With just two seniors on its roster, the 2002 Mary Washington College field hockey team, despite its youth, had an experienced team that again ranked as one of the top NCAA Division III programs in the nation. Coming off a 15-5 season in 2001 in which the Eagles, advanced to the NCAA Tournament with only three seniors, this fall's edition returned to the NCAA Tournament, advancing to the regional finals with a cumulative 15-5 record.
The Eagles began the season with a pair of home wins, over Washington College and Villa Julie College. After a tough 3-2 road overtime loss at nationally-ranked Lebanon Valley College, MWC rebounded to win three straight Capital Athletic games, against Goucher College. York College of PA, and St. Mary's College. After falling at Johns Hopkins (3-2), MWC then reeled off a season-high eight game win streak, beginning with road wins at Franklin & Marshall College and nationally-ranked and previously unbeaten Lynchburg College.
After home wins over Catholic University (4-0) and Gettysburg College (6-1), the Eagles found more success on the road, winning at Sweet Briar (5-0) and eventual NCAA Tournament team Roanoke College (2-0). The win streak continued with a 3-2 overtime win at Homecoming against Christopher Newport University and at Bridgewater College (4-0).
After dropping the regular season finale at Salisbury, the Eagles defeated York College of PA, 4-1, in the CAC semifinals, before returning to Salisbury for the CAC Championship. Mary Washington then earned its second straight trip to the NCAA Tournament, and defeated Roanoke again, 2-0, in the regional semifinal in Glassboro, NJ. The Eagles saw their season come to an end with a loss at #1-ranked Rowan Uriiversity in the regional final.
Among the highlights from the 2002 season was the play of all-region performers Meghan McMahon, Chrissy Soper, and Shannon Nobile. McMahon finished second on the team in scoring, with eight goals and seven assists while controlling the action from her midfield position. Included in her scoring was a team-high four game-winning goals.
Soper, a versatile defender with an extremely strong hit, scored a pair of goals and added five assists for nine points, and also accounted for five defensive saves. Nobile, one of just two seniors on the team, scored four goals and added five assists, and was named to the NFHCA Senior North South All-Star Game, which was played during the national championship weekend in Springfield, MA.
Others who contributed mightily to the Eagles' success in 2002 was All-CAC senior forward Shelley Sabo, who moved from the midfield to become the team's leading scorer with eleven goals and 28 points; freshman goalkeeper Robyn Lankford, who recorded eight shutouts and logged over 1300 minutes in goal; forward Adrienne Trombley, who scored eight goals arid added three assists; and all-conference midfielder Emily Nagel, who scored four goals and added six assists.
Not to be forgotten was the outstanding play of the MWC defense, led by defenders Soper, Andi Sasin (five defensive saves), Joanna Duggan (five defensive saves), and Lisa Cavanaugh, in front of Lankford in goal. This unit held the opponent scoreless in nine games, against one of the toughest schedules in the nation. With this unit returning intact for 2003, hopes are high for another NCAA Tournament run. With a large senior class of nine players returning for 2003, the recruiting effort will focus finding top scoring threats to step into the vacated slots left by the graduation of Nobile and Sabo, as well as to upgrade and deepen the midfield and defensive positions.