Oct. 31, 2009
Game Notes - - - Twitter Feed
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The No. 25 Penn State women's soccer team concludes its regular season slate of home matches with a Noon Sunday clash against No. 22 Purdue at Jeffrey Field. Prior to Sunday's match, PSU's seven seniors will be recognized for their years of dedication to Penn State soccer. The Nittany Lions will attempt to extend their eight-game unbeaten streak and win for the sixth-straight time over Purdue.
The Nittany Lions (10-5-2, 6-1-1 Big Ten) look to hold onto first place in the Big Ten as they welcome Purdue (10-4-3, 3-2-2 Big Ten). A win would solidify Penn State's spot atop the Big Ten, which is currently occupied with Ohio State at 19 points. If either team should lose on Sunday (OSU takes on Indiana), the door is open for the other to clinch a share of the Big Ten title.
Parking/Driving Advisory
Fans are reminded that the THON 5K will be taking place on Sunday. Roads around Jeffrey Field, namely parts of University Drive and Curtin Road will be closed off to traffic. Spectators attending Sunday's match are advised to enter the parking lots at the Park Avenue entrance to access the Stadium West and grass lots near Jeffrey Field.
#22 Purdue Boilermakers
(10-4-3; 3-2-2 Big Ten)
at
#25 Penn State Nittany Lions
(10-5-2; 6-1-1 Big Ten)
Game #18: November 1, 2009 - Noon - Jeffrey Field - University Park, Pa.
GAME DAY
VENUE (CAPACITY): Jeffrey Field (5,000)
SURFACE: Grass
STREAMING COVERAGE: Live Video/Audio at GoPSUsports.com
TALENT: Greg Boyce (pxp), Tom Ferguson (color)
SERIES RECORD VS. PUR: Penn State leads 8-1-1
LAST MEETING: 10/26/08, PSU 2-0 (West Lafayette, Ind.)
NEXT GAME: 11/8 at Michigan, Noon
GAME STORIES
- The Lions enter Sunday's game atop Big Ten standings at 6-1-1 with OSU
- Penn State looks for fourth straight win over Boilermakers
- PSU honors its seven seniors-Tara Davies, Melissa Hayes, Alyssa Naeher, Alli Rago, Maura Ryan, Katie Schoepfer, and Nikki Watts
- PSU will try to win its ninth match in 11 tries against the Boilers
- Christine Nairn supplied game-winning goal at Indiana in 2-1 win
- Katie Schoepfer had her seven-game scoring streak snapped at Indiana; still leads team with 28 points after two-assist effort
GAME STORIES
SENIOR SALUTE: Penn State will honor its seven graduating seniors-Tara Davies, Melissa Hayes, Alyssa Naeher, Alli Rago, Maura Ryan, Katie Schoepfer and Nikki Watts-prior to Sunday's game against Purdue. Pre-game festivities on the field will be conducted by members of the Penn State staff and student-athletes will be met by head coach Erica Walsh and associate director of athletics Sue Delaney-Scheetz. Pre-game ceremony will begin promptly at 11:45 a.m.
LAST TIME OUT: The No. 25 Nittany Lions won a crucial 2-1 decision away to No. 23 Indiana, in the process moving into a tie for first place with Ohio State in the Big Ten standings on Thursday night. Christine Nairn scored her seventh goal of the year and second game-winner of 2009 on a beautiful Katie Schoepfer through ball left alone by Danielle Toney in the 80th minute. Just 10 minutes earlier Indiana had scored an equalizer in the 70th minute. Toney provided the game's first tally with a 21st minute blast off a Schoepfer assist, whose seven-game scoring streak came to a halt. She still has a eight-game point streak in tact with her two assists in the match.
SCOUTING THE BOILERMAKERS: No. 22 Purdue recently completed its non-conference slate with a 5-2 win over visiting Loyola-Chicago on Wednesday night. Coming into Sunday's game, Purdue has scored 34 goals (2.00 per game) behind balanced scoring. Five Boilermakers have 10 points or more including former All-Big Ten honoree Jessica Okoroafo (8G, 4A). On the defensive side, Purdue has a team goals-against average of 0.91 and six shutouts as Jenny Bradfisch has patrolled the net for 16 of the 17 games. Bradfisch is 9-4-3 with four shutouts, 0.97 GAA, and a .766 save percentage.
DÉJÀ VU FOR SCHOEPFER: Senior forward Katie Schoepfer was recognized by the Big Ten for her efforts last 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 missed the match at Indiana.  The duo have combined for 18 starts in 30 appearances this year. Canada played Mexico in a two-game series Oct. 29 and 31. They are available for today's game.
SCORING STREAKS: Katie Schoepfer and Christine Nairn have picked up the offense, combining to score the team's last 16 of 24 goals goals dating back to Sept. 20 vs. James Madison. Schoepfer had the third-longest consecutive goals streak in PSU history at seven snapped on Thursday night. Schoepfer has tallied 28 points and Nairn 18 in her freshman campaign.
HIGH-POWERED OFFENSES: PSU is second the conference in goals per game (1.94) having tallied 33 in 17 matches. Purdue leads the conference overall in that category at two goals per game. Moreover, in Big Ten matches alone, Penn State is out-scoring its opponents, 22-8. The +14 goal differiental is seven better than any one else in the Conference after Thursday's match at Indiana. Credit Katie Schoepfer for picking up her game, notching nine goals in the past eight matches. Schoepfer has notched 23 of her 28 points in Big Ten action, while Danielle Toney and Christine Nairn have 14 and 13, respectively.
SCHOEPFER EARNS ACADEMIC HONOR: Katie Schoepfer garnered yet anothe accolade on Thursday night prior to the Indiana match when she made the ESPN The Magazine/CoSIDA Academic All-District II Second Team. Schoepfer amassed a 3.38 cumulative GPA as a human development and family studies major.
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. She tallied the first goal of the game at Indiana, her 10th of the season. Penn State is 21-2-2 (.880) 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 26.
MONTHLY WINS: October has been Penn State's most successful month historically. The Nittany Lions have won 118 games, but dropped just 20 contests in 15-plus years. PSU has seven games in October, four at home. So far, the Lions are 5-0-1, 4-0-0 at Jeffrey. Penn State went 2-1 in August and 2-4-1 in September.
NEXT TIME OUT: Penn State will round out Big Ten play on Sunday, Nov. 8 at Michigan. Game time is set for Noon.
--NITTANY LIONS--