Season Review: 2006 CAC title and NCAA trip highlight season
SALISBURY, Md. - One season after suffering the first losing campaign in school history the 2006 Salisbury University women's soccer team turned the tables and captured its third Capital Athletic Conference championship, first since 2000, and earned a berth to the NCAA Division III Women's Soccer Tournament.

The success of the team brought individual accolades to three players as two Sea Gulls were named to the All-CAC first team and one to the second team. Junior Kate Weaver and senior Natalie Day were first team honorees while junior Robyn Bishop garnered a spot on the second team. In addition, head coach Jim Nestor was named the CAC Coach of the Year, his first time at the helm of the women’s soccer program.

"I am really excited about making first team all-conference but I was really glad that I could help our team in its success this year," said Weaver.

"[Kate] had a breakout year," said Nestor, in his sixth year. "She was able to capitalize on her opportunities this year."

Weaver was able to help the Sea Gulls in more ways than one could imagine. She set school records for points in a season (42), goals in a season (20), and tied the record for goals in a game (four vs. St. Mary's). She averaged a conference best 1.18 goals a game and 2.47 points a game and was twice named CAC Player of the Week.

"This year we tried a new formation with three forwards which I believe helped our success on offense," said Weaver. "The outside forwards were able to get off crosses into the box which made my job as center forward that much easier."

The Sea Gulls run at the CAC title was impressive. Salisbury won four of its last five regular-season games which included four straight against CAC opponents. Salisbury finished the regular-season 5-2 in conference play and entered the CAC tournament as the No. 3 seed.

The Sea Gulls dominated the CAC tournament. Salisbury did not allow a single goal and capped it off with a 4-0 rout of St. Mary's (Md.), as they avenged its 2005 loss in the first round to the Seahawks.

"It was a great to win the championship after last season," said Nestor. "It was a great feat to accomplish what we did."

However, the game of the year for Salisbury was its October 14 regular-season match up with St. Mary's. The Sea Gulls trailed 1-0 at halftime but scored quickly in the second half to tie the score at one. The game winning goal came with just one tick left on the clock as Weaver scored on a corner from Kelli Salter.

"There were so many big games this year, with Catholic and St. Mary’s, but to win in that fashion was awesome," said Weaver.

"We knew it was going to be a battle," said senior captain Meghan Mabey. "We won the game off a corner kick in the last seconds of regulation. That was followed by the team storming the field. I know I will never forget that."

Salisbury’s turn around from the 2005 season included the No. 1 scoring offense (2.94 goals a game) in the conference and a No. 2 ranking in scoring defense (1.11 goals allowed a game) and shutouts (8) in the conference.

"Winning the CAC championship was an exhilarating finish to a season which our team gradually made its way to the top," said Mabey.

The bar has been raised for the Salisbury women's soccer team who will return 98 percent of its offense next year. Salisbury will be the team to beat next season in the CAC as they Gulls graduate only three players off its 2006 roster.

"We look forward to next year and trying to repeat as champions," said Nestor. "We know we have a lot of work to do and we need to play better than this year but we look forward to the challenge."