Elizabeth (Beth) Byrne, came to Franklin & Marshall fromCollegeville, Pa. During her four-year soccer career, she becameone of the most dominating players in school history, in any sport.Byrne had the skills and temperament to control a game by herself.She was a four-year starter, led the team in scoring each season,and helped the Diplomat women to the Middle Atlantic Conference(MAC) championships in 1987 and 1988, defeating archrival Scrantonin the title match both years. In recognition of her outstandingplay, Byrne was named conference MVP three consecutive years(1986-88).
During her career, Byrne-led teams had season records of 13-2,9-6-1, 16-3, and 11-6 for a four-year record of 49-17-1, and a 74.4winning percentage. She scored a school-record 110 goals in hercareer and established a host of other records that may never bebroken, including most goals in a game (10), most goals in a season(31), and most career points (251). At the time of graduation,Byrne held four national Intercollegiate Soccer Association ofAmerica (ISSA) records for career goals (110), goals per game(1.80, 110 in 61 games), points per game (4.11), and goals in asingle game (10 vs. Wilkes in an 11-0 win).
She finished third on the ISAA women's career points list (alldivision, 251 points) and was the fifth collegiate player, male orfemale, to ever score 100 or more goals in a career. She receivednumerous national post-season individual honors, including: 1986All-America Division III second team and 1998 Soccer CoachesAssociation All-America first team. Byrne also played softball,earning All-Conference honors in that sport in 1986 when she batted.382. She was recognized by Sports Illustrated in its December 12,1988 edition of "Faces in the Crowd" for her soccer exploits. Byrnegraduated in 1989 with a bachelor's degree in psychology andcurrently works as a recreation therapist at the Chestnut Hill(Pa.) Rehabilitation Hospital.
