Nov. 7, 2007
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.; October 28, 2007 -- Six Nittany Lions earned all-Big Ten honors Wednesday after helping their team to a 10th-straight conference title including sophomore goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher (Seymour, Conn.), who garnered Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year. Naeher is Penn State's 10th Big Ten Player of the Year (Offensive or Defensive) and the Nittany Lions' six selections pushes their number of All-Big Ten selections to 65 in the history of the program. Additionally, freshman Danielle Toney (Northville, Mich.) was also named to the all-freshman team.
A preseason All-American, Naeher has not disappointed in her second year in goal for Penn State. She led the Big Ten allowing only 0.39 gpg in Big Ten matches and is ranked 5th nationally this week in save percentage (.896) and 14th in goals against average (0.52). She leads a defensive unit that is also ranked in the top 15 nationally in both categories. A two-time Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week, she also earned Soccer America Team of the Week this year. Naeher was also named first team All-Big Ten, marking her second all-conference honor after being named to the Big Ten's second team last year.
Joining Naeher on the first team were sophomore forward Katie Schoepfer (Waterford, Conn.) and redshirt-junior midfielder Zoe Bouchelle (Cockeysville, Md.). Schoepfer twice earned Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week honors and twice garnered Soccer America Team of the Week accolades. She is at or near the top of the Big Ten in almost every offensive category, including tying for first in both overall goals (12) and game-winning goals in Big Ten contests (3). She had the game-winning or game-tying goals vs. then-No. 4 Texas A&M, and down the Big Ten stretch vs. Indiana and Ohio State. Schoepfer also assisted on the game-winning goal vs. Northwestern. Schoepfer was named Big Ten All-Freshman last year.
Bouchelle has been pivotal all season for the Nittany Lions in the midfield. Most of her points came during the Big Ten slate including six in one weekend vs. Michigan and Michigan State when she had a hand in every goal. Her scoring that weekend included the gamewinner vs. Michigan State. Her offensive explosion helped her to Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week honors as well as Soccer America and Soccer Buzz honors. Her four assists in Big Ten play are tied for first in the conference. Bouchelle's selection is the first postseason conference honor of her career.
Tri-captain and senior Aubrey Aden-Buie (Allentown, Pa.) was selected to the second team as a forward, receiving the second All-Big Ten honor of her career after being named to the first team last year. A big-gamer, four of her five game-winning goals have come either vs. ranked teams (including the game-winner vs. then-No. 4 Purdue) or in one-goal wins. She has 10 points in Big Ten play, second on the Big Ten championship Penn State squad. Her five game-winning goals are tied for second in the conference as well as tied with Schoepfer for the high mark on the team.
Two Penn State defenders were both named second team All-Big Ten, including tri-captain Jessie Davis (Fairfax, Va.). Davis' honor is her first and comes after she led the Nittany Lion defense to an outstanding year in which it gave up only 11 goals. The PSU defense is tied for first in the Big Ten in goals allowed (10), is second in goals against average (0.52 gaa), and second in shutouts (0.53). Senior Denay Riley (Washingtonville, N.Y.) is earning her second second-team honor in as many years for her part on the Penn State defense. Riley and the defense have recorded 10 shutouts, including six in Big Ten play. In conference play, Penn State's defense was at or near the top again, holding the top spot in goals allowed (4), goals against average (0.39) and tied for second in shutouts (.060- one off the leader).
Freshman Danielle Toney (Northville, Mich.) is the Penn State's 11th Big Ten All-Freshman Team selection. She had the game-winning goal at Illinois and was tied for third on the team in goals scored with three overall and two in Big Ten play. She also had one assist this year.
Penn State opens Big Ten Tournament action Thursday at noon ET vs. Iowa. The Nittany Lions are the No. 1 seed in the tournament following their 10th-consecutive conference title.