Oct. 13, 2010
Throughout the 2010 season, Penn State will feature a student athlete before every home game. The feature will appear in the game program for the Minnesota and Wisconsin matches. PSU takes on the Gophers on Friday at 7 p.m. and the Badgers on Sunday at Noon.
By Steven Hughes, GoPSUsports.com Writer
Jess Rosenbluth has started each of the 13 games this season and has 26 overall starts in her career. The junior will look to take the field for starts number 27 and 28 in her career against Minnesota on Friday and Wisconsin on Sunday.
Rosenbluth endured wins, losses and shake ups in the starting rotation this season, yet she remains a reliable constant for Nittany Lions head coach Erica Walsh. Walsh said Rosenbluth's conditioning, intelligence and soccer savvy put Rosenbluth on the field every game this season.
"She has a ton of experience and that keeps her so even when she's in a little bit of a downturn," Walsh said. "We wanna give her the benefit of a doubt because she's had so much experience."
The experienced Rosenbluth, who started 10 games as a freshman, is exceptionally talented offensively. Her canny footwork and ability to curve the ball around lines of defenders makes her an immediate threat every time she's on the field.
"On the field she's so crafty and creates a real spark in our attack. Jess pulls stuff out that you'll only see on YouTube videos from professionals. She's so crafty on the ball it's insane."Midfielder Emily Hurd |
Freshman teammate Emily Hurd said Rosenbluth has the potential to make Penn State's offense dynamic.
"On the field she's so crafty and creates a real spark in our attack," Hurd said. "Jess pulls stuff out that you'll only see on YouTube videos from professionals. She's so crafty on the ball it's insane."
Last year Rosenbluth finished the season with four points in the Nittany Lions final four games. Facilitating production for the team again this season proves more difficult to come by. Rosenbluth has 18 shots this season, but a goal continues to evade her.
Rosenbluth said her move to center midfield makes her feel more productive and creative on attack, but said the team's main focus is to move forward and score more goals.
"I don't really look at the starts as anything," Rosenbluth said. "As long as I'm getting time and helping the team improve, that's what I care about. I don't really care about the start."
Rosenbluth's expectations continue to rise as each game gets more important, but Penn State has a hard working leader with tremendous potential in Rosenbluth.
Hurd said Rosenbluth is a piece to Penn State's offensive puzzle that they couldn't do without.
"Jess is in great shape, she could run for days," Hurd said. "She has great foot skills and a great cross. She's just such an asset on this team I don't see why she wouldn't be starting. I don't think the starting lineup would be complete without her."
--NITTANY LIONS