Two Navy Players Garner PL Preseason Honors

August 18, 2014

CENTER VALLEY, Pa. – Navy women’s soccer seniors Morgan Dankanich (Glenmoore, Pa.) and Jade Seabrook (St. Paris, Ohio) were named Patriot League Preseason Offensive and Defensive Player of the Year and the Mids also were selected to finish second in the Patriot League Preseason Poll, the league office announced Monday.

Dankanich and Seabrook also earned spots on the All-Patriot League Preseason Team and were joined on the 11-member squad by senior midfielder Rachel Hunter (Raleigh, N.C.). Navy and American led the way with three players each on the all-league preseason team.

Dankanich, the Patriot League’s top goal scorer, returns in 2014 to lead Navy as the team’s captain. She recorded league highs in points (31) and goals (14). Dankanich also led the league and tied a program record in game-winning goals with seven. Of the seven, four goals came in the 51st minute or later. The senior forward was named to the NSCAA All-Mid-Atlantic First Team and the league’s offensive player of the year last season.

A two-time NSCAA All-American, Seabrook helped anchor Navy’s backline to one of the best in the nation, holding opponents to a .566 goals-against average, which was 12th best in the country. She also guided the Mids to 14 shutouts in 21 games for the seventh-highest shutout percentage (.667) in Division I. Seabrook was recently named to the MAC Herman Trophy watch list and was also placed on the Top Drawer Soccer Preseason Best XI Second Team.

Hunter was named to the all-league second team last season, recording four assists and starting in all 21 games for the Mids. The senior midfielder has played in all 65 games for Navy the past three seasons.

Navy received 148 points and five of the 20 possible first place votes, 11 points shy of Boston University’s 159 total points. The Terriers also garnered the 15 of the 20 first-place votes.

Colgate is third with 131 points and Amry is fourth with 101. Following Army is American, Bucknell. Lehigh, Loyola, Holy Cross and Lafayette rounds out the poll, which is voted on by the league's head coaches and sports information contacts.

Navy was 16-5 in 2013 and won the Patriot League Regular Season title with an 8-1 mark. Navy will open the 2014 regular season on the road on Friday at UMBC.

2014 Preseason Poll

1. Boston University - 159 points (15 first-place votes)
2. Navy - 148 (5)
3. Colgate - 131
4. Army – 101
5. American – 98
6. Bucknell – 82
7. Lehigh – 55
8. Loyola – 46
9. Holy Cross – 43
10. Lafayette – 37

Preseason All-League Team *

Morgan Dankanich, Navy, Sr., F
Erica Kosienski, Boston U., So., F
Lindsay Muri, American, Sr., F
Catherine Williams, Colgate, Jr., F
Caroline Brawner, Colgate, Sr., M
Rachel Hunter, Navy, Sr., M
Evelyn Nicinski, Bucknell, Sr., M
Gina Righini, Holy Cross, Sr., M
Kirsten Eriksen, American, Sr., D
Kai Miller, Boston U., Sr., D
Jade Seabrook, Navy, Sr., D
Charlene Belanger, American, Sr., GK

*12 players due to a tie in the voting

Preseason Offensive Player of the Year - Morgan Dankanich, Navy, Sr., F

Preseason Defensive Player of the Year - Jade Seabrook, Navy, Sr., D