Aug. 12, 2009
KANSAS CITY, Kan.--The Penn State women's soccer team received its first national ranking of the 2009 season when the Nittany Lions were voted 12th in the preseason poll by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America. PSU is the highest ranked team in the Big Ten and will race off against six opponents ranked in the top 25.
The Nittany Lions were voted 12th behind Florida (10th) and Oklahoma State (11th) and ahead of San Diego (13th) and West Virginia (14th). Fellow Big Ten members Illinois (17th) and Minnesota (19th) also found themselves in the rankings.
Altogether six Penn State opponents landed in the poll. Topping that list was Florida State in sixth, which the Nittany Lions will face off against in Tallahassee on September 4. Others in the rankings include the season-opening foe Virginia (ninth), West Virginia, Illinois, Minnesota, and Rutgers (20th). James Madison and Wake Forest are two other teams receiving votes.
Penn State opens its season on Saturday with an exhibition game against Pittsburgh at Jeffrey Field. Kick off is slated for 4:00 p.m., while the regular season opener will be against No. 9 Virginia at 7:00 p.m. on Friday, August 21. Fans are encouraged to join the Lions in attempting to break the Jeffrey Field single-game attendance record of 3,208 set in 2006.
For complete coverage of all the Nittany Lion soccer this season, go to www.GoPSUsports.com/sports/w-soccer.
Follow Penn State women's soccer on Twitter: www.twitter.com/PSUWomensSoccer.
--NITTANY LIONS--