Aug. 22, 2008
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - No. 9 Nittany Lions Open 2008 Season at William & Mary Saturday
The 10-time defending Nittany Lion women's soccer team heads to Williamsburg, Va. to open the 2008 season with a 7 p.m. kick-off. The trip will be a homecoming of sorts for head coach Erica Walsh and assistant coach Ann Cook, who played together for the Tribe as undergraduates.
Penn State in Season Openers
The Nittany Lions are 9-5 all-time in season openers, but are only 1-5 in road openers with the sole win coming at then-No. 24 James Madison on Sept. 1, 1996. Penn State has never been shutout in 13 season openers and has won all nine when scoring two or more goals.
Three Nittany Lions on M.A.C. Preseason List
The watch list for the Missouri Athletic Club Hermann Trophy was announced today and among the 47 top women's Division I soccer players were three Nittany Lions. Redshirt-senior Zoe Bouchelle, junior Alyssa Naeher and junior Katie Schoepfer were all named to the list. Penn State was one of only three schools to have three players named to the list. Included in that elite group was defending National Champions University of Southern California and the University of North Carolina.
These selections mark the ninth consecutive year that a Nittany Lion has been on the pre-season watch list for the nation's top player.
A Decade of Dominance
The Nittany Lions have won 10-straight Big Ten titles dating back to the 1998 season. Over that same span they have only lost six Big Ten games going 89-6-4 in conference play. They enter the 2008 season as favorites once again with hopes of attaining that 11th championship.
All-American Katie Schoepfer |
All-American Duo Return
Junior's Alyssa Naeher and Katie Schoepfer were named All-Americans a season ago with Naeher taking first team honors and Schoepfer garnering second team praise. They became the 10th and 11th Nittany Lions ever selected as All-Americans. They also were the fifth and sixth to be named as sophomores. The four others went on to be named All-Americans their final two years in Happy Valley.
Walsh Wins in Beijing
Head coach Erica Walsh was announced as an assistant coach on the United States Women's National Team squad back in January. She and the team had one goal in mind and that was gold in Beijing. Walsh endured a grueling travel schedule that caused her to jump in and out of University Park throughout the summer. Her commitment paid off August 21 as she watched the team she helped coach defeat Brazil 1-0 in overtime to capture the gold medal. Her travel nightmare was not over as she had to fly back to Williamsburg, Va. to catch Penn State's season opener August 23.
Nittany Lions Start Season at No. 9
The National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) released its 2008 Pre-Season Division I Women's Soccer Poll with the Nittany Lions receiving a number-nine ranking. Penn State ended the season ranked 12 in the final poll despite spending most of the season within the top-10. Defending champ USC starts the year at the top of the poll again.
Penn State is the top-ranked Big Ten team with the Illinois coming in at 19 and Purdue at 24. Indiana and Ohio State both received votes in the first poll just falling short of the Top 25.
PSU's opening weekend opponent the College of William & Mary was the last team out falling just four votes shy of the last slot.
Six of the Nittany Lions' opponents are ranked in the poll including Illinois and Purdue. The other include No. 4 Florida State University, No. 5 University of Notre Dame, No. 6 University of Portland and No. 11 University of Connecticut.
Catch the Nittany Lions on Television This Fall
Check you local listings to follow the women's soccer team in at least three televised appearances this year. The 10-time defending conference champions will be featured in two Big Ten Network contests, meeting up with Notre Dame at home on Sept. 21 and hosting Wisconsin on Oct. 5. Penn State will also be featured vs. James Madison on Sept. 18 in the NSCAA Fox Soccer Channel Women's College Game of the Week, a broadcast which will originate from Harrisonburg, Va.
Two New Captains Take the Reins
Senior Jessie Davis and junior Melissa Hayes have been tabbed as team captains in 2008. Davis was a tri-captain last season with seniors Aubrey Aden-Buie and Jean Rettig while Hayes is relatively new to the program after transferring to Penn State from North Carolina a season ago. Both Hayes and Davis have the reputation of running their portion of the field whether it be Hayes in the midfield or Davis on defense.
Next Up: Nittany Lions Host Florida State, Connecticut and Hofstra in Home Opener
Penn State's next contest signals a return home for the Nittany Lions as they host Florida State, Hofstra and Connecticut in their annual home tournament. Penn State opens its Jeffrey Field slate with a 5 p.m. CODE BLUE event vs. Florida State before Hofstra and Connecticut meet at 7:30 p.m. On Sunday, Aug. 31, Connecticut and Florida State will battle at noon, while Penn State and Hofstra will meet for the first time since their NCAA second-round thriller last season. The PSU/Hofstra match begins at 2:30 p.m.
--NITTANY LIONS-