July 28, 2009
WORCESTER, Mass. -- The Penn State women's soccer team saw two of its own score national championships at the 2009 U.S. Youth Championships on Sunday at Progin Park. Maddy Evans took home the Golden Boot as the top offensive player in the U-18 division, leading her FC Bucks Vipers team to their first championship, while Krissy Tribbett's Colorado Rush Nike team notched a win in the U-19 division.
Evans, an incoming freshman from Glenside, Pa., scored four goals in four games, including the game winner in a 1-0 victory in the title game. The goal was scored in the 52nd minute.
The Vipers tied for first in their age group, going 2-0-1 as Evans tallied three of the team's seven goals. Her team knocked off Ohio Elite Soccer Academy 1-0, with whom they tied 2-2 in pool play. The Vipers took third in last year's national tournament.
Bucks County Courier Times/Phillyburbs.com Article on the Vipers and Evans: Click Here
Tribbett's squad finished second in pool play at 2-1, losing its only game to Eclipse Select '90 from Illinois, 2-1. One of the two victories for the Rush was a 2-1 opening pool play win over FC Delco Fury II, which has PSU sophomore Jess Rosenbluth on its team.
In the final, Tribbett and company took part in a heated final full of suspense and twists. Colorado led 1-0 thanks to an 83rd minute goal, seemingly pushing the squad to the championship. Eclipse fought back with a last minute goal before the full time whistle to send the match into overtime. There, Colorado struck for two goals in the first overtime period to gain a 3-1 lead.
Nearing the end of the second overtime period, Eclipse scored to cut the lead in half setting up a tense last two minutes. Colorado never capitulated, scoring less than a minute later to take the game and the national championship, 4-2. Colorado made 13 saves in the final.
Evans and Tribbett return to campus this week to part take in preseason workouts in preparation for the 2009 season. The Nittany Lions kick off exhibition play against Pittsburgh on August 15 at 4:00 p.m. on Jeffrey Field. Six days later Penn State takes on Virginia for the season opener at Jeffrey Field at 7:00 p.m., which is also the night the squad will try to break the Jeffrey Field attendance record.
For continuous coverage of the Nittany Lions in club action this summer, check in at www.GoPSUsports.com/sports/w-soccer.
--NITTANY LIONS--