Sept. 23, 2009
LEWISBURG, Pa.--The Penn State women's soccer team was unable to figure out Kathryn Sutton (nine saves) in a 0-0 double-overtime draw with Bucknell at Emmitt Field on Wednesday night. Alyssa Naeher (Seymour, Conn.) made five saves as the Nittany Lions upped its unbeaten streak to three.
Two overtimes and 90 minutes of play didn't yield a goal as both teams saw their goalkeepers play fantastic net-minding. Sutton saw plenty of point-blank shots by Penn State (4-4-1) but turned them all away for Bucknell (4-5-1). Naeher's shutout streak now extends to 334 minutes between the pipes.
Maddy Evans (Glenside, Pa.) streaked in on net, dribbling past three defenders for a clear shot on net, only to be denied by Sutton on the right wing from 10 yard out with just three minutes left in the second overtime.
Penn State's next-best opportunity in overtime came with a give-and-go from Katie Schoepfer (Waterford, Conn.) to Danielle Toney (Northville, Mich.). Toney sent the ball back to Schoepfer whose shot was saved eight yards from goal on the right wing.
Penn State threatened mid-way through the second half with chances from Schoepfer and Toney once again, but without positive results. Schoepfer received a pass from Toney on the right wing, but Sutton saved the attempt, while Toney went one-on-one with Sutton off a Christine Nairn (Bowie, Md.) ball, but Sutton was there for the kick save.
Schoepfer had a nice chance with a minute left in the second half when Melissa Hayes (Cave Creek, Ariz.) laid a nice pass from Toney but Schoepfer's shot went high.
A scoreless first half was not without its highlights, however, as Penn State and Bucknell had their fair share of scoring chances. An Alli Rago (Greenwich, Conn.) shot just a few minutes from the halftime horn was saved by Bucknell's Kathryn Sutton off the left wing after a terrific run by Rachel Lamarre (Montreal, Quebec) and pass from Schoepfer.
Bucknell was dangerous mid-way through the first half when Christa Matlack broke free off a Maura Ryan miscue and went one-on-one with Alyssa Naeher. Matlack dribbled around the sprawling Naeher, but her shot hit the left post to keep the game scoreless.
The very next play, Kelliann Doherty had a fantastic opportunity when a cross found her all along on the far left post, but her header destined for the near post was saved by a diving Naeher.
Penn State out-shot the Bison 30-10 and 11-4 for shots on goal, while PSU had 10 corner kicks to Bucknell's two.
The Nittany Lions return to action on Sunday when they face Michigan State in East Lansing. Game time is at Noon and the match will be broadcast live on the Big Ten Network.
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--