<p>Mids to face North Carolina Sunday </p>
<p>Nov. 11, 2006 </p>
<p>CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - For the first time in school history, the Navy women’s soccer team has advanced to the second round of the NCAA Women’s Soccer Tournament as the Midshipmen defeated 20th-ranked William & Mary, 5-4, in penalty kicks Friday evening at Fetzer Field in Chapel Hill, N.C. The Mids (21-1-1) and Tribe (16-1-4) concluded two 45-minute periods and two 10-minute overtime sessions knotted at 0-0 before moving on to the shootout. </p>
<p>It marked the first time in the program’s 14-year history that a Navy match has come down to penalty kicks, while it also was the Mids’ first overtime game of the 2006 campaign. </p>
<p>Seniors Carmen Myers (Woodbridge, Va.), Meggie Curran (Silver Spring, Md.) and team captain Molly Burd (Englewood, Colo.) each connected on the Mids’ first three kicks, while William & Mary matched Navy’s goals. Navy’s fourth PK was taken by freshman Jen Grijalva (Pleasanton, Calif.), who came in cold after not seeing any action during regulation. Her kick was stopped by William & Mary keeper Meghan Walker, as it came off her hands, bounced off the cross bar and back onto the field of play. The Tribe’s Laura Rochford gave William & Mary a 4-3 advantage after driving her shot in over keeper Lizzie Barnes’ (New Orleans, La.) right shoulder. </p>
<p>Patriot League Co-Defensive Player of the Year and tournament MVP Shelly Moeller (Milford, Ohio) stepped up to the box next for Navy and knotted the score at four apiece, placing the ball in the right corner of the net. Sophomore Claire Zimmeck, the Colonial Athletic Association’s Player of the Year, chipped the ball over the cross bar to open the door back up for the Midshipmen. </p>
<p>With the score tied at 4-4 and now on the sixth penalty kick for each team, the game was sent into sudden death. Junior Lindsay Parker, (Carmichael, Calif.) another Navy player who did not see action during the prior 110 minutes, walked up to the ball and calmly kicked it into the left side of the net. The Tribe, who lost their CAA semifinal contest to Old Dominion in penalty kicks a week ago, sent Kendall Stone up next. Stone sent the ball straight up the gut, as Barnes snatched it out of the air to lead the Mids into the second round by a 5-4 decision. </p>
<p>“I was a little nervous,” said Parker, who entered the game having scored one goal for the Mids this season. “The way I approach a penalty kick is that I know I’m going to make it. I went out there knowing that I wanted to prove something.” </p>
<p>Barnes continued her solid play in goal and again showed why she has been the top-ranked keeper in save percentage in 2006. </p>
<p>“When we were getting ready to walk out onto the field, Shelly (Moeller) told me that she wanted to score the game-winning PK,” explained Barnes. "I told her that I would come up with a save for her. It didn’t totally work out that way, but I was able to come up with the save that our team needed. </p>
<p>“You can’t practice penalty kicks,” added Barnes. “It’s all emotion.” </p>
<p>“Both teams came into the tournament having had great years on defense,” said Navy head coach Carin Gabarra. "We knew there would be fewer chances to score. I’m very proud of our team regardless of how the game ended with penalty kicks. We played with everything we had out there. </p>
<p>“We’ve played Friday-Sunday games throughout the year, so it won’t make a big difference in terms of the short turnaround,” added Gabarra. “Our team will be ready for Sunday and challenge North Carolina will present.” </p>
<p>Both teams turned in 10 shots apiece with four of the Mids’ 10 shots coming during the two overtime periods. Barnes made five saves for the Mids, while Navy was also credited with a team save. </p>
<p>The Midshipmen will face top-ranked North Carolina (22-1) in Sunday’s second-round match beginning at 1:00 pm at Fetzer Field in Chapel Hill. The Tar Heels cruised past UNC Asheville (10-7-3), 7-0, in their opening-round contest Friday night.</p>