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 Freshman Kelly Paolucci earned her third shutout of the season with nine saves against Massachusetts |
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Women's Soccer Clinches Berth In A-10 Tournament With 2-0 Win
Nov. 1, 2002
AMHERST,MA - With a 2-0 victory over Massachusetts, George Washington women's soccer team will advance to the A-10 postseason for the first time since 1998. This marks Tanya Vogel's (George Washington '96) first postseason appearance as head coach, though she has been there before while a player for the Colonials. This year's record is Vogel's most impressive in her three seasons as head coach (10-7-0 overall, 7-3-0 in A-10). The Colonials take their five game winning streak into Sunday's match against league-leading Rhode Island.
The Colonials, facing a strong Massachusetts team, needed a win to ensure reaching the four-team A-10 Tournament. the Colonials answered the call with a shutout win, led by freshman goalie Kelly Paolucci (Lanham, MD/Good Counsel) who had nine saves. Paolucci, who won the starting job midway through the season has recorded three shutouts this year and has lowered her goals against average to a lean 1.52.
Fellow freshman Ina Kain (Irvine, CA/Woodbridge) scored the game-winning goal just 20 minutes into the first half. Her unassisted shot brought her season's total to five, second on the Colonials' leader board. Senior Kimberly Sanders (Knoxville, TN/Bearden) continued to impress when she scored her third goal in three games at the 39:51 mark to secure the victory. Sanders' fifth goal of the year (now tied for second with Kain) was assisted by freshman Lise Backman (Beaconsfield, Quebec/John Abbott College). Backman is now tied with Kain for the teams lead in assists with four this year.
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The Colonials now travel to Rhode Island who is tied for first in the Atlantic-10 and may be a first round opponent in the tournament. The match should be an exciting contest as it will pit GW star Kim Warner (North York, Ontario/St. Joseph's) against Rhode Island star Melanie Kasparek. Both players hold the top two spots in the Atlantic 10 for goals and points. Warner leads in goals with 13 to Kasparek's 12 and both were tied in points as of Friday. The A-10 tournament will take place in Dayton, Ohio on Friday November 9th and Sunday November 11th. In addition to George Washington, Richmond, Dayton and Rhode Island will compete for the conference title.
