Traditionally one of the best programs from the highly-successful athletic department at Mary Washington College, women's soccer continues to thrive as a national-calibre program into the twenty-first century. In twelve seasons under head coach Kurt Glaeser, the Eagles haye won at least ten games every year, advanced to eight NCAA Tournament appearances, and won eight Capital Athletic Conference championships.
In addition to the team's nationally-ranked status on an annual basis, individual accolades have become the norm as well. MWC has had numerous All-America performers, including school points and goals record holder Ellen Anderson, who graduates in May as one of the best players in school history. In all, the Eagles lose six seniors this fall, including Anderson, and Sarah Downey, Martine St. Germain, Sarah Zelenak, Bernice Kenney and Laura Stafford.
Heading the list of returnees are All-CAC performers Rebecca Vaccaro, Kathy Wainwright, Bridget White, and Rachel Vaccaro. White, a first team all-conference selection, will be the top returning scorer from 2000, as she netted twelve goals a year ago. Rebecca Vaccaro has proven herself to be one of the top defenders in school history, as she played a key role in MWC's ten shutouts in 2000. Vaccaro's sister, Rachel, scored five goals as a freshman, and her classmate, Wainwright, showed flashes of brilliance, scoring three goals and adding five assists while playing outside midfield and central defender.
Among the other forwards back for 2001, junior Mandy Thorpe (5 goals,5 assists) and sophomores Alyssa Ehret (5 goals, one assist) and Kendall Jennings provide experience, while midfielders Elise Fasick (3 goals, 2 assists), Andrea Owen (4 goals, 1 assist), Rachelle Chretien, Hannah Slotnick and Joe Ann Walker will look to step up in Anderson's absence.
Senior Maghan Salo, along with Rebecca Vaccaro, will head a talented group of defenders, including Wainwright, Jacqui Loesch, and Lauren Eisold. In goal, junior Mary Snedeker returns as the incumbent after allowing twelve goals in fifteen games in 2000, registering a 0.88 goals against average.
The Eagles' defense was very good last fall, allowing a total of thirteen goals in 1740 minutes of action. The 2000 season saw the Eagles finish with a 14-4-1 record and advarice their Capital Athletic Conference unbeaten streak to 49 games, the second-longest in NCAA Division III women's soccer history. MWC opened the season with three straight wins, over NCAA qualifying Villa Julie College, as well as Eastern College and Virginia Wesleyan College. After a 2-0 loss to top-ranked College of New Jersey, the Eagles topped William Paterson University and St. Mary's College of MD.
MWC then tied Salisbury State University, 1-1, giving the Sea Gulls the first blemish on their 2000 record. After disposing of Goucher College and falling to Denison University, MWC reeled off a season-high six straight wins, all by shutout. In victories over Chowan College, Randolph-Macon College, York College of PA, Gallaudet University, Maryrnount, and Catholic University, MWC outscored its six opponents, 31-0.
After dropping a 1-0 decision to Johns Hopkins University, the Eagles responded with CAC Tournament wins over Gallaudet University and York College of PA. MWC's season ended with-a tough 2-1 loss to Salisbury in the CAC Championship.
The 2001 schedule will again be one of the most challenging in the nation, with games against traditional powers College of New Jersey, Gettysburg College, Johns Hopkins University, William Smith College and Lynchburg College. In addition, Capital Athletic Conference play carries additional importance, as the tournament champion earns an automatic berth in the NCAA Division III Tournament. The Eagles will try to duplicate the success they've had in CAC play, as MWC has posted a cumulative 71-2-3 record in conference play since the advent of the league back in 1991.