Sept. 16, 2011
Sept. 8, 2011
at Wisconsin: | at Bucknell:
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UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- Penn State women's soccer opens the 2011 Big Ten season on Saturday with a 2:00 p.m. ET clash at Wisconsin. The Nittany Lions (6-2-0) will then take on local rival Bucknell on Tuesday, Sept. 20 at 7:00 p.m.
#21 PENN STATE NITTANY LIONS (6-2-0)
at
WISCONSIN BADGERS (5-3-0)
Game #9: Sept. 17, 2011 | 2:00 p.m. ET | McClimon Complex | Madison, Wis.
#21 PENN STATE NITTANY LIONS (6-2-0)
at
BUCKNELL BISON (2-3-0)
Game #10: Sept. 20, 2011 | 7:00 p.m. | Emmitt Field | Lewisburg, Pa.
GAME DAY
VENUE (SURFACE, CAPACITY) McClimon Complex (Grass, 2,000)
STREAMING COVERAGE None
SERIES RECORD VS. UW 15-2-4 (7-0-3 away)
LAST MEETING 10/17/10, WIS 3-2 (at University Park, Pa.)
VENUE (SURFACE, CAPACITY) Emmitt Field (Grass, 1,200)
STREAMING COVERAGE None
SERIES RECORD VS. BUCK 14-0-1 (3-0-1 away)
LAST MEETING 9/15/10 PSU 5-1 (at University Park, Pa.)
NEXT GAMES 9/23 vs. Northwestern, 7 p.m. • 9/25 vs. Illinois, 2 p.m.
GAME STORIES
• Nittany Lions wrap up up six-game road trip at Wisconsin and Bucknell
• PSU looks to continue unbeaten streak (7-0-3) at Wisconsin
• Lions hold 31-2-1 all-time record against Pennsylvania opponents
• Penn State toppled #7 Virginia for sixth win in nine meetings vs. UVa
• Maya Hayes leads NCAA D-I in goals (12) and points (26)
• Penn State has tallied 30 assists on 22 goals with Christine Nairn 3rd in nation
GAME STORIES
SCOUTING THE BADGERS: Wisconsin (5-3-0) is coming off a tough Wednesday night home loss, 2-1, to Central Michigan. The Chippewas scored an 89th minute goal to seal the victory in a game where Wisconsin had the edge in shots (16-9) and shots on goal (11-4), while CMU needed not one, but two defensive saves off the goal line from its field players to preserve the win. Lauri Nosbusch tallied the lone Badger goal, her third of the year as she matched freshman Cara Walls for points with nine. Junior midfielder Alev Kelter has made her way back into the lineup after an earlier absence during the preseason. The 2010 All-Big Ten First Teamer is a big presence in the middle and sets up the Badger offense, while patrolling the center on defense. In net, Michele Dalton is between the pipes with a 1.12 GAA and a .791 save percentage with two shutouts in 2011.
SERIES HISTORY vs. UW: Penn State is a dominating 15-2-4 all-time against Wisconsin including a 7-0-3 mark in Madison. Despite the great overall record, UW has had the better of it the last two years, going 1-0-1, snapping a 15-year winless streak with a 3-2 win at Jeffrey Field. In Madison against PSU, however, the Badgers have struggled, with the lone result in the past eight years being a 3-3 draw in 2009.
SCOUTING THE BISON: Bucknell (2-3-0) has been fighting more than its opponents this year: Mother Nature. While the Bison are enjoying a two-game winning streak, which started Sept. 4 in a 2-1 win at UMBC. Two of the last three schedule matches, at Binghamton and Mount St. Mary's, were rained out due to Tropical Storm Lee and a thunderstorm, respectively. Those cancelations sandwiched a 1-0 win at Cornell ahead of Bucknell's Saturday home match against Saint Francis (Pa.). The Bison offense has struggled thus far scoring just three times, but the defense has been strong allowing only four goals. Lis Dwornik, Chelsey Garkowski and Kayla Yee have tallied the Bucknell goals, while Sandita McDermott is the first-choice goalkeeper. McDermott has one shutout in 270 minutes of play with a 0.33 GAA and a .909 save percentage. Colleen Garrehy has also started two matches, making 12 saves with a 1.50 GAA and a 1-2-0 record.
SERIES HISTORY vs. BUCKNELL: Penn State has never lost to Bucknell, sporting a 14-0-1 overall record including last year's 5-1 thumping at Jeffrey Field. Two years ago was a different story as Bucknell held PSU scoreless in a 0-0 draw, the first result for Bucknell in series history. The Nittany Lions are 3-0-1 all-time in Lewisburg including a 5-1 victory in 2007 and a 3-1 win in 1995.
PENNSYLVANIA DOMINANCE: Tuesday's meeting at Bucknell will allow PSU the chance to extend an amazing run of play against Pennsylvania teams. Since starting its program in 1994, Penn State has become the premier women's soccer program in Pennsylvania. All-time, the Nittany Lions are an impressive 31-2-1 against its Keystone foes, with the only team ever defeating PSU being Villanova. In fact, the Lions are riding a 14-year unbeaten streak since its last loss, a 2-1 defeat at `Nova in 1997. PSU is currently enjoying a 25-0-1 stretch, which includes a 14-0-1 mark against Bucknell and an 8-0-0 mark vs. Pittsburgh.
