The Navy women?s soccer team put itself in prime position for an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament after upsetting nationally ranked Big 10 champion Penn State Thursday.
But the Midshipmen?s postseason chances took a hit three days later when Bucknell handed them their first loss of the season, 2-1. More importantly for Navy, the loss was its first in the Patriot League and it meant that Bucknell would win the regular-season title, get the league tournament?s top seed and get to host the event, which begins Friday in Lewisburg, Pa.
Now, Navy (19-1 overall, 6-1 league) enters the four-team league tournament as the second seed and will face third-seeded Lehigh (8-8-1, 4-2-1). The Midshipmen won the regular-season meeting between the two schools, 4-0, on Oct. 20. However, Navy coach Carin Gabarra does not expect that easy of a game this time around.
“Lehigh is a great and talented team, and we needed to play at our best to win like that,” Gabarra said. “It won?t be as easy to play like that against them again.”
While disappointed about the Bucknell loss and having to travel for the league tournament, Gabarra still likes the position Navy is in at this point. With a win Friday and another against the Bucknell-Colgate winner, the Midshipmen would earn their second NCAA tournament bid and first since 2003.
An NCAA appearance would also represent the latest honor for Navy this season, which just found out that it had nine players selected to the various All-Patriot League teams. Among those are six first-team selections, led by senior forward Meggie Curran, who is a three-time first-team selection. She led the conference in goals (12) and assists (14).
NAVY NOTES
» Navy?s Patriot League semifinal against Lehigh will take place Friday at 4:30 p.m. Bucknell and Colgate will play at 7 p.m. in the second semifinal contest, with the championship game set for Sunday at 1 p.m. All games will be played at Bucknell?s West Field.
» Forwards Meggie Curran and Brigitte Fox, midfielder Cassie Barbaresi, goalie Lizzie Barnes, and defenders Lauren Bresnahan and Shelly Moeller were named to the All-Patriot League first team. Defenders Kristi Coonfare and Julie Reynolds, along with midfielder Brittany White, made the league?s second team.
