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CUA WOMEN’S SOCCER HISTORY
The first women’s soccer team to represent Catholic University took the field in 1981 as a club sport. The original Lady Cardinals played a full schedule of games against other collegiate club teams and community college teams. From 1982 to 1984, the team continued to play an intercollegiate schedule each fall, while also participating in the Washington Area Women’s Soccer League in the spring. Throughout these early years, participation in the sport grew as did support from the CUA athletic community.
In 1985, Catholic University sponsored its first varsity season for women’s soccer under the leadership of Margaret Clough. The team charged through its inaugural season with a record of eight wins, three losses, and three ties, led by top scorer Marie Hoefler with seven goals and five assists. Successful seasons were to follow with eight wins in 1986 and nine wins in 1987 under coach Pam Cornell.
The 1990s introduced a new era of women’s soccer at CUA when the university joined the Capital Athletic Conference. The new conference introduced rivalries with original member schools Mary Washington, St. Mary’s, Goucher and Marymount. It also introduced another level of competition for the Cardinals. After posting nine wins and reaching the CAC tournament semifinals in 1991, a series of rebuilding seasons began under coaches Chris Godart and Gianni Grimaldi to increase the talent and commitment of the team.
Scott Racek took over as coach of the women’s team midway through the 1998 season. He immediately began to turn the program around, leading the Cardinals to the CAC tournament semifinals. After four years of stability and growth, Racek led the women to unchartered waters — a record 12 wins in 2002. Not to be outdone, the 2003 Cardinals improved on the previous year’s success and set a new school record for wins in a season with 14, while also taking third place in the CAC and earning a berth to the ECAC Mid-Atlantic Region post-season tournament for the first time in history.
The 2005 soccer season saw the CUA women’s team set the standard by which all future teams will be measured. Head coach J.P. Sousa led the Cardinals to its most successful season in school history — an undefeated regular season, winning the team’s first Capital Athletic Conference championship, earning a berth in the NCAA Tournament for the first time, and posting a final record of 18 wins, one loss, and two ties. They outscored opponents 77-13 while recording 14 shutouts. A league-leading seven CUA players were selected to the All-CAC teams, and the Cardinals swept the post-season awards with senior Laura Kaye named CAC Player of the Year, freshman Suzie Peters named CAC Rookie of the Year, and Sousa taking home CAC Coach of the Year honors.
YEAR-BY-YEAR RESULTS
|
YEAR |
WIN |
LOSS |
TIE |
NOTABLES |
| 2007 |
12 |
3 |
5 |
Landmark Semifinalists, ECAC Tournament Runners-Up |
| 2006 |
11 |
8 |
1 |
CAC Semifinalists, ECAC Tournament |
|
2005 |
18 |
1 |
2 |
CAC Champions, NCAA Tournament, Ranked #5 in Mid-Atlantic Region |
|
2004 |
10 |
9 |
1 |
CAC Semifinalists |
|
2003 |
14 |
5 |
1 |
ECAC Tournament |
|
2002 |
12 |
5 |
0 |
|
|
2001 |
6 |
10 |
0 |
|
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2000 |
6 |
12 |
0 |
|
|
1999 |
6 |
8 |
2 |
|
|
1998 |
5 |
9 |
5 |
CAC Semifinalists |
|
1997 |
7 |
12 |
0 |
|
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1996 |
6 |
15 |
0 |
CAC Semifinalists |
|
1995 |
1 |
12 |
1 |
|
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1994 |
6 |
10 |
0 |
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1993 |
7 |
11 |
1 |
|
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1992 |
7 |
10 |
1 |
|
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1991 |
9 |
6 |
2 |
CAC Semifinalists |
|
1990 |
6 |
9 |
1 |
|
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1989 |
6 |
8 |
1 |
|
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1988 |
1 |
12 |
0 |
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1987 |
9 |
8 |
0 |
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1986 |
8 |
9 |
1 |
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1985 |
8 |
3 |
3 |
Inaugural season |
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Total |
181 |
195 |
28 |
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HEADLINES
Spadaro Named CAC Women's Soccer Athlete of the Week
Last Revised 10-Dec-07 03:20 PM.
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