LEADING THE COUNTRY: Maya Hayes's amazing early play has earned her many accolades to start the year, including that of NCAA Division I leader in goals (12) and points (26). The sophomore striker is also tied for first in game-winning goals (4), which has earned her first in those categories in the Big Ten rankings as well. Junior midfielder Christine Nairn is third in the nation in total assists through Sept. 11 and first in the Big Ten. Penn State ranks 22nd overall in the country in scoring offense.
SCORING STREAK: Maya Hayes is on a career-high seven-game scoring streak, tallying a goal in every game but the first at Stanford. Hayes's streak is tied for third all-time in PSU history with Christie Welsh (2000) and Katie Schoepfer (2009). Hayes is six games from matching Tiffany Weimer's 2004 streak of 13. Weimer holds a share of the NCAA record at 17 set in 2005.
VIRGINIA STUNNER: Penn State used two goals by Maya Hayes including the game-winner in the 66th minute to down seventh-ranked Virginia, 3-2, on Sunday, Sept. 11 at Klöckner Stadium. The super sophomore scored PSU's first goal and Taylor Schram notched a three-point afternoon for Penn State (6-2-0) who handed Virginia (6-1-1) its first loss of the season. Christine Nairn, Maddy Evans, Schram and Hayes all tallied assists on the day, while goalkeeper Erin McNulty made seven saves to secure the upset victory.
UCF DISAPPOINTMENT: Penn State battled Central Florida to double overtime, but fell 2-1 on Friday evening, Sept. 9, at Klöckner Stadium in the opening match of the Virginia Nike Soccer Classic. Sophomore forward Maya Hayes tallied her 10th goal of the season for the Nittany Lions (5-2-0) whose run of five straight wins was snapped. Christine Nairn assisted on the goal. After a scoreless second half and first overtime period, Nicolette Radovcic scored in the 104th minute on a cross to win the game for UCF (3-1-1). Radovcic also tallied the Knights' first goal in the first half.
MARTON OFF TO CNT: Junior defender and co-captain Lexi Marton left State College on Monday, Sept. 12 to join the Canadian National Team ahead of its two-game friendly series against the United States. Canada plays the U.S., which is on its World Cup Celebration Tour, in Kansas City, Kansas on Saturday, Sept. 17 before a second patch at JELD-WEN Stadium in Portland on Thursday, Sept. 22. Included on the Canadian National Team is former Nittany Lion standout Erin McLeod, who started for the Canadians in the 2011 FIFA World Cup. On the American side, Ali Krieger will feature in her normal defensive role on the right flank. Krieger made headlines all over the world for her match-clinching penalty kick against Brazil in the World Cup Quarterfinals en route to the Cup Final.
LEADING & SHUTTING OUT FOES: Following PSU's game at No. 2 Stanford, the Nittany Lions have trailed in a match this season for just 28 minutes. In fact, Penn State has led for over 339 minutes of game time during its run of five wins in six games.
Christine Nairn and Krissy Tribbett show off the Pitt Soccer Classic hardware. |
PITT SOCCER CLASSIC CHAMPIONS: Maya Hayes notched her first career hat trick and 20th in program history as Penn State ran away from Pittsburgh, 3-0, at Ambrose Urbanic Field on Sept. 4. Hayes scored in the 18th, 78th and 85th minutes, while PSU out-shot Pitt, 28-3. The victory gave PSU its fifth straight overall, the longest streak since a five-gamer Oct. 25-Nov. 13, 2009, and second straight tournament after taking the Penn State Invitational the previous week. Erin McNulty recorded her first solo shutout for the Nittany Lions. Hayes was named MVP of the tournament, while Christine Nairn, Emma Thomson and Taylor Schram were named to the All-Tournament Team.
Two days earlier, Penn State won its first comeback match of the season in a 3-1 victory over North Carolina State on Sept. 2. Hayes recorded a two-goal, five-point effort, while her counterpart up top, Schram, made her homecoming well known with a game-icing goal in the second half. Fellow Pittsburgh native Jackie Molinda added her firs career assist, while Jess Rosenbluth and Emily Hurd each had a helper. Nairn had her second two-assist day of the year to move into 10th all-time in PSU history. Hayes scored in the 40th minute to tie the game before scoring her sixth goal of the season in the 51st. Schram iced the game in the 69th minute off a cross from Hurd.
HAYES SWEEPS AGAIN: For the second straight week Maya Hayes received top honors from regional and national publications. The Big Ten bestowed the Offensive Player of the Week honor (shared with Nebraska's Morgan Marlborough) on Hayes, while TopDrawerSoccer.com tabbed Hayes the National Player of the Week. Hayes was also recognized as the SoccerSavings.com/Philly Soccer News Player of the Week for the second straight time. And released late Wednesday, she was tabbed Soccer America's National Player of the Week. Hayes currently leads the Big Ten and NCAA Division I with nine goals through Sept. 4.
