Nov. 3, 2005

Boiling Springs, N.C.-- As a reward for their outstanding regular season, the Florida Atlantic University women's soccer team will have the luxury of watching the first round of the 2005 Atlantic Sun Championships.

The Owls (14-3-1) are the #1 seed, giving them a first round bye. They will play #4 Jacksonville, after JU scored with nine seconds left to edge #5 ETSU 2-1 in the Championships' opening contest. The Dolphins were out shot 15-3 by the Pirates, but were aided by an own goal by ETSU with five minutes left in the contest.

Jacksonville (8-9-3) was the only team in the A-Sun that FAU did not defeat this season. The two teams played to a 2-2 tie on Sept. 30. They are the only team in the A-Sun to have scored on the Owls this season. The Dolphins have bounced the Owls from the tournament two of the past three seasons and three times in the last five years.

The match is scheduled to start Friday at 4 p.m. Should FAU win; they would advance to the A-Sun Championship Finals, set for Saturday at 6 p.m.

The Owls are riding high coming off huge wins over Kennesaw State and ETSU to finish the season in what was a dominating performance within the conference from start to finish.

FAU has gone 13 games without a loss, and broke several school records while on their path to a regular season crown.

The Owls set high-water marks in shutouts (14), winning percentage (.806), fewest losses (T-3), consecutive games without a loss (13), fewest home losses (0), shots (304), goals allowed (8), goals allowed/game (0.43), consecutive shutouts (T-7), consecutive home shutouts (8 this season, 15 over the past two seasons). The Owls haven't allowed a goal at home since Aug. 29 against Northeastern in a 2-1 OT loss.

The title is the Owls' third in the previous four seasons. Their record since 2000 (six seasons) is 77-22-6 (40-8-2 A-Sun) during the regular season, but they are just 6-5 during the A-Sun Championships over that same span.

The previous postseason struggles are something that this FAU squad is hoping to shake. Led by one of the best defensive units in program history, this could be the school's best chance yet to punch a ticket for the NCAA tournament.

Below are some statistical leaders for the Owls during the regular season:

Goals Against Average
Megan Coyne 0.11 *
Jessica Badders 0.78
* #1 NCAA Ranking

Goals
Susanna Lehtinen 10
Danielle DiLeo
Denise Brolly

Assists
Susanna Lehtinen 10
Ashley Mannarino 8
Alicia Tirelli 3
Danielle DiLeo 3

Game-Winning Goals
Susanna Lehtinen 5
Denise Brolly 3
Katri Nokso-Koivisto 2
Danielle DiLeo 2