Sept. 16, 2007
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -
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Despite a great scoring opportunity for No. 5 Texas A&M (4-1-1) in the first of two overtime periods, the 20th-ranked Penn State women's soccer team (3-2-1) rode a stout defensive performance highlighted by goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher (Seymour, Conn.) to notch a 1-1 tie at Jeffrey Field on Sunday in front of 2216 fans - the fourth largest crowd in Nittany Lion women's soccer history.
In a very physical first half, two Nittany Lion starters were sent to the bench by contact injuries, but it was a foul by a Penn State defender in the box that became the first goal of the day. In the 35th minute, a foul on the near side of the field led to a penalty kick for Aggie defender Paige Carmichael. Carmichael sent the strike towards the left post, just out of the reach of a fully extended Naeher. A preseason All-American by Soccer America, Naeher had another phenomenal performance on the day, racking-up nine saves.
In an evenly played second half with both teams having good chances, the feisty Penn State squad would not give up. A credit to Penn State's tenacity as the clock wound down, the offense was relentless with its pressure late in the game and it finally paid off. The Nittany Lions eventually tied it up in the 86th minute off Katie Schoepfer's (Waterford, Conn.) second goal of the weekend. A scramble ensued in the box with Schoepfer taking the first shot amongst a swarm of A&M defenders. She was able to gather her own rebound and poke the blocked shot out to her right. Schoepfer then fired the shot before the Aggies could recover, and the ball found the back of the net in the right corner.
With the game knotted at one goal each, the teams hit the pitch for overtime. Texas A&M's golden goal dreams were dashed in the first overtime when Naeher was all over a pair of shots from Ashlee Pistorius, including an incredible save on her shot in the 102nd minute.
With less then five minutes remaining, Schoepfer tried to get the game-winner. Penn State freshman Megan Monroig (Northumberland, Pa.) broke away and found Schoepfer in the box. The sophomore forward looked to be trapped by two Aggie defenders when she spun and broke away enough to create some space. Schoepfer then fired a hard shot, but Aggie goalkeeper Kristin Arnold was there for the save, one of seven in the contest for her. From there, the two teams rode out the final minutes of the second overtime to put a cap on the 1-1 tie.
In the final stats, the Aggies edged the Nittany Lions in the shot column 21-20, with Schoepfer tallying a team-high nine. Penn State dominated the corner kick opportunities 8-2, with the foul column reading 15-14 in favor of Texas A&M.
Penn State travels to nearby Bucknell on Wednesday, Sept. 19, for a 7 p.m. match-up before its third nationally televised game this season on Sunday, Sept. 23, at Notre Dame. The rematch of the Nittany Lions' 2006 NCAA quarterfinal game, the game begins at 12:30 p.m. and will be broadcast on ESPNU. Penn State returns home on Wednesday, Sept. 26, at 5 p.m. vs. Colgate as the first part of a men's/women's doubleheader. The men's soccer team hosts Penn following the Colgate gate. On Sunday, Sept. 30, Penn State begins its Big Ten title defense when it hosts 2006 runner-up Illinois at Jeffrey Field. The nine-time defending Big Ten champions' match vs. the Illini starts at 3 p.m. and will be broadcast live on the Big Ten Network.
--NITTANY LIONS--