Rachel Friel Named NJAC Defensive Player of the Week
Samantha Bean Named NJAC Rookie of the Week
Six Players Named to NJAC All-Conference Team
Bean Named NJAC Rookie of the Week for Second Time

The Stockton women’s soccer team had a breakthrough season in 2006, highlighted by an eight-win improvement over the previous year and the program’s first NCAA Tournament berth since 1998. The Ospreys went 15-5-3 just one year after struggling through a program-worst 7-10-3 slate in 2005. The turnaround resulted in an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament, a major step for a young team with just one senior.

A trio of freshmen infused the Stockton offense with skill and power. Samantha Bean led the Ospreys in scoring with six goals and a team-high five assists for 17 points. Laura O’Shea tallied six goals and three helpers for 15 points followed by Courtney Dougherty with five markers for 10 points. Dougherty also netted a team-high four game-winning goals and O’Shea booted three game-winners during the season.

Sophomore goalkeeper Alex Rogers backstopped an experienced defensive unit to team totals of 10 shutouts and a 1.09 goals against average. Rogers herself notched eight shutouts, 106 saves and a 1.14 GAA in 22 starts. Four-time NJAC All-Conference senior Rachel Friel spearheaded the defensive backfield along with juniors Sharon Davis and Katie Henderson. Center midfielder Val Davison, also a junior, made strong contributions at both ends of the field as well.

After a 1-1-1 start to the season, Stockton embarked on a six-game unbeaten streak (5-0-1) that included wins over NJAC playoff qualifiers William Paterson and Kean plus a 0-0 tie with second-ranked College of New Jersey. A loss to Rowan ended the run, but the Ospreys responded with three consecutive shutout wins. Following a loss to Eastern, they closed the regular season by winning five of their final six matches.

Stockton prevailed 1-0 over William Paterson in the first round of the NJAC tournament on a game-winning goal by freshman Melissa Scully. In the league semifinals, the Ospreys battled Montclair State to a 1-1 tie before they were eliminated by the Red Hawks on penalty kicks. Stockton received an at-large berth in the NCAA Tournament based on its performance throughout the season. The Ospreys dueled Elizabethtown in the NCAA first round, tying the game on a second-half goal by Samantha Bean but falling 3-2 in overtime to finish 15-5-3.

Senior Rachel Friel became a four-time NJAC All-Conference player with her selection to the NJAC Second Team. Val Davison was named to the NJAC Second Team for her third career all-conference honor while Sharon Davis earned her second all-conference nod with an NJAC Second Team spot. Laura O’Shea also was voted to the NJAC Second Team, with Alex Rogers and Courtney Dougherty receiving NJAC Honorable Mention kudos.