July 20, 2005

West Texas A&M University women's soccer player Sarit Shenar helped the Israeli National Team to a gold medal in the 17th Maccabiah Games in Israel.

Shenar and the Israeli National Team defeated the United States 2-0, on Tuesday, as Shenar notched an assist for Israel. She had an assist in the second round 5-1 victory over USA on July 11 and had two goals as part of a 16-0 rout of Australia on July 15 to reach the final. The medal ceremony is today. Shenar finished the Maccabiah Games with four goals and two assists.

The Maccabiah Games take place every four years in Israel, also known as "the Jewish Olympics", are Maccabi World Union's largest and most famous enterprise. The 33-sport Games are being held July 10-21 in Ramat-Gan, Israel. Celebrated every four years, the games are expected to attract some 6,000 competitors and 14,000 coaches, escorts and attendees from 55 countries. These spectacular sports and cultural extravaganzas unite many thousands of Jews from all over the world in Israel have a tremendous Zionist history, stretching back to the vivid imagination of a Jewish youngster in 1912. For more on the Maccabiah Games, check out the official website at www.maccabiah17.com.

Shenar, a native of Rehovot, Israel, will be a junior this fall for the Lady Buffs. Last season, she was named to the first-team National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) All-American, becoming the first-ever first-team All-American from WTAMU and just the second in Lady Buffs' nine-year history, joining Kathy Clutterbuck, who was a third-team selection in 2002.

Shenar was also a first-team All-Midwest Region selection, as well as the LSC Offensive Player of the Year and named the first-team All-LSC list. She was also selected to the LSC All-Tournament Team, after helping the Lady Buffs to the Championship match, where they suffered a 2-1 double overtime loss to Texas A&M University-Commerce. Off the field, Shenar was also named to the LSC All-Academic Team, as she has a 3.729 GPA as a chemistry major.


On the season, Shenar scored a WTAMU single-season record 24 goals, adding 10 assists for a total of 58 points, which is also a single-season school record. Shenar surpassed her own records from a year ago for both goals and points.

WTAMU ended the season with a 13-6-1 overall record, after losing to No. 2 Metro State for the third year in a row in the Midwest Regional and fourth consecutive time overall. Metro State went on to win the NCAA-II National Championship.

WTAMU opens the 2005 campaign on Aug. 27 at Oklahoma City University and then taking on the University of Texas-El Paso on Aug. 30. The Lady Buffs' home opener is Sept. 1, hosting Northwestern Oklahoma State University at 7 p.m. at Kimbrough Memorial Stadium.

Complete 2005 Lady Buff Soccer Schedule