To the superstitious, "thirteen" means bad luck or imminent doom. For the Mary Washington College field hockey team, the number 13 evokes good memories for a contingent which eventually advanced to a third straight postseason tournament. After a season-opening 2·0 loss at eventual NCAA Tournament regional host lohns Hopkins, MWC reeled off a school-record 13 consecutive victories - nine of those by shutout - and outscored opponents 37-4 during that stretch.
For the season, one in which MWC repeated its Capital Athletic Conference (CAC) title and went to the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Tournament for the second time in three seasons, MWC allowed just 13 goals, another school record. In their 15-3-1 season, the Eagles tied a school record for victories (15- 4 in 1981) and registered a fourth straight winning season and 13th overall in 23 full seasons of varsity field hockey.
A tribute to the balance of the Eagle squad ... 14 different players scored goals or assisted and 10 players were named All-CAC (either first or second team). Further reason for optimism from a team which outscored opponents, 46-13 and outshot them 565-167 is that just one player, senior first-team All-CAC goaltender Greta Nelson (West Redding, CT) ,has used up her varsity eligibility. The heart of the Eagle success stemmed from a talented and dedicated junior class, which not only contributed 21 of MWC's 46 goals, but formed a leadership fiber which held together a young group of 17 freshmen and sophomores.
"I'm very proud of my six juniors and one senior, who are excellent role models dedicated to both academics and field hockey," said Soper, the '91 and '92 CAC Coach of the Year. Midfielder April Moshos (Fairfax, VA) was named a third-team All-American because of her superior two way play. Also the CAC Player of the Year and a first team All-Region selection, Moshos scored four goals with three assists for 11 points. Junior Chrissie Avery (Pomfret, CT) was second in CAC scoring with 26 points, posting team-high totals of nine goals and eight assists. She notched the game-winner in a 3-2 overtime win over visiting Goucher in the CAC Finals. Continuing the MWC "class act" was defender Candice Malone (Reston, VA), named a second-team All-Region performer along with Avery. Malone was also chosen to the prestigious National All-Academic Team, comprised ofstarters with a 3.5 or better overall grade-point average. A fourth junior, Kim Cornell (Newport News,VA) joined Moshos, Avery and Malone on the All-CAC First Team after scoring five goals with four assists for 14 points.
The team's other two juniors also earned All-CAC honors, as midfielders Leslie Ptashinski (Basking Ridge, NJ) and Deanna Knorpp (Fairfax, VA) made the second team along with sophomores Michelle O'Hanlon (Fairfax, VA),who led MWC with five defensive saves, Sam Forshey (Raleigh, NC), second on the Eagles with 16 points (seven goals, two assists) and solid defender Bridget Rooney (Fredericksburg, VA).
Although the "young veterans" reaped all of the individual awards, a determined freshman class made significant contributions. Goaltender Stephanie Lowe (Centreville, VA) played in 16 games and compiled a stellar save percentage of .952 with a microscopic 0.34 goals/game average. Meredith lerley (Manasquan, NJ) scored five goals with six assists (16 points) to finish third among Eagle scorers. High-school teammates Amy Mann (Williamsburg, VA; four goals) and Suzy Chenault (Williamsburg, VA;three goals, one in CACtitle game against Goucher) were proven scorers as was Eliza Huber (Doylestown, PA; three goals).