Navy's Barnes and Moeller earn Patriot League Player of the Year honors

On the eve of the conference tournament, Navy's Lizzie Barnes (New Orleans, La.) and Shelly Moeller (Milford, Ohio) have been named the Patriot League Women's Soccer Goalkeeper and Defensive Player of the Year, respectively, according to a vote of league coaches, announced Thursday at the league banquet held at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium.

This marks the second career player-of-the-year honor for each player. In 2006, Barnes became the first Navy keeper to earn the league's top goalkeeping distinction, while Moeller, then a freshman, took home co-defensive player-of-the-year kudos, sharing the award with Bucknell's Nicole Marotta.

Fielding the conference's top-ranked defense (0.65 g/gm), it is only fitting that Navy receive a pair of defensive awards. This season, the Mids' standout duo has led Navy to its third outright (and seventh overall) regular season championship and the number one seed in the postseason tournament for the first time since 2001.

Barnes, Navy's career record holder in goals-against average (0.67) and shutouts (28), has been rock-solid during her senior season, putting the finishing touches on a heralded collegiate career.

She leads all league goalkeepers with a 0.68 goals-against average, including a stingy 0.26 GAA in conference play.  Navy's 5-foot-10 netminder has recorded seven solo shutouts on the year, while playing at least a half in 11 of Navy's league-best 12 blankings.

Over her four-year career, Barnes has made a habit of bringing her best come conference play. In 27 career games against league foes (including four postseason contests), she has allowed just nine goals and owns a paltry 0.35 GAA with 17 shutouts.

This fall, Barnes has continued that dominance, allowing just two goals in seven regular season games, while producing five clean sheets. Of the 27 shots on goal she has faced – she has turned away 25 - good for a 92.6 save percentage.

A three-time all-league selection, Moeller is the straw that stirs the drink for Navy's smothering defensive unit. Despite never having played a minute in the back prior to the Academy, she has quickly established herself as one of the region's most imposing defenders.

This season, she has lived up to her preseason billing as the league's top back, leading the charge for a unit that has allowed the fewest goals of any league team (13 in 20 games) and shut out a conference-high 12 opponents.

A relentless presence in the center of Navy's defense, she has been a major reason why only three opponents have scored more than one goal against the Mids this season. Heading into the league postseason, Navy's 0.62 goals-against average is the lowest in the conference, stands as the fourth-lowest GAA in school history and ranks 18th nationally.

Moeller has started all 20 games at center back and 67-straight since her freshman season – a span during which Navy owns a 0.64 GAA and has posted an amazing 41 shutouts.  

The Milford, Ohio native has remained true to her roots as a threat on the offensive end as well, where she has four goals (the fourth-highest total on the team), including three game-winners.