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A Tale of Two Goalies
In many
sports, a goalie is a team’s last line of defense, in charge
of keeping the ball out of the net in any way possible. The
goalie must develop the mental toughness, leadership skills,
and athletic ability needed to stop the shots being fired at
her goal and lead her team to victory.
Kingsway
has had a lot of success over the years in its athletic
program, and many of its students go on to further their
academic and athletic careers in college. 2011 was a banner
year for two former All-State Kingsway goalies – Brittany
Dipper (University of Maryland, Women’s Lacrosse) and Melissa
Sanger (La Salle University, Women’s Soccer).
Dipper,
from Clarksboro, was named a first team All-American and
National Goalie of the Year during her junior year this past
spring. She led the nation in both goals against average
(6.54) and save percentage (0.522). Her team reached the NCAA
Division 1 national finals the past two years, winning the
national title her sophomore year. Dipper owns a
55–4
record all time at Maryland in lacrosse.
A former
two-sport athlete, she was a member of the Maryland field
hockey team that won the NCAA Division 1 national title in
2008 before concentrating solely on her lacrosse career. She
looks to continue her success during her senior year and lead
her Terrapins back to another national title.
Sanger, a
current redshirt senior from Mullica Hill, led her La Salle
Explorers team to a 15-win season and their first ever
appearance in the NCAA Division 1 national tournament. Sanger
made headlines this year as she started the season by playing
1,094 minutes and 57 seconds in net before giving up a goal.
Her
shutout streak was the fifth longest streak in NCAA history,
which included 11 straight shutouts before giving up a 75th
minute goal in a win against a Top 25 ranked Dayton squad.
Sanger set school records in wins, shutouts, and goals against
average in being named the Atlantic 10 Conference’s “Defensive
Player of the Year” and leading the Explorers to their best
season ever.
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