Dec. 9, 2009
KANSAS CITY, Kan.--Two Nittany Lion greats wrapped up their stellar careers in Happy Valley by being named to the NSCAA All-America Third Team on Wednesday. Alyssa Naeher (Seymour, Conn.) garnered her third All-American accolade while Katie Schoepfer (Waterford, Conn.) picked up her second.
Naeher, a 2007 and 2008 First Team All-America mention finished her career ranking second in most goalkeeper categories in Penn State history. Additionally, the current U.S. National Training Camp member finished in the Big Ten second in career shutouts (30) and wins (60), fifth in goals-against average (0.91), sixth in winning percentage (.732), and eighth in career saves (359).
In 2009, Naeher posted 87 saves in 1,904 minutes for the Blue and White including seven solo shutouts, playing a part in all of the team's 11. Moreover, Naeher earned the Big Ten's Defensive Player of the Year Award for the second time in her career, the other coming in 2007.
Her fellow teammate and Connecticut-native Schoepfer garnered some outstanding numbers in her four years, but she saved her best for last. Schoepfer notched career highs in points (37) and assists (9) while tallying a team and league-best 14 goals this season earning her Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year accolades.
In her four seasons in Happy Valley, Schoepfer had the second-most shots in the history of the Big Ten with 387. In total Schoepfer ranks in the top 10 in various categories thanks to her 18 game-winning goals (T-5th), tallied 48 goals (6th), 122 points (6th), and 26 assists (T-9th). Schoepfer was previously named to the 2007 NSCAA All-America Second Team as a sophomore. She starts training camp with the U.S. U-23 squad on Dec. 13.
Schoepfer is a candidate for the U.S. Soccer Young Athlete of the Year Award, which fans can vote for through Dec. 13. The voting counts for 50 percent of the entire decision making process. Fans can vote HERE.
For complete coverage of Penn State women's soccer, please visit http://www.GoPSUsports.com/sports/w-soccer.
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--NITTANY LIONS--