Fresh off an 11-4 season, which tied a school record for victories, Mary Washington College has pushed to the brink of national prominence. Head coach Dana Hall firmly believes that her Eagles can open that door in this, and future seasons. While Hall does lose a pair of All-Americans in Amy Halter (defender) and Eliza Huber (midfielder), she does welcome back five of her top six scorers from '96, along with some top defensive players.
MWC led the Capital Athletic Conference (CAC) in stinginess, allowing just 8.64 goals per game (15th nationally), with only NCAA teams Trenton State and Goucher and South Region power Washington & Lee scoring 10 goals or more in one game. All-CAC home player Charlotte Cockrell (Sr./ Silver Spring, MD) returns after a 46-point (32 goals/team-high 14 assists) season. Cockrell's point total was fifth best in the CAC. She already ranks eighth in career scoring (101 points), eighth in goals (77) and sixth in assists (24). She also snared 73 ground balls/interceptions (GB/ INT) last spring.
Senior midfielder Liza Barber (Weekapaug, RI) scored 24 goals (along with six assists for 30 points) for the second straight year. Home player Dabney Boye (So./GibsonIsland, MD) scored 20 goals to lead all first-year players. Other threats in '96 were Kristie Fasanaro (Sr./ Stony Brook, NY; home), with 21 points (11g/ 10a), and also Melissa Ballance (So./Millersville, MD; midfield), who had 16 points (6g/10a). Attackers Missy Barnes (So./Syracuse, NY) and Claire Wagner (So./Severna Park, MD) provide quality depth at the offensive end. Amy Walters (Sr./Midlothian, VA) and Whitney Ziskal (So./Jupiter, FL) are players to watch in the midfield.
Despite the graduation loss of three All-CAC defenders, the Eagles welcome back a solid nucleus on the back line. Three-year starter Inga Fredland (Sr./ Annapolis, MD), an Academic All-Americann, corralled 67 GB/INT and 20 draw controls, while scoring six points (5g/1a). Goaltender Nicole Matthews (Sr./ Fairfax, VA) ranked 16th nationally by allowing just 8.64 goals/game, while playing every minute in '96. She posted a .506 save percentage. Starting defender Gina Pisoni (Sr./Great Falls, VA) was a steadying force on defense; she had 52 GB/INT and three assists. Other defenders to watch are Alexis Kingham Jr./Swarthmore, PA) and Aimee Seward (So./ Southampton, NJ).