Women's Soccer Bounces Back With 5-15 Record

The UD women's soccer team saw great improvement during the 2009 season. A year after going 0-17-2, the team posted 5-15 overall record including a 10-0 victory over Southwestern Adventist University, and a three game win streak from September 6 to September 18.

The 2009 squad was led by upperclassmen and freshman a like. Solidifying the defense was returning senior goalkeeper Jennifer Boryca (Piqua, OH/Piqua H.S.) and junior defender/midfielder Natalie Weisse (Morgantown, WV/Morgantown H.S.) who were named co-MVPs. Boryca was named a co-MVP for the second consecutive season, and Weisse made a huge impact in her first year with the team. Boryca finished with a 2.2 goals against average, a .731 save percentage, and 117 saves in 1760:22 minutes of action. Weisse started all 20 games, and had an assist and 14 shots as one of the teams' outstanding defensive stoppers.

Freshman midfielder Marie Meagher (Grand Forks, ND/Red River H.S.) led the team in scoring with 13 points on 4 goals, 5 assists, and a game winner, while fellow freshman forward Melissa Carpenter (Sugar Land, TX/Stephen F. Austin H.S.) contributed 4 goals and 4 assists for a total of 12 points. Meagher and Carpenter received honorable mention USCAA All-American honors for their impressive campaigns. Each additionally received spots on the Association of Division III Independents All-Independent team with Meagher as a first team recipient and Carpenter a second team honoree. Weisse was also selected to the second team and junior midfielder Mary Gaffney (Cascade, CO/Manitou Springs H.S.) rounded out the selections with a spot on the Third Team. Junior midfielder and captain Hannah Langsfeld (Albuquerque, NM/Albuquerque Academy) and sophomore defender Rachel Yuengert (Moorepark, CA/La Reina H.S.) each were awarded a spot on the USCAA All-Academic team for their performances on the field and in the classroom.

The Lady Crusaders will lose the services of graduating seniors Kate Palla (Napa, CA/Trinity Grammar & Prep), Lindsay Arend (Napa, CA/Trinity Grammar & Prep), and Boryca. Palla, a midfielder, leaves with 6 goals, 2 assists, 14 points, and 3 letters in 3 seasons. Arend, a forward, departs with 1 goal, 2 assists, 4 points, and 2 letters in two seasons. Boryca, a goalkeeper, recorded 4 shutouts, 297 saves, and 5 wins in 39 games, an AD3I All-Independent first team selection in 2009, an AD3I All-Independent third team award in 2008, the 2008 and 2009 team co-MVP awards, and 2 letters in 2 seasons.