Former Local Star Scores in NCAA Tournament

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Marina Paul was a force for the Breakers her senior season. File Photo by Robert Campbell
Marina Paul was a force for the Breakers her senior season. File Photo by Robert Campbell

Former Laguna Beach High soccer standout Marina Paul (’12), now a Georgetown University sophomore, scored a goal to help seal the Hoyas 2-0 win over LaSalle in the first round of the NCAA tournament last Saturday, Nov. 16, on Georgetown’s home field in Washington, DC.

With the victory, the Hoyas are now 16-2-2 overall, tying the team record for wins in a season set in 2011 and equaled last year during Paul’s freshman campaign. Georgetown faces number one Virginia (21-1-0) on Friday, Nov. 22 in a second round match.

A three-sport prep athlete, Paul was named LBHS female athlete of the year after leading the Breakers to an Orange Coast League soccer title her senior season. She earned her second straight league MVP award that year after scoring more than half (17) the team’s 33 goals from her mid-fielder position.

“Marina is certainly the best to come out of LBHS girls soccer in a long time,” said Bill Rolfing, the longtime LBHS girls’ coach.

Paul also competed in track and earned all-league honors as an outside hitter in volleyball, finishing second in kills (258), service aces (42) and digs (176) her senior year for a Breaker team that made it to CIF semi finals.

But it was her skills with a soccer ball that drew the attention of Georgetown recruiters and took her to the next level. She was named to the Big East Conference All-Rookie team her freshman season, scoring her first collegiate goal in her first game. She was also a Big East Academic All-Star.

In 16 games this season, Paul has scored five goals on only 16 shots, giving her an impressive .312 shooting percentage that ranks second among starters.

Paul’s real value, though, comes from her exceptional defense in the middle of the field. The victory over LaSalle was Georgetown’s 10th shutout of the year. Overall this season, the Hoyas have out-scored their opponents 58-14.

Here’s a link to ESPN images from the game:

http://espn.go.com/espnw/photos/gallery/_/id/9995954/image/5/georgetown-vs-la-salle-espnw-photos-week-nov-11-17-2013

 

File Photo by Robert Campbell

Caption: Marina Paul was a force for the Breakers her senior season.

 

 

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