Bucknell University Athletics
Nicole Marotta Represents Bucknell Women's Soccer on NSCAA All-Region Squad
11/30/2006 7:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Nov. 30, 2006
LEWISBURG, Pa. - Bucknell women's soccer sophomore Nicole Marotta (Bridgewater, N.J./Mount St. Mary Academy) received all-region recognition as the defender earned a spot on the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) All-Mid-Atlantic Region Third Team, the association announced on Thursday.
Marotta becomes the third player in program history to pick up an NSCAA All-Region honor, joining Bucknell Athletics Hall of Fame member Lisa Gibbons '95 who was a first team selection in 1994 and Savannah Rennels who was named to the third team as a sophomore in 2001.
Marotta, who was a 2006 All-Patriot League First Team selection, became the first Bison player to be named the Patriot League's Women's Soccer Co-Defensive Player of the Year earlier this month, sharing the award with Navy's Shelly Moeller.
This fall, Marotta helped Bucknell post a team goals against average of 0.99, the best in school history, and was a part of a program record-tying five shutouts. As a key fixture on the back line for the Orange and Blue, starting all 18 games in 2006, Marotta helped the Bison hold opponents to one goal or less in 16 of 18 matches.
Marotta finished with three points on the season on a goal and an assist. In the regular season finale, she scored the game-tying goal in the 43rd minute of the 2-1 Bucknell victory against then-ranked No. 14 Navy to end the Mids' 983:28-minute shutout streak. The win earned the Bison the No. 1 seed in the Patriot League Tournament and the right to serve as tournament hosts for just the second time in school history.
As a freshman in 2005, Marotta started all 21 games and tallied two goals and one assist for five points. In addition to recording an assist in the Orange and Blue's 4-3 triumph over Navy to clinch a playoff berth, she netted the first goal in Bucknell's 3-1 victory over Army in the Patriot League championship match.
In 2006, the Bison matched program bests for overall and league win totals and, with a record of 12-5-1, also posted the highest winning percentage in school history at .735. Bucknell finished the regular season at 6-1-0 and captured a share of the Patriot League regular season title.
