Oct. 26, 2009
PARK RIDGE, Ill.--As Yankee great Yogi Berra would say, "It's like déjàvu all over again." For the second consecutive week Katie Schoepfer (Waterford, Conn.) was named Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week after her seven-point effort on Sunday against Illinois. Schoepfer notched the 17th hat trick in school history in a 6-0 win over Illinois, which earned Penn State a No. 25 ranking by Soccer America on Monday.
Schoepfer recorded plenty of milestones on Sunday in Penn State's largest win since a 6-0 win against Bucknell in the 2005 NCAA Tournament. Aside from scoring her first multi-goal game since a two-goal effort at Michigan (Oct. 10, 2008), Schoepfer became the first Nittany Lion score a hat trick since Tiffany Weimer (Nov. 11, 2005 vs. Texas A&M).
Weimer found herself another Penn State great to get passed by Schoepfer this season, as the current Lion's five shots moved her into second all-time in shots taken at 357. That was just one of many moves made up the record book for Schoepfer.
Schoepfer now finds herself tied for fifth all-time in Penn State history for career goals (44) with Carole Dutchka (1995-98). The senior forward passed Dutchka in two other categories: game-winning goals, points. Schoepfer now sits with 111 points and 16 game-winning goals, good for sixth in both categories, respectively.
Coupled with Danielle Toney's (Northville, Mich.) Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week nod two weeks ago, Penn State has now had three-straight Offensive Player of the Week awards. Additionally, dating back to Oct. 5 the Nittany Lions have had four-straight weeks of honorees, when Alyssa Naeher (Seymour, Conn.) was tabbed the Defensive Player of the Week and Christine Nairn (Bowie, Md.) garnered Freshman accolades.
Penn State Earns Ranking in Latest Soccer America Poll
OAKLAND, Calif.--For the first time since Sept. 8, the Penn State women's team was ranked in the latest Soccer America poll released on Monday morning, coming in at 25th. After a six-game unbeaten streak that has the Lions just three points behind Ohio State with a game to play, Penn State has jumped back into the national picture and positioned in a chance to win its 12th-straight Big Ten title.
Penn State (9-5-2, 5-1-1 Big Ten) is currently in second place, three points behind Ohio State with a game in hand after a 6-0 rout of Illinois on Sunday. The Nittany Lions travel to Indiana on Thursday for a 7:30 p.m. matchup and then return home for Senior Day against Purdue at 1:00 p.m. on Sunday.
For complete coverage of Penn State women's soccer, visit http://www.GoPSUsports.com/sports/w-soccer.
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--NITTANY LIONS--