Oct. 22, 2006
FLORENCE, Ala. - Freshman goalkeeper Courtney Jones (Panama City, Fla./Bay HS) recorded her ninth shutout of the season as West Florida won their eighth straight match with a 3-0 win over North Alabama in the regular season finale on Sunday. The win marked the second consecutive regular season that West Florida finished with an undefeated record against conference opponents. West Florida (13-2-2, 8-0 GSC) has won 19 consecutive regular season matches against conference opponents. North Alabama (4-10-2, 1-7) dropped to 0-9-0 all-time against West Florida.
"North Alabama tackled hard and played very physical, but we kept our composure," said head coach Joe Bartlinski. "We were able to grind out a win against a physical opponent on a small field."
Sophomore Marcela Franco (Sao Paulo, Brazil/Colegio Visconde de Porto Seguro) started the scoring in the eighth minute with her team-leading ninth goal of the season on an assist from senior Mauricia Nicholson (Mount Pleasant, Tobago/Bishop's HS). Nicholson also earned an assist on Patricia Toledo's (Sao Paulo, Brazil/Cloud County CC) seventh goal of the season in the 43rd minute. With her two assists, Nicholson moved into second place all-time with 25 assists. Senior Valerie Noppinger (Oviedo, Fla./Oviedo HS) completed the scoring with an unassisted goal in the 83rd minute.
Jones collected three saves to earn her 12th win of the season. With the win, Jones became the fourth goalkeeper in West Florida history to record at least 12 wins in a season. North Alabama's Mally Cash made 10 saves in the loss. West Florida out shot North Alabama, 23-5 and the Argonauts posted a 10-2 advantage in corner kicks.
With the regular season complete, West Florida will prepare for the GSC Tournament on Friday, Oct. 27 and Sunday, Oct. 29 at Pensacola's Brosnaham Park. Top seed West Florida will face fourth seed West Georgia in a semifinal match on Friday (time to be announced). West Florida defeated West Georgia, 2-0, earlier this season, and the Argonauts knocked off the Wolves, 2-0, in last year's semifinals.
"I am pleased with our second straight GSC regular season title, but we still have more work and some unfinished business to take care of," said Bartlinski. "West Georgia is a tough opponent, and we will defiantly need to work hard and be focused."
