The University of Mary Washington women's soccer team, one of the most successful programs in one of the top NCAA Division III athletic departments in the nation, suffered through a rare down season in 2006. The team, which has advanced to 12 NCAA Tournaments and won 12 Capital Athletic Conference championships, suffered its first losing season in its 21-year history, finishing with a 5-10-2 overall record, all the while playing one of the most difficult schedules in the nation.
Head Coach Kurt Glaeser's Eagles opened the 2006 campaign with a scoreless tie against regionally-ranked Skidmore College, and then fell, 1-0, at nationally-ranked Gettysburg. After a pair of home defeats to state rivals Virginia Wesleyan College and Christopher Newport University (both of whom would advance to the NCAA Tournament), UMW erupted for five goals in a 5-0 win at Bridgewater College. After a 3-0 defeat to defending national champion Messiah College, The Eagles put together their best offensive stretch of the season, scoring 17 goals in the next two games, both Capital Athletic Conference victories, over Goucher College and Gallaudet University at the Battleground.
A highly-contested 1-0 defeat at York College followed, but UMW rebounded to down Marymount University, 2-1, on the road to bring its conference record to 3- 1 midway through the season. Typically one of the toughest squads in the region to defeat at home, Mary Washington uncharacteristically dropped its next three home games, to Roanoke College, St. Mary's College, and Salisbury University. St. Mary's' win was only their second ever over UMW, and Salisbury's win snapped a seven-match losing streak to the Eagles. The team regrouped with a 2-0 win at Chowan College, but dropped a road contest at eighth-ranked College of New Jersey before tying Catholic University on the road in the regular season finale. The season came to an abrupt end, as the Eagles fell in the CAC quarterfinals at St. Mary's College in regulation, 2-1.
Rising junior Katie Patchett led the team in scoring, netting six goals and three assists, including UMW's lone tally in the CAC Tournament loss. Lone senior Jaclyn Gebbia also contributed six goals, and rising sophomore Molly McCluskey contributed five goals. The strength of the team continued to be the defense, led by rising senior Margaret Vaccaro, whose sisters Rebecca and Rachel were both standouts at UMW in the past. The youngest Vaccaro continued to shine as one of the top defenders in the region, earning all-region and All-CAC honors for the third straight season. Rising sophomores Allison DiPippa and Kate Parvin also showed promise which could lead the Eagles back to their accustomed place among the elite teams in the nation in 2007 and beyond.
Several players missed significant time with injury in 2006, and their return will be counted on for the resurgence. Seniors Kristina Ashwell and Megan Vaughan-Albert were among those who missed time last fall, and the lack of leadership, with just one senior and one junior on the field at most, cost the team in several games. The battle-tested returnees will look to assume leadership this year, led by Ashwell, Vaughan-Albert, and Vaccaro - the three seniors.
The Eagles will again navigate a very tough schedule in 2007. Last year's slate saw UMW face three of the four NCAA Division III Final Four teams - The College of New Jersey, Messiah College, and Virginia Wesleyan College. The hunger of the returnees to reclaim the program's stronghold on the conference title and the annual ensuing NCAA Tournament appearance will be the key to a return to national prominence in 2007 for Coach Glaeser's squad.