half goals were the most allowed by Navy in a half this season.

*Navy is unbeaten in its last six matches against Friday's semifinal opponent Colgate (5-0-1). The two teams played to a scoreless draw earlier this year on Oct. 2 in Annapolis. A year ago, Navy ended the Raiders' season with a 1-0 overtime win in the league semifinal in Annapolis.

## GO NAVY! ##