May 10, 2012
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The Penn State women's soccer team played and won all four of its spring season games beating its opponents, 15-2. Sophomore sensation Maya Hayes (West Orange, N.J.) continued her success from the fall by tallying seven goals and three assists, while junior Christine Nairn (Arnold, Md.) scored six times with four assists for the Nittany Lions. Maddy Evans (Glenside, Pa.) scored twice and added two assists during the spring campaign.
PENN STATE 5, GEORGETOWN 1
Penn State dominated from beginning to end, defeating Georgetown, 5-1, at Holuba Hall in University Park on Feb. 25. Hayes and Evans led the way with two goals apiece, while Nairn tallied a score and added two assists. Whitney Church (Ashburn, Va.) and Bri Garcia (Babylon, N.Y.) added assists as well.
PENN STATE 5, WILLIAM & MARY 0
The Nittany Lions dismantled the Tribe of William & Mary 5-0 at the Maryland SoccerPlex on Mar. 18 in Germantown, Md.) Nairn gathered a hat trick and added an assist for a seven-point afternoon. Hayes scored twice and Evans assisted on the opening goal of the match.
PENN STATE 3, SAINT FRANCIS (Pa.) 0
The Nittany Lions returned to Jeffrey Field on Apr. 18 to defeat Saint Francis (Pa.), 3-0. Nairn tallied a first-half penalty kick before Hayes's two-goal effort in the second half salted the game away. Emily Hurd (Sammamish, Wash.) tallied her first point of the season on Hayes's first goal, while Church helped on the second.
PENN STATE 2, VIRGINIA TECH 1
In the toughest battle of the spring, Penn State came from behind to defeat Virginia Tech, 2-1, at Jeffrey Field on Apr. 21. In front of a festive Blue-White Weekend crowd, the Lions were down 1-0 at halftime, but stormed back in the second half to win. Hayes scored on a through ball from Nairn to tie the game before Hayes returned the favor, dishing to Nairn as she slotted home the game winner into the lower left portion of the goal.
Penn State returns the majority of it scoring from last year's Sweet Sixteen squad as Hayes, Nairn, Hurd and Taylor Schram (Canonsburg, Pa.) tallied 52 goals and 38 assists (142 points) lead the Lion offense. Penn State loses just two senior starters from last year's team and will welcome back All-Big Ten Second Team goalkeeper Erin McNulty (Winnipeg, Manitoba) for her final year of eligibility. Also back with Penn State is NSCAA All-Region First Team and All-Big Ten First Team defender Lexi Marton (Aurora, Ontario) as well as All-Big Ten Freshman Team honorees Kori Chapic (Novelty, Ohio).
The Penn State 2012 fall schedule will be released later this month with nine regular season home games at Jeffrey Field and five teams that reached the NCAA Tournament in 2011.
For complete coverage of Penn State women's soccer, please visit http://www.GoPSUsports.com/sports/w-soccer.
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--NITTANY LIONS--