Women's Soccer Preview: Drexel

Courtesy: UNCW Athletic Communications
Release: 11/01/2012

The No. 3 seed UNCW women's soccer team continues its quest for the program's second CAA Tournament title in four seasons as it faces No. 2 seed Drexel in the first semifinal of the 2012 CAA Women's Soccer Championship Friday

Courtesy: Joe Browning

The No. 3 seed UNCW women's soccer team continues its quest for the program's second CAA Tournament title in four seasons as it faces No. 2 seed Drexel in the first semifinal of the 2012 CAA Women's Soccer Championship Friday

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WILMINGTON, North Carolina - The No. 3 seed UNCW women's soccer team continues its quest for the program's second CAA Tournament title in four seasons as it faces No. 2 seed Drexel in the first semifinal of the 2012 CAA Women's Soccer Championship Friday in Williamsburg, Va.

Kickoff between the Seahawks and Dragons is set for 5 p.m. at Albert-Daly Field on the campus of William & Mary. The winner of Friday's UNCW-Drexel semifinal will play the winner of the other semifinal between No. 5 seed Hofstra and top seed William & Mary Sunday in the championship game at 2 p.m. The tournament champion receives the league's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.

Staying Connected

Live stats will be available for Friday's game and can be accessed here.
The CAA will also offer a free video stream for the game that can be accessed by clicking here.
Fans can also keep up with updates from the UNCW women's soccer program by following the team's twitter account (@UNCWSoccer).
Information for the women's soccer program and all 19 of UNCW's varsity intercollegiate programs can also be found by checking out the department's Facebook (UNCWsports) and Twitter (@UNCWAthletics).

Seahawk Notes

UNCW is making its 12th overall appearance in the CAA Women's Soccer Championship and its first since capturing the tournament title in 2009.
The Seahawks have compiled a 5-10-2 overall record in the CAA Championship and are undefeated in their last three championship contests (2-0-1).
UNCW advanced to the tournament semifinals with a 4-3 victory in penalty kicks over Delaware on Oct. 28 at the UNCW Soccer Stadium. The two sides played to a 1-1 draw through regulation and overtime before the Seahawks advanced by winning the shootout.
The shootout victory over the Blue Hens marked just the second time in program history that the Seahawks have had a game decided by penalty kicks. UNCW posted a 5-4 shootout win over East Carolina in the first round of the 1996 CAA Championship, a game that was also played at the UNCW Soccer Stadium.
Senior forward Stephanie Rose has enjoyed a breakout season, leading the CAA in both goals (13) and points (37). The Jacksonville, N.C., product is also second in the league in assists, having set a new school record with 11 helpers in 2012.
UNCW has put together one of its best defensive efforts in school history as the squad has combined to allow just 18 goals, matching the 2006 squad for fewest goals allowed in a season.
The team has also recorded nine shutouts this season, equaling the school mark in that category that was established in 2009.
The Seahawks have also been clicking offensively all season as they have combined to score a league-high 43 goals while adding 37 assists for 123 points. That total represents the third highest point total in school history, trailing only the 1997 and 1998 squads that saw UNCW tally 133 and 167 points, respectively.
The Seahawks are just one victory away from matching the program mark for wins in a season. The 2006 squad established the program standard with 13 victories and the 2009 team equaled that total on its way to capturing the school's first CAA Championship.

Scouting Drexel

Drexel enters the tournament as the No. 2 seed after finishing the regular season with a 7-2-1 record in CAA play and a 13-3-2 overall mark.
The Dragons have won three in a row and six of its last seven matches. Two of their last three wins have come via the shutout, including a 1-0 win against Delaware in the regular-season finale at Vidas Field.
Junior Sam Greenfield, who scored the game-winning goal in the Dragons win against the Blue Hens in the regular season, paces the Dragons attack with 11 points on the strength of a team-high five goals.
Senior Alex Vazquez and freshman Gabby Dixon have provided depth to the lineup as the duo has tallied three goals apiece for Head Coach Ray Goon's squad.
In goal, sophomore Eve Badana paced the CAA in the regular season with 10 shutouts and a 0.66 goals against average. Badana also ranked second on the circuit with a .836 save percentage.

Series Notes Versus Drexel

UNCW holds an 8-2-1 edge in the all-time series with Drexel.
The Seahawks have enjoyed the edge in the series of late, winning four of the last five matchups between the two programs.
Drexel's lone victory in that stretch came in a 3-1 home triumph over UNCW last September.
UNCW improved to 5-0-1 at home against the Dragons with a 2-0 victory at the UNCW Soccer Stadium on Sept. 28.
The two sides are meeting at a neutral site for the first time in program history.
Five of the previous 11 meetings between the two programs have gone to overtime.

