Jan. 31, 2009
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The 11-time Big Ten Champions are still making a name for themselves throughout the country. Soccer Buzz Magazine announced Saturday that Alyssa Naeher (Seymour, Conn.), Zoe Bouchelle (Cockeysville, Md.) and Emma Thomson (Retford, England) have been named to All-America teams while Katie Schoepfer (Waterford, Conn.) and Jessie Davis (Fairfax, Va.) have been selected to the All-Great Lakes Region second and third team respectively.
Schoepfer earned all-region honors for the second time in her Nittany Lion career in continuing her dominance as a striker this season. She scored 10 goals and tallied five assists for 25 points and holds the top spot in the Big Ten for shots at 104. She netted four game-winners throughout the 2008 campaign, two of which were in conference matches. Previously this season, Schoepfer was named the Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week for Oct. 20, and earned recognition on the Soccer America Team of the Week en route to her third First Team All-Big Ten nod. She was also a selection to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District Second Team.
Davis closes out her career with her first all-region honor as she piloted the defense to 11 shutouts throughout the 2008 campaign. Because of her efforts, the Nittany Lions were the least scored upon team throughout Big Ten Play. Previously this season, Davis was a two-time selection to the Top Drawer Soccer Team of the Week, and earned Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week honors for Oct. 27. Additionally, she was named First Team All-Big Ten and was awarded with all-tournament team recognition. She was also a selection the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District Second Team and went on to become an NSCAA Scholar All-American.
Bouchelle is also ending her career on a high note as she picked up her first All-American (third team) laurel after being named First Team All-Great Lakes region for the second time. Throughout the year, she neutralized scoring threats on defense and made big plays happen on offense, which earned her First Team All-Big Ten recognition for the second time. Her most memorable performance came in the Big Ten Tournament when she assisted both goals in a 2-1 win over Iowa and added another in a 1-0 victory over Michigan State propelling the Nittany Lions to the championship game. An excellent student, she earned her second ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America accolade as well as NSCAA Scholar All-American recognition.
Thomson is already making a name for herself as she was selected Fourth Team Freshman All-America while being named to the All-Great Lakes Freshman Team. She was a consistent force on the back line in her freshman campaign. Her speed and agility allowed her to keep the ball moving forward as she collected two assists and nine shots throughout the season. For her efforts she was named to the All-Big Ten Freshman Team. Her most memorable performance came from scoring the opening goal against then-No. 21 Minnesota in the Big Ten Tournament championship game helping the Nittany Lions to their fifth tournament title. Thomson is the 11th freshman from Penn State to be named to the SoccerBuzz Freshman All-America team.
Naeher collected another First Team All-America nod while also earning her second Soccer Buzz First Team All-Great Lakes honor. In goal, she accumulated a .796 save percentage en route to an 11-4 record with nine shutouts. For her efforts, she earned her third All-Big Ten accolade with first team recognition. She scooped up a season-high nine saves in the Big Ten Tournament championship game against then-No. 21 Minnesota earning her Tournament Defensive MVP honors. She went on to earn her second-straight NSCAA First Team All-America nod.
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