Colby ranked 6th in final

The Colby women's soccer team made it to the NESCAC Tournament semifinals for the first time since the playoff system started. The Mules finished with a 7-3-5 record and advanced past Amherst College in a penalty kick shootout in a NESCAC quarterfinal.

The Mules lost in the conference semifinals to eventual champion Tufts University by a tight 2-1 score. Tufts, which Colby beat 2-0 in the season opener, went on to the NCAA semifinals.

Junior forward Laura Williamson and junior goalkeeper Liza Benson both were named to the NESCAC all-conference first team. Williamson moved into second place on the all-time scoring list at Colby with 34 goals and 13 assists for 81 career points. Williamson needs 15 points to become the Mules' all-time scoring leader. Benson was among the top three goalkeepers in three statistical categories in the NESCAC.

Sisters Kara and Katie McCabe were named to the NESCAC second team. Kara, a senior co-captain, led Colby's defense. Katie was second on the Mules in scoring with two goals and a team-best seven assists under head coach Jen Holsten.

The Colby women's soccer team will return about 20 varsity players for the 2005 campaign, including senior co-captains Kaitlin Herlihy and Kara McCabe.

The playmaking of Herlihy, Lauren Goethals '08 (Needham, Mass.), Meggie Herlihy '08 (Simbsbury, Conn.), Katie McCabe '08 (Watertown, Conn), Liz Morbeck '07 (Seattle, Wash.) and Jenny Rutherford '08 (Ketchum, Idaho) will provide midfield strength.

Scoring should come from former NESCAC Rookie of the Year Laura Williamson '07 (Manchester, Conn.), Libba Cox '07 (Guilford, Conn.), Laura Pomponi '08 (Beverly, Mass.), and Meg Cordner '07 (Katonah, N.Y.).

The Mules will be experienced defensively with Kelly DeLong, Kara McCabe, Meridith Blascovich '07 (Santa Barbara, Calif.), Meg Davis '07 (Hopkinton, Mass.), Mollie Puskar '08 (Pittsburgh, Pa.) and Angela Martinelli '08 (Conway, Mass.).

Goaltender Liza Benson '07 (Orchid, Fla.) will step into the starting position.

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