Horizon League women's soccer teams, individuals place among nation's statistical elite
Dec. 8, 2006
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Indianapolis, Ind. - Horizon League women's soccer had two teams compete in the NCAA Tournament for the first time in conference history, but that was not the only success the League had on the national stage as several individual and team performances ranked among the country's best, according to the final women's soccer statistical release by the NCAA.
The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee finished the year with the third-highest shutout percentage (0.727) in the nation, turning in clean sheets against 16 of its 22 opponents. Coincidentally, the Panther defense also held the opposition to just 0.44 goals per contest which placed the squad fourth in Division I. Sophomore keeper Erin Kane anchored the UWM defensive effort with the nation's eighth-best goals-against average, compiling a League record 0.486 mark.
In 2006, UW-Milwaukee won its seventh-straight Horizon League regular-season championship and earned the first at-large bid into the NCAA Tournament in team history. The Panthers then advanced on penalty kicks against Michigan following a 0-0 draw. In the second round, they played No. 1 Notre Dame tough before falling 1-0. With an overall record of 16-4-2 the Panthers also had the 12th-highest winning percentage (0.773) in the nation.
University of Detroit Mercy senior forward Mary Parker finished her illustrious career with her best performance. Just the fifth player to be selected to the All-Horizon League First Team all four years of her career, Parker saved her best for last in 2006, leading the League for the third-straight season with 17 goals and 40 points. Parker won her second Horizon League Player of the Year honor in 2006, finishing the season with the ninth-highest goals per game rate (0.81) and the 10th-best points per game pace (1.90).
Senior striker Stephanie Gross from the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay also placed among the nation's elite in two offensive categories. Gross ranked 11th in the country in both goals per game (0.76) and points per game (1.88) in a season in which she tallied 13 goals and six assists for 32 points. The Fond du Lac, Wis., native finished her career at UW-Green Bay as the only player in school history to notch 30 goals and 20 assists.
Youngstown State University also found its way onto the charts through freshman netminder Caitlin Bodzioney. Turning away 7.82 shots per contest, Bodzioney ranked 14th in the land in saves per game. She had five games of 10 or more saves, including a season-high 16 stops against Horizon League Tournament Champion Loyola University of Chicago in the quarterfinals of the League Championship.
