UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Penn State women's soccer head coach Erica Dambach announced the addition of goalkeeper Morgan Messner to the Nittany Lion roster Tuesday. The Drexel Hill, Pennsylvania, product was a three-year starter at Boston University and transfers to Penn State after earning her undergraduate degree in three years in Earth & Environmental Science.
"I am extremely excited and grateful for this opportunity to join the Penn State women's soccer family and continue my collegiate career with this distinguished and outstanding program," said Messner. "I would like to thank Coach Dambach, Coach Wassell, Coach Cook, their staff and the team for welcoming me. I have so much respect for this program, its history, and the people involved in it; it is an honor to join this team and I cannot wait to be a part of something so special!"
Messner earned United Soccer Coaches All-North Region, All-Patriot League second-team and first team All-Tournament honors in 2021 as a Terrier, playing every minute in the net this spring with two clean sheets. The team's two-time Most Valuable Defensive Player, she posted a 0.817 save percentage and 0.71 goals-against average. One of her highlight-reel saves was included on SportsCenter's Top 10 Plays this past March.
Messner compiled 12 shutouts in her career at BU, including seven shutouts in her freshman season in 2018. She did not allow a goal in conference regular-season competition and tallied four saves and three penalty kick saves in 0-0 double overtime result at No. 19 LSU in the first round of the 2018 NCAA Tournament.
"Morgan brings a wealth of experience from a very respected program at Boston University," said Dambach. "She has already proven to be one of the best goalkeepers in the country and we are excited to bring her into our group. Morgan and Katherine Asman, along with sophomore returner Katie Evans and freshman newcomer Amanda Poorbaugh, will create one of the most competitive goalkeeping environments in the country under the guidance of Tim Wassell."
A highly decorated prep player from the greater Philadelphia area, Messner was a two-time United Soccer Coaches All-East Region and TopDrawerSoccer honoree. She racked up first-team All-Inter-Ac accolades twice and was a first-team All-Main Line and first-team All-Delaware County pick as well as earning All-Southeastern Pennsylvania second-team recognition.
Messner helped lead her club team, Penn Fusion, to three ECNL and US GDA National Playoff appearances. A team captain, she was a four-year letterwinner in soccer and won three letters in track & field at The Episcopal Academy.
The Penn State women's soccer team opens its 2021 season at Jeffrey Field on Thursday, Aug. 19 vs. UMass, the first athletics event of the 2021-22 season.
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