Aug. 8, 2007
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - In 2006, Gray and Riley teamed-up to boost the Nittany Lions to a ninth consecutive Big Ten championship and the fourth Big Ten tournament championship in program history. The duo also helped Penn State to its eighth NCAA quarterfinal appearance in nine years and the 12th NCAA bid in school history.
Penn State is one of 13 schools with two or more candidates on the preseason list.
"You would be hard pressed to find a more exciting attacking player or dominant defender than Sheree and Denay respectively, said first year Penn State head coach Erica Walsh. "Sheree poses a threat to opponents every time she touches the ball and Denay has the athletic quality and pace to battle any attacking player in the country.
"The preseason recognition that Sheree and Denay have earned typifies the tradition that Penn State has for putting the top players in the nation on the field year in and year out. This soccer program continues to set itself apart not only with outstanding team results, but also with the individual honors its players earn."
A 2007 NSCAA third team All-American, Gray was a first team All-Big Ten selection last year after earning Big Ten all-freshman honors in 2005. The speedy midfielder has four career goals for the Nittany Lions, three of which were game-winners, and has added eight assists. Among Gray's career conversions is last year's game-winner vs. No. 2 UCLA to pull the upset in the season opener.
A two-time All-Big Ten honoree, Riley has been a fixture on the Nittany Lions' stingy defensive unit since her freshman season. In addition to her five career goals, she's also added an assist. Riley anchored a Penn State defense that gave up less than one goal per game in 2006, only surrendered 20 goals during the 2005 season, and allowed an unbelievably low 11 goals in 2004. The senior has started 70 games on a unit that has recorded 38 shutouts over the past three years. Riley was a first-team Freshman All-American according to Soccer Buzz in 2004.
The Penn State women's soccer team starts the season with an exhibition game vs. Delaware at Jeffrey Field on August 25 at 4 p.m. The Nittany Lions begin the 2007 slate on the road for the first four contests, including the season-opener at Tennessee on August 31 at 8 p.m. Penn State returns to Jeffrey Field to host James Madison in the home opener on Friday, Sept. 14, vs. James Madison at 7:30 p.m. The game will be the second game of the Penn State Invitational, which opens at 5 p.m. that night with the Texas A&M vs. West Virginia match. The Nittany Lions meet the Aggies on Sunday, Sept. 16, to close out Invitational action at 1 p.m.
Penn State opens preseason camp next week in University Park.
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