MAY I HELP YOU?: An important aspect to possession-based play that head coach Erica Walsh has instilled in the Nittany Lions is the finish off combination plays. This season has seen all 22 goals scored by the Nittany Lions helped by an assist. In total, PSU has 30 assists, which leads the Big Ten. Against West Virginia, PSU set a new school record with nine helpers, led by Taylor Schram's career-high three. Four of the five goals PSU scored that night featured double assists and the Lions would add two more double assists in its game against N.C. State. Christine Nairn, leads the Big Ten with seven assists, while Schram has six and Jess Rosenbluth owns five. Ten Nittany Lions have tallied helpers this season including goalkeeper Erin McNulty, who started a Maya Hayes goal in the team's season opener vs. WVU.
MONTHLY WINS: Penn State continues September in Madison with a 3-1-0 record. In all, the Lions play nine matches in the ninth month of the year. The Nittany Lions are 109-29-13 all-time in September for a .765 winning percentage. PSU went 3-1-0 this past August to up its all-time record to 16-9-2 (.630).
PENN STATE INVITATIONAL DOMINATION: The Nittany Lions exited the Penn State Invitational as champions after a 2-0-0 record and a +8 goal differential. The Nittany Lions scored early and often as it trounced No. 17 West Virginia, 5-0, at Jeffrey Field on Friday night (Aug. 26). PSU put three on the board in the first eight minutes of play. Taylor Schram notched a five-point night with three assists as the Nittany Lions set a new school record for most helpers in a game with nine. Midfielders Maddy Evans and Jess Rosenbluth tallied three-point evenings, netting the first two goals to shock the Mountaineers. PSU set a new school record for assists in a game with nine. One of those assists came from an unusual source as goalkeeper Erin McNulty set up the third goal in the eighth minute on a clearance to Schram, whose header was inch-perfect for Hayes. Christine Nairn also managed two helpers and Bri Garcia chipped in with one of her own.
On Sunday (Aug. 28), Penn State team took a while to get on the board, but when it did, Richmond could not respond in a 3-0 victory. Rosenbluth scored and assisted another for a three-point afternoon, while Hayes's fourth goal of the season proved to be the game-winner. Jackie Molinda notched the final tally of the weekend, her first goal of the 2011 season. McNulty put on another fine show in net to help lead Penn State to its third straight shutout, the longest such streak for PSU since Nov. 1-13, 2009.
CENTURY MARK: The 5-0 win over West Virginia not only marked the largest margin of victory over WVU, it was head coach Erica Walsh's 100th victory in her career. Previously in charge at Dartmouth and Harvard, Walsh has compiled a 61-28-5 (.676) record at Penn State for a 101-56-8 (.636) overall record.
AUGUST'S WEEKLY ACCOLADES: Penn State's 2-0-0 weekend with a combined 8-0 score over WVU and Richmond did not go unnoticed by regional, conference and national publications this week (Aug. 31). Maya Hayes racked up three honors: Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week, Philly Soccer News Player of the Week and a spot on the Soccer America Team of the Week. Nittany Lions midfielders Christine Nairn and Jess Rosenbluth landed on the CollegeSoccer360.com Primetime Performer list and TopDrawerSoccer.com Team of the Week, respectively.
CALIFORNIA SPLIT: PSU showed no ill effects of a 4-0 loss at No. 2 Stanford, pushing play from beginning to end, opening a 2-0 halftime lead behind the strength of Kori Chapic's and Emily Hurd's goals as Penn State downed Nevada 4-0 on Aug. 21. The freshman duo lifted the Nittany Lions early and led Penn State to the easy victory. Sophomores Maya Hayes and Taylor Schram notched goals in the second half, while Jess Rosenbluth supplied two helpers and Bri Garcia chipped in with one of her own. Erin McNulty and Krissy Tribbett combined on PSU's first shutout of the year.
LION LEADERS: Penn State has two captains this season in senior Emma Thomson and junior Lexi Marton. The duo was selected as the leaders of the team during spring play.
TROPHY CANDIDATE: Penn State junior midfielder Christine Nairn was honored by three separate national entities in the preseason. Nairn was featured on the M.A.C. Hermann Trophy Watch List as well as Soccer America's Preseason All-America roster and TopDrawerSoccer.com's Top 100 Upperclasswomen.
RULING THE ROOST: The Big Ten coaches' preseason predictions were released on Wednesday, Aug. 16 and Penn State was tabbed to claim its 14th-straight Big Ten title. Ohio State and Wisconsin were tabbed No. 2 and No. 3, respectively for the second straight year.
NEXT TIME OUT:  Penn State plays its first home games in nearly a month when it hosts a three-game stand against Northwestern (Friday, Sept. 23 at 7 p.m.), Illinois (Sunday, Sept. 25 at 1 p.m.) and Ohio State (Thursday, Sept. 29 at 7 p.m.). The OSU match is PSU's Student Code Blue Blast.
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--NITTANY LIONS--