Aug. 9, 2011
KANSAS CITY, Kansas. - The Penn State women's soccer team will open its 18th season as the first team out of the first national poll according to the NSCAA preseason rankings released on Tuesday afternoon. As for the Nittany Lions' first opponent Stanford, the Cardinal were ranked second ahead of the Aug. 19 clash. In all, six 2011 opponents are in the top 25 poll.
Penn State, which finished just out of the polls last December, has earned votes in every year-end poll since the program's inception in 1994. The Nittany Lions are in search of their 14th straight Big Ten title and 17th NCAA Tournament appearance this fall. A challenging schedule with many regular season opponents ranked in the NSCAA poll will prepare them for the long haul.
Joining Stanford in the polls are Nittany Lion non-conference opponents West Virginia (13th) and Virginia (10th). Penn State will host West Virginia on Friday, Aug. 26 at 7:30 p.m., while facing off against UVa at the Virginia Nike Soccer Classic on Sept. 11 at 2:30 p.m.
As for Big Ten opponents, rival Ohio State (10th) leads the conference as the highest ranked team, coming off a College Cup run in 2010. Minnesota earned 22nd, while Illinois was 24th. Penn State was the only other Big Ten squad featured in the poll.
Atop the poll is defending national champion Notre Dame and the national runner-up Stanford second with North Carolina at third, Boston College fourth and Florida State fifth. Maryland, Portland, OSU, Florida and Virginia round out the top 10. Texas A&M, Marquette, WVU, Oklahoma State, Santa Clara, UCLA, UC Irvine, Wake Forest and Oregon State occupy spots 10-19, while Washington, South Carolina, Minnesota, Georgetown, Illinois and USC cap the top 25 poll.
Before Penn State opens its campaign in California, the Nittany Lions will host its second annual Blue/White Game at Jeffrey Field this Saturday at 4:00 p.m. with the Nittany Lion men's soccer team. The women will take the field first before moving to the training field at 5:00 p.m., while the men play at Jeffrey Field during that time. A free youth clinic will take place following the two matches at 6:00 p.m. on Little Jeffrey Field to the south of the stadium. After the clinic, members from both teams will sign autographs for attendees.
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--NITTANY LIONS--