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