Entering the 2004 season, the University of Mary Washington, ranked in the top ten in the nation for the entire 2003 season, had to replace nine seniors that helped the team to three consecutive NCAA Division III Tournament bids. The Eagles, with nine new starters, turned in an outstanding season in 2004, with a 15-6 record, again advanced to the Capital Athletic Conference championship, and had a league-high six players named to the postseason all-conference teams.
Despite its inexperience, the Eagles never lost consecutive games all season, and several players stepped up in starting roles. Junior forward Brynn Maguire is on many All-American lists after scoring 22 goals, one shy of the school record, and adding six assists to finish in the top ten nationally in scoring. She was joined on the All-CAC first team by senior defender Joanna Duggan, who led the Eagles with four defensive saves, junior midfielder Laura Fazzaro, who added nine goals and five assists, and junior goalkeeper Robyn Lankford, who posted an .833 save percentage for the year.
Junior Kristina Kral and senior Amanda Mulhern were named to the All-CAC second team. Mary Washington opened the year with a first - its first ever victory on the turf at Homewood Field at Johns Hopkins University. Maguire scored both goals in the overtime win. Winning in overtime became the norm for this team, as the Eagles posted a perfect 5-0 record in overtime games this season. After an early loss at Lebanon Valley, the Eagles ripped off wins in eleven of their next 13 games.
Included in that number were overtime wins over Lynchburg College, Washington College, and York College of PA; impressive nonconference wins over nationally ranked Christopher Newport University (3-0) and Juniata College (3-1); and league wins over Goucher College and St. Mary's College. The Eagles dropped two of their last three in the regular season, falling on the road to #1 ranked Salisbury, 3-1, after trailing only 1-0 with six minutes remaining; topping Randolph-Macon College, and dropping a 3-2 decision to 17th-ranked Gettysburg College.
UMW hit the ground running in the CAC Tournament, topping Goucher at home in the first round before edging Catholic University in overtime in the semifinals to set up a rematch with undefeated Salisbury in the title game. Trailing 1-0 at halftime, the Eagles couldn't battle back, and did not receive a bid to the NCAA Tournament for just the first time in five years, despite their excellent 15-6 overall record.
UMW finished the season ranked seventeenth in the final NFHCA National Division III coaches' poll of the season. With a solid nucleus returning, including all-league selections Maguire, Fazzaro, Kral, and Lankford, the Eagles will have an All-CAC selection at each level of position on the field. The national success for the 2005 team will be determined by the work ethic of the returnees as well as the incoming infusion of talent. Rising junior Jena Elliott and rising senior Meghan Punaro will look to build on the solid seasons they produced in 2004, as will defenders Caitlin O'Leary and Maureen McGee, who started as a freshman.