Sept. 28, 2013
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- The No. 8 Penn State women's soccer team looks to maintain is perfect September record (7-0-0) and extend its winning streak to eight-straight matches on Sunday as the Nittany Lions host Indiana in their annual "Kick for the Cure Pink Game." The match is set for a noon start at Jeffrey Field and will be part of a soccer double-header with the PSU men's team.
A silent auction featuring autographed, pre-game worn "Kick for the Cure" shirts will be held before and during the game. All proceeds and donations will go to the Pennsylvania Pink Zone at Mount Nittany Medical Center for breast cancer research. Fans in attendance will receive free pink silicone bracelets, while supplies last, and the second of three autograph sessions will take place after the match on Little Jeffrey Field. Fans are reminded that there is a no bag policy in place on stadium grounds.
The Blue and White (8-1-1, 2-0-0 Big Ten) overpowered Purdue earlier in the week, blowing past the Boilermakers, 6-1, to earn their second conference win of the year. Raquel Rodriguez (San Jose, Costa Rica), Kori Chapic (Novelty, Ohio), Tani Costa (Honolulu, Hawaii), Maya Hayes (West Orange, N.J.) and Kindrah Kohne (Homer, N.Y), each netted goals for PSU to help the Lions topple Purdue on Thursday night.
Hayes currently leads the B1G and is tied for second in the nation in goals with 11 on the season. She also ranks first in the league in points (26), points per game (2.60) and goal per game (1.10) and is fourth in nation in points per game. Rodriguez has tallied a team-high seven assists, which ties her for second in the conference. The sophomore is also tied for third in the Big Ten in assists per game (0.70).
Indiana enters the match at 8-1-1 overall and 1-1-0 in conference play after falling to Ohio State, 3-1, on Thursday night. Junior Abby Smith scored the lone goal for the Hoosiers but they could not overcome three first half goals by the Buckeyes.
IU is led by senior Lisa Nouanesengsy, who has posted six goals and two assists. Kayleigh Steigerwalt leads the Hoosiers in assists with four and has also notched three goals on the season. Keeper Shannon Flower has led Indiana to a conference-best seven shutouts in 10 matches this year.
The Nittany Lions hold a 20-1-1 record against the Hoosiers all-time. PSU defeated Indiana, 5-2, on Oct. 7 of last year in the most recent match-up between the two programs. The Blue and White's only loss to IU came on Nov. 8, 1996 as the Hoosiers defeated PSU 1-0 in the Big Ten Tournament.
The Lions travel to Wisconsin and Minnesota next weekend for two tough road matches. They are slated to face Wisconsin on Friday at 8:00 p.m. (EST) and will go up against the Gophers of Minnesota on Sunday in a 2:00 p.m. (EST) match-up. PSU returns to Jeffrey Field on Sunday, Oct. 13 to host Big Ten rival Michigan during Homecoming weekend.