Navy?s women?s soccer team is 19-1 thanks to a deep roster that includes a core group of veteran players and a highly touted freshman class.
Junior forward Brigitte Fox falls somewhere in between for the Midshipmen, who are facing Lehigh today in the Patriot League tournament semifinals. Fox is currently Navy?s third-leading scorer with eight goals and four assists, and Wednesday, she was one of six Midshipmen named to the All-Patriot League first team.
The 5-foot-5 La Mesa, Calif., native?s performance this year is even more impressive considering she missed all but four games during her sophomore season after a severe knee injury against Loyola Marymount. Navy coach Carin Gabarra said she is amazed by the play of Fox, who has been vital to the Midshipmen?s best season in school history.
“Brigitte came back stronger, faster and better this year, which is rare for that kind of injury,” Gabarra said. “She is also among the best-conditioned players on the team, which is key for her game. She is a fast, explosive player that is capable of scoring, getting her teammates the ball or helping set up corner kicks for our team. She is just a really valuable player.”
Fox has backed up Gabarra?s compliments all season, scoring three game-winning goals this year (tied for the team-high). In a 4-0 win over Colgate on Oct. 14, she also became the seventh Midshipmen in program history to score a hat trick.
“The rehabilitation went by quicker than I thought it would,” Fox said. “It seemed like I went from walking without a crutch to running to getting back on the field really fast, and now all of that work is starting to pay off. Rehabbing was a great way for me to see how hard I could push my body and is helping with my training today.”
The Fox file
» Age: 20
» Height: 5-foot-5
» Hometown: La Mesa, Calif.
» Major: Economics
» Did you know? Fox was named Patriot League Player of the Week and was named to the Soccer America, Soccer Buzz and Soccer Times teams of the week after her three-goal, one-assist performance against Colgate Oct. 14
? She was Navy?s second-leading scorer in 2004 after finishing with eight goals and six assists as a freshman ? Before getting hurt, Fox assisted Meggie Curran for the game-tying goal against Loyola Marymount on Sept. 4, 2005.
