November 9, 2003

WASHINGTON - A goal by Marcela Ricupero (Las Violetas, Monteserrin/Academia Cotopaxi) in the 82nd minute was not enough to overcome a three-goal second-half barrage by Navy, as the Midshipmen captured the 2003 Patriot League Championship and earned a berth in the NCAA Tournament with a 4-1 victory. Navy's Amelia Sheveland opened the scoring in the 26th minute when she fielded a cross from Stacy Finley at the 25-yd. line, headed the ball past an Eagle defender and came in on a one-on-one with American goaltender Lauren Wohl (Bel Air, Md./Bel Air/Bucknell). Wohl got a hand on the shot, but Sheveland's attempt had enough momentum to carry into the net, just inside the left post. Navy exploded for three goals in just over 21 minutes in the second stanza. Finley scored a goal of her own in the 59th minute, off a feed from Stephanie Parker and Sheveland, and then Sarah Hessinger scored unassisted in the 75th minute. Just under five minutes later, Sheveland scored her second goal, assisted by Molly Burd. Ricupero, a sophomore midfielder, slammed home a rebound off a shot by senior forward Anabel Jimenez (Kensington, Md./Bullis) with eight minutes remaining, but the Eagles could come no closer after that. With two goals and one assist, and the assist on the game-winning goal in Navy's 3-2 Patriot League semifinal win over Colgate on Friday, Sheveland was named the Patriot League Tournament Most Valuable Player. Navy now moves on to the first round of the NCAA tournament, the first-ever Navy women's team to make an appearance in an NCAA championship tournament. American finishes its season 10-8-1. Scoring: NAVY - Amelia Sheveland (Stacy Finley; 25:11) NAVY - Finley (Stephanie Parker, Sheveland; 58:43) NAVY - Sarah Hessinger (Unassisted; 74:38) NAVY - Sheveland (Molly Burd; 79:19) AU - Marcela Ricupero (Anabel Jimenez; 81:42) Shots: American 11; Navy 15 Fouls: American 8; Navy 10 Corners: American 2; Navy 1 Saves: American 3; Navy 3