Oct. 14, 2009
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UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The Penn State women's soccer team (7-5-1, 3-1-0 Big Ten) head west to face off against Big Ten co-leaders Minnesota (10-2-2, 3-0-1 Big Ten) and Wisconsin (7-5-2, 3-1-1). The Nittany Lions look to win their fourth straight game Friday night against the Golden Gophers. Game time is set for 7:00 p.m. Central.
This weekend could prove to be the most pivotal this season in Big Ten women's soccer. Minnesota and Wisconsin are tied atop the standings with 10 points apiece and host third-place holders Penn State and Ohio State, who sit at nine points. The four games this weekend in St. Paul, Minn. and Madison, Wis. could very well decide the Conference champion or muddy up the picture even more.
Penn State Nittany Lions
(7-5-1 - 3-1-0 Big Ten)
at
Minnesota Golden Gophers
(10-2-2 - 3-0-1 Big Ten)
October 16, 2009 - 7:00 p.m. CT - Robbie Stadium - St. Paul, Minn.
Penn State Nittany Lions
(7-5-1 - 3-1-0 Big Ten)
at
Wisconsin Badgers
(7-5-2 - 3-1-1 Big Ten)
October 18, 2009 - Noon CT - McClimon Soccer Complex - Madison, Wis.
GAME STORIES
- The Nittany Lions travel to co-first place Big Ten rivals Minnesota and Wisconsin-Both teams are one point ahead of the Nittany Lions
- Danielle Toney earns Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week (10/12)
- Christine Nairn and Katie Schoepfer are riding four-game point streaks
- Katie Schoepfer joins the 100-point club, just one of seven Lions all-time to tally 100
- PSU holds 15-3-0 advantage over Minnesota all-time, out-scoring the Gophers, 43-17
- Nittany Lions have out-scored Wisconsin 46-11 all-time in 19 meetings, going 15-1-3
GAME NOTES
LAST WEEKEND: The Penn State women's soccer team regained its form in sweeping a home Big Ten weekend, 2-0 over Northwestern and 4-0 against Iowa. Danielle Toney registered six points behind two goals and two assists to lead the Nittany Lions, while Alyssa Naeher didn't allow a goal in 174 minutes of action. Katie Schoepfer and Christine Nairn got in on the act, as Schoepfer tallied two goals and an assist and Nairn provided a goal and an assist. The wins moved Penn State up to third with Ohio State, one point behind Minnesota and Wisconsin. All four teams will meet this weekend, proving to be a pivotal weekend of Big Ten soccer.
TONEY GETS OFFENSIVE: Danielle Toney's six points over the weekend earned her Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week honors for the first time in her career. The junior forward out of Northville, Mich. leads the team in goals (7), points (18) and game-winning goals (3), while being tied for second in assists (4).
100 FOR SCHOEPFER: When Katie Schoepfer scored a 46th-minute penalty kick against Iowa, she boosted her career points to 100, becoming just the seventh Nittany Lion to reach the century mark. The senior forward sits in seventh, eight points behind sixth-place Carole Dutchka (1995-98). Schoepfer, who has scored 39 goals, is two tallies behind Joanna Lohmann (2000-03) for sixth in that category. She is six shots away from moving to third in all-time shots attempted, as Schoepfer has 341 in her four years in Happy Valley.
SCOUTING THE GOPHERS: Minnesota (10-2-2) enters Friday's game undefeated at home (6-0-1) and riding an eight game unbeaten streak dating back to a Sept. 18 win over Nevada. Led by Katie Bethke (26 points) who netted a 10-point day in a 9-0 win against South Dakota on Oct. 4, the Gophers have a potent offense that's registering a league-leading 2.29 goals per game, while allowing just 0.64. In net, Cat Parkhill has seen over 1,241 minutes of action, allowing just nine goals while making 35 saves this season. Minnesota is 3-0-1 in Big Ten play, the lone undefeated team in the standings, but only one of those wins has come at home, a 1-0 effort over Iowa.
SCOUTING THE BADGERS: An upstart Wisconsin (7-5-2) team, which has won three of its last four, will greet the Nittany Lions on Sunday. Prior to back-to-back conference wins, the Badgers were winless away from Madison since Sept. 7, 2008 when they defeated Vermont 7-1 in Bloomington, Ind., a ten-game stretch. At home, UW boasts a 5-1-2 record, but 0-1-1 in league play. Laurie Nosbusch leads the Badgers with five goals and an assist, while Michele Dalton patrols the net. Dalton is 5-5-2 in 12 starts, earning four shutouts while sporting a 1.42 goals-against average and a .763 save percentage. UW has struggled on the attack, scoring just 13 goals in 14 games and all seven wins are by a goal, five of them by a 1-0 line.
SCORING STREAKS: Katie Schoepfer and Christine Nairn have picked up the offense, combining to score the team's last eight of 11 goals goals dating back to Sept. 20 vs. James Madison. Both players have tallied four goals apiece during that span. The duo rank second and third, respectively, behind Danielle Toney in goals and points.
TONEY SCORES, PSU WINS: Danielle Toney accounted for the four game-winning goals before the UConn game, and was somewhat silent until this past weekend. Toney exploded for two goals and two assists in wins over Northwestern and Iowa. Penn State is 19-2-1 (.886) all-time when Toney records a goal, but just 22-15-1 (.592) when she doesn't.
The complete notes in PDF format can be found at http://www.GoPSUsports.com/sports/w-soccer.
Follow Penn State women's soccer on Twitter: @PSUWomensSoccer
--NITTANY LIONS--