Lizzie Barnes

Classroom

A double major in computer science and information technology, Barnes began the fall among the top five percent of her class with a 3.86 GPA. A First-Team Academic All-American in 2006, she has posted a perfect 4.0 in four of her last five semesters, while earning Dean’s List mention four times. In addition, she is well-respected for her military acumen and ranks 24th in military performance amongst 1,070-plus students in the Class of ‘09. Upon graduation she will pursue a career as a Surface Warfare Officer/Information Professional.

Character

This past summer, Barnes spent five weeks interning at the NATO headquarters in Brussels where she helped build computer programs aimed at streamlining the communication within the organization. Upon her return, she served as a Plebe Summer Company Commander, one of the most important roles at the Academy, where she was oversaw incoming freshmen during their rigorous military indoctrination training.

Community

While Academy life often limit one’s free time, Barnes leads a small bible study with several teammates and members of her company and volunteers at an area homeless shelter. She puts the knowledge gained as a CS major to good use, as she actively maintains a website for Campus Crusade for Christ, a campus group devoted to promoting faith, fruitfulness and growth. Barnes, along with her teammates, have also volunteered their time with the Special Olympics, Habitat for Humanity, and Breast Cancer awareness.

Competition

Barnes has developed into one of the nation’s top goalkeepers while leading the Mids to back-to-back NCAA appearances. In 2006, Barnes put together one of the best single-season goalkeeping performances in NCAA history, finishing as the nation’s leader in GAA (0.29) and save percentage (.933), while posting a league-record 13 shutouts. For her efforts, she garnered NSCAA Second-Team All-Mid-Atlantic, Patriot League Goalkeeper of the Year and First-Team All-Patriot League honors. In addition, she became the first Patriot League player to be recognized on the prestigious Hermann Trophy Watch List.

Barnes is the program’s all-time leader in goals-against average (0.65), shutouts (28) and career wins (43).  She led all Patriot League goalkeepers during the 2008 regular season with a 0.68 GAA and a .853 save percentage, earning league goalkeeper of the year honors for the second time in her career. In seven regular season games, she allowed just two goals, owns a paltry 0.29 GAA, a .931 save percentage and has posted five shutouts. The 5-foot-10 netminder has helped the Mids produce a league-high 12 clean sheets on the season. A standout student, Barnes was also named the 2008 Patriot League Scholar-Athlete of the Year for women’s soccer.