Seahawks Ranked Ninth In NSCAA Mid-Atlantic Poll

For the second straight week, UNCW was ranked in ninth place the National Soccer Coaches Association of America's (NSCAA) Mid-Atlantic Region Poll.
UNCW had been ranked or receiving votes in the first eight polls of the ranking that features teams from the CAA, Atlantic 10, Ivy and Patriot leagues prior to moving out of the rankings two weeks ago.
The Seahawks are one of three CAA squads either ranked or receiving votes in the NSCAA Mid-Atlantic Poll as fellow CAA championship participants William & Mary (3th) and Drexel (5th) are also among the top 10.

Seahawks Record Tie Against No. 3 Wake Forest

UNCW posted its first win or tie against a top 10 opponent when it played to a 0-0 draw against No. 3 Wake Forest at the Hilton Garden Inn Hokie Invitational in Blacksburg, Va. on Aug. 19.
The draw also marked the Seahawks first result against an opponent from the Atlantic Coast Conference as they had compiled a 0-11-0 mark versus the league prior to the tie with the Demon Deacons.

Hunter Honored For Solid Opening Weekend

Senior keeper Caitlin Hunter was recognized by various outlets for her play in the Hilton Garden Inn Hokie Invitational in mid-August.
On Aug. 20, Hunter was named the Colonial Athletic Association Women's Soccer Co-Player-of-the-Week and was selected as the CAA Player-of-the-Week by the online publication College Sports Madness.
Hunter was also selected as the keeper for the Soccer America Women's Team-of-the-Week on Aug. 22.
Hunter allowed just one goal in 211:37 in guiding the Seahawks to a 0-1-1 result against two ranked opponents at the Hilton Garden Inn Hokie Invitational.
The Ashburn, Va., product made six saves in a 1-0 double-overtime loss to host No. 22 Virginia Tech in the season opener on Aug. 17 before posting 10 saves in a 0-0 draw against No. 3 Wake Forest on Aug. 19 to record her eighth career shutout.

Currie Recognized By Collegesoccer360.com

UNCW senior midfielder Kim Currie was recognized by Collegesoccer360.com in early September, earning Primetime Player accolades from the online publication for the week of Sept. 3-9.
Currie was recognized after earning MVP honors in the UNCW Courtyard Marriott Wilmington Invitational, tallying five points on two goals and an assist to lead the Seahawks to the tournament title with shutout victories over Campbell and Troy.
She opened the weekend with a goal in the Seahawks 3-0 victory over the Camels and capped the event with a goal and an assist in UNCW's 4-0 blanking of the Trojans.

Rose Named To Soccer America Women's Team-of-the-Week

Senior Stephanie Rose was named to the Soccer America Women's Team-of-the-Week on Oct. 25 following her nine-point performance in the Seahawks road victories at Towson and George Mason in mid-October.
Rose, who was also named CAA Player-of-the-Week for her efforts, opened the weekend with a goal and an assist in the Seahawks' 5-2 victory at Towson on Oct. 19 before exploding for six points as she scored twice and added two assists in UNCW's 4-0 shutout of George Mason on Oct. 21.
She is the second UNCW player to be recognized with the honor as fellow senior Caitlin Hunter was named to the weekly squad following her performance at the Hilton Garden Inn Hokie Invitational in August.

Rose Named To Preseason CAA Squad

UNCW senior forward Stephanie Rose was named to the Preseason All-CAA Women's Soccer Team on Aug. 15.
Rose, a native of Jacksonville, N.C., earned Third-Team All-CAA accolades last season after leading the Seahawks in scoring with 10 points on a team-high five goals.

Record Watch

Senior Stephanie Rose is currently second place on the program's career points list with 85 points (33 G, 19 A) and is second on the squad's single-season points chart with 37 (13 G, 11 A).
With her goal in the regular-season finale at Georgia State on Oct. 24, Rose surpassed Kristine Mengle for second place on the school's career scoring chart (84).
Rose is now also just nine points shy of matching Christy Timbers single-season scoring record (46).
Rose currently sits in third place on the program's career goals chart (33) and is in sole possession of third place on the single-season goals list.
With her two assists at George Mason on Oct. 21, Rose moved into first place on the program's single-season assists chart (11).
Rose enters the CAA Semifinals needing just one assist to match Timbers for first place on the school's career assists chart (20).
Senior keeper Caitlin Hunter finds herself ranked on four of the program's career charts, entering the week in first place in wins (29), second in saves (335), second in save percentage (.809) and fifth in goals against average (1.27).
Hunter's victory against Towson on Oct. 19 moved her into sole possession of first place on the school's career wins chart, surpassing former keeper Meghan Fitzsimmons.
Hunter's five-save shutout against Georgia State on Oct. 24 was her seventh of the season, breaking a five-way tie for first place on the program's season shutout chart.
The win against the Panthers also moved Hunter into first place on the school's season victory chart with 12.

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