Oct. 5, 2007
MADISON, Wis.; - Despite a few good chances in the first 30 minutes, Penn State didn't find the goal until the 36:12 mark when the Nittany Lions worked the ball into Wisconsin territory. The Badger defense was able to run some interference on a Jessie Davis (Fairfax, Va.) pass through the box, but it was not enough to keep it from the feet of freshman Megan Monroig (Northumberland, Pa.), who made the deposit in the right side of the net. The goal, the second of the season for Monroig, put Penn State up 1-0 with less then eight minutes remaining in the first half.
It didn't take Penn State long to put goal No. 2 on the board as it went nearly the length of the field for another goal in the 39th minute. Sophomore goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher (Seymour, Conn.) punted the ball and classmate Katie Schoepfer (Waterford, Conn.) put it on target to freshman Danielle Toney (Northville, Mich.), who beat the keeper for her third goal of the season and the 2-0 PSU lead.
Less then three minutes into the second half, Wisconsin's Katy Meyer took a hard shot from the left side that almost spoiled the shutout, but preseason All-American keeper Naeher was there for the save. Naeher finished with just the one save, but played solidly all evening, snuffing out several Wisconsin chances before they had time to develop.
In spite of countless dangerous opportunities for the Nittany Lions in the second half, Penn State couldn't find the goal in the second half, but still came away with the 2-0 win, their first shutout of the 2007 Big Ten season. The Nittany Lions out shot Wisconsin 11-6 and had five corner kicks to the Badgers' three.
Penn State travels to Northwestern to complete its Big Ten road swing on Sunday. The match begins at noon ET. The Nittany Lions return home next Friday, Oct. 12, for a 7 p.m. game vs. Michigan State. PSU then hosts Michigan on Sunday, Oct. 14, at noon to hit the halfway point of the conference slate.
--NITTANY LIONS--