Oct. 25, 2009
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.--There may have been a power outage prior to Sunday's match at Jeffrey Field, but Katie Schoepfer (Waterford, Conn.) and the Nittany Lions made sure there was no shortage on the field in a 6-0 win over Illinois. Schoepfer notched her first collegiate hat trick, which was the first by a Nittany Lion since Tiffany Weimer in 2005.
"I think the first one stood out," Schoepfer recalled of the hat trick. "I think because it was against the run of play. I didn't even expect to score it, it was a nice ball from Christine [Nairn] and I made a good turn. It's always fun to do celebrations on this side of the field since [the benches] are right there."
With a live Big Ten Network broadcast in town and power restored just seconds prior to the opening whistle, Penn State (9-5-2, 5-1-1 Big Ten) wasted little time in disposing of Illinois (6-7-3, 1-4-2 Big Ten). Coming off a disappointing tie a week ago at Wisconsin, where the Badgers game back from a two-goal deficit, the Nittany Lions made sure to keep pushing to the final horn, putting away a season-high number of goals this year.
"This is a big one," Head coach Erica Walsh said after the game in responding to the Wisconsin draw. "I have a ton of respect for what Illinois has done year in and year out."
A back-and-forth first half saw Penn State get on the board first when Schoepfer took a cross from Christine Nairn (Bowie, Md.) and slotted the ball top shelf over Illinois' Alexandra Kapicka (seven saves) in the 22nd minute.
"I kept telling the coaches when I was struggling that it's going to take one goal and I'm going to get going," Schoepfer said. "It's been working for me since Michigan State, it's been clicking for me and I've been ready to play."
Twenty-two minutes later, Schoepfer again was in the fray when her assist set up Danielle Toney (Northville, Mich.) for the junior forward's ninth goal of the season just 47 seconds from halftime. The Nittany Lions entered the intermission with the 2-0 lead thanks to a 10-6 edge in shots, finishing goals with precise touches.
"[Assistant coach] Ann [Cook] has been working with them almost every single day," Added Walsh. "She's taken the forward away from the group, almost alienating them, and has them hitting 100 balls into the back of the net. It seems to be working."
Illinois kept things at 2-0 for the first 20 minutes of the second half, but Toney connected with Schoepfer on a beautiful early ball to give Schoepfer a breakaway chance. The senior forward sent the ball over the diving Kapicka for a 3-0 lead in the 65th minute.
The Nittany Lions didn't let off the gas, looking like the better rested and faster team, pushing forward and struck again when Schoepfer completed the hat trick five and a half minutes later. Alli Rago (Fairfield, Conn.) sent a gorgeous ball through to Schoepfer who ran onto it and scored another breakaway tally in the 71st. With the goal, Schoepfer moved into the team lead for goals at 10, one ahead of Toney.
"I think they had their legs underneath them," Walsh said. "They had a little fun in practice this week, all the pieces together let them come out here and have some fun today. I think our big pieces are playing better and Shep and Dani are finding the back of the net. Their confidence is just growing and I think that's the biggest thing."
Just 71 seconds later, Rago took a throw in from Ali Schaefer (Las Vegas, Nev.) and attempted a cross from the left wing to the goal area. Instead, Rago's ball sailed over Kapicka's head and in the net on the far post from about 40 yards away. The tally was Rago's first of the season and first three-point day of her collegiate career.
"We've had all the lucky breaks," Schoepfer said. "It's about time because this year it's kind of been filled with unlucky breaks for us. Rago's goal was awesome, it was great."
With a five-goal advantage intact, the Nittany Lion reserves got a chance to get into the fray. A Jess Rosenbluth (Gladwyne, Pa.) through ball set up a Maddy Evans (Glenside, Pa.) breakaway goal to cap a 6-0 win in the 79th minute.
The 6-0 win was the largest margin of victory ever over the Illini, while also marking the first six-goal game by the Nittany Lions since a similar score line on Nov. 11, 2005 against Bucknell in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
Schoepfer also reached another milestone on her historic day, as she scored in her seventh-straight game, tying with Penn State great Christie Welsh for third all-time in scoring streaks at Penn State. Additionally, Penn State moved to 20-2-2 all-time when Toney scores a goal and 10-0 against the Illini at Jeffrey Field.
"Obviously going away to a tough Indiana trip on Thursday we needed this one under our belt," said Walsh.
The Nittany Lions will be back in action when they travel to Bloomington, Ind. to take on the Hoosiers of Indiana this Thursday. Game time is set for 7:30 p.m. and live stats will be available through GameTracker on GoPSUsports.com
--NITTANY LIONS--