Oct. 28, 2009
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UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The No. 25 Penn State women's soccer team heads to Bloomington, Ind. for a crucial Big Ten match against Indiana on Thursday at 7:30 p.m. With a win, Penn State (16 points) can pull into a tie for first with Ohio State (19).
The Nittany Lions have a 16-1-1 all-time record against the Hoosiers, including a 6-0-1 mark at Armstrong Stadium. Penn State (9-5-2, 5-1-1 Big Ten) is coming off its most lopsided win in four years, a 6-0 drubbing of Illinois on Sunday, where Katie Schoepfer scored her first collegiate hat trick.
Indiana (10-3-2, 2-2-2 Big Ten) enters Thursday's match off a 2-0 home win against last-place Iowa. The Hoosiers have struggled to score in Big Ten play, scoring just six goals in six matches. Penn State has managed to score 20 goals in seven games thus far.
#25 Penn State Nittany Lions
(9-5-2; 5-1-1 Big Ten)
at
#23 Indiana Hoosiers
(10-3-2; 2-2-2 Big Ten)
Game #17: October 29, 2009 • 7:30 p.m. • Armstrong Stadium • Bloomington, Ind.
GAME DAY
VENUE (CAPACITY): Bill Armstrong Stadium (6,500)
SURFACE: Grass
STREAMING COVERAGE: Live Video/Audio at GoPSUsports.com
TALENT: TBA
SERIES RECORD VS. IND: Penn State leads 16-1-1
LAST MEETING: 9/26/08, PSU 1-0 (Bloomington, Ind.)
NEXT GAME: 11/1 vs. Purdue, Noon (Senior Day)
GAME STORIES
• The Lions stay on pace with Ohio State, three points back w/game in hand
• Penn State travels to Bloomington, Ind. for crucial Big Ten match
• PSU will try to win its 17th match in 19 tries against the Hoosiers
• Katie Schoepfer has scored in seven-straight games, tied-third all-time at PSU; Earned second-straight Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week Award; Notched hat trick, had seven-point day vs. Illinois (10/25) on national TV
• PSU to miss Lexi Marton and Rachel Lamarre to Canada U-20 training camp
• Penn State leads Conference in scoring per game (1.97 goals/gm.)
GAME STORIES
SCHOEPFER'S HAT TRICK; PSU'S 6-0 WIN: Penn State had its most decisive win in four years by defeating Illinois 6-0 on Sunday at Jeffrey Field. It was the most lopsided win in series history between the two schools and was fueled by a seven-point effort by Katie Schoepfer. Schoepfer tallied the school's 17th hat trick and the first since Tiffany Weimer's in Nov. 2005. Additionally, it was the largest winning margin for the Nittany Lions since a 6-0 win in the 2005 NCAA First Round vs. Bucknell. Danielle Toney and Alli Rago had three-point days with a goal and an assist, respectively, while Maddy Evans tallied her second of the year to polish off the rout. Ali Schaefer, Christine Nairn and Jess Rosenbluth supplied assists. Alyssa Naeher (four saves) and Kristin Hartmann held a clean sheet for the team's eighth shutout of the year.
SCOUTING THE HOOSIERS: No. 23 Indiana (10-3-2) welcomes Penn State to its penultimate regular season home game with a .500 record in league play (2-2-2). Since playing Big Ten teams, the Hoosiers have struggled to score, posting just its second multi-goal game in a 2-0 home win against bottom feeders Iowa on Sunday. Where their offense has struggled, their defense has been excellent, surrendering just 11 goals this year. Indiana is undefeated at home (8-0-1) and its offense led by Devon Beach (4G, 5A) with 13 points. Freshman striker Orianica Valezquez Herrera leads the team with five goals. In net, Lindsay Campbell has received the bulk of play, going 7-2-2 in 12 starts with a 0.57 goals-against average.  She's made 22 saves with seven shutouts and a .759 save percentage in 2009.
DÉJÀ VU FOR SCHOEPFER: Senior forward Katie Schoepfer was recognized by the Big Ten for her efforts this weekend.  Sound familiar? It should, Schoepfer was named the Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week for the second-straight time. The senior forward was also recognized by Soccer America and named to the Team of the Week. It's now the fifth time Schoepfer has earned the weekly award from the conference office.
MISSING THE CANADIANS: Starting central defender Lexi Marton and reserve midfielder Rachel Lamarre were called into the Canadian U-20 training camp this week in El Paso, Texas and will miss the match at Indiana.  The duo have combined for 18 starts in 30 appearances this year. Canada plays Mexico in a two-game series Oct. 29 and 31.
SCORING STREAKS: Katie Schoepfer and Christine Nairn have picked up the offense, combining to score the team's last 15 of 22 goals goals dating back to Sept. 20 vs. James Madison. Schoepfer has the third-longest consecutive goals streak in PSU history at seven and can move above Christie Welsh if she scores Sunday. Schoepfer has tallied 26 points and Nairn 18 in her freshman campaign.
HIGH-POWERED OFFENSE: Penn State leads the conference in goals per game (1.97) having tallied 31 in 16 matches. Moreover, in Big Ten matches alone, Penn State is out-scoring its opponents, 20-7. The +13 goal differiental is six better than any one else in the Conference. Credit Katie Schoepfer for picking up her game, notching nine goals in the past seven matches. Schoepfer has notched 21 of her 26 points in Big Ten action, while Danielle Toney and Christine Nairn have 12 and 11, respectively.
TONEY SCORES, PSU WINS: Danielle Toney accounted for the four game-winning goals before the UConn game, and was somewhat silent until Big Ten play. Toney exploded for two goals and two assists in wins over Northwestern and Iowa. She added another in the tie at Wisconsin and one more in the win over Illinois. Penn State is 20-2-2 (.875) all-time when Toney records a goal, but just 23-15-1 (.602) when she doesn't. Toney is second on the team in points with 24.
NEXT TIME OUT: Penn State will continue the home stretch of Big Ten play when the Nittany Lions host Purdue on Senior Day. Game time is set for Noon on Sunday with a pre-game ceremony taking place at 11:45 a.m.
For full release in PDF format, click on the game notes link at the top of the page.
--NITTANY LIONS--