Oct. 3, 2013
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The seventh-ranked Penn State women's soccer team looks to extend its eight-match winning streak this weekend as the Nittany Lions travel to Wisconsin and Minnesota for their first Big Ten road matches of the year. PSU will take on No. 18 Wisconsin on Friday at 8:00 p.m. (EST) before heading to Minnesota on Sunday for a 2:00 p.m. (EST) match-up.
The Blue and White (9-1-1, 3-0-0 Big Ten) are coming off a successful weekend as they defeated conference foe Purdue, 6-1, on Thursday and Indiana, 4-1, on Sunday. The Lions used six goals from five different players to overwhelm the Boilermakers. Sophomore Raquel Rodriguez (San Jose, Costa Rica), senior Maya Hayes (West Orange, N.J) and senior Tani Costa (Honolulu, Hawaii) each posted one goal and one assist while Kori Chapic (Novelty, Ohio) and Kindrah Kohne (Homer, N.Y.) also found the back of the net for PSU.
Rodriguez, Hayes and Costa tallied goals against Indiana as well, along with redshirt junior Emily Hurd (Sammamish, Wash.), who had one goal and two assists in the win over the Hoosiers.
Hayes leads the Big Ten and is tied for first in the nation in points (28). She also leads the league and is tied for second in the country in points per game (2.55) and is tied for first in the B1G and third in the nation in goals (12). Rodriguez has notched a team-high seven assists, which ties her for second in the conference. The midfielder is also tied for fourth in assists per game (0.64).
No. 18 Wisconsin comes into Friday's match 7-1-2 overall and 2-0-1 in Big Ten play. The Badgers most recently defeated Michigan State, 2-0, last Sunday.
Wisconsin is led by Cara Walls and Kinley McNicoll. Walls has posted seven goals and two assists while McNicoll has notched six goals and eight assists. Keeper Genevieve Richard leads the Badgers in goal with 39 saves, three shutouts and a goals against average of 0.98.
Penn State holds a 16-3-4 record against Wisconsin all-time. The Nittany Lions defeated the then-No. 13 Badgers 2-1 a season ago.
Minnesota enters the weekend at 8-3-0 overall and 1-2-0 in B1G action. The Gophers are coming off a 1-0 victory over then-No. 13 Michigan last Sunday.
Katie Thyken leads Minnesota with five goals and one assist and Taylor Stainbrook has also done well for the Gophers, registering two goals and three assists. Keeper Tara Hobbs leads Minnesota in goal, having collected 41 saves.
Historically, the Nittany Lions have dominated the series, holding a 20-3-0 record over the Gophers all-time. They most recently defeated Minnesota by a count of 4-3 on Sept. 30 of last year. PSU has not dropped a match to the Gophers since Oct. 21, 2007, when they fell 1-0 in double overtime.
The Blue and White return to Jeffrey Field next Sunday to host Michigan during Homecoming weekend in a 1:00 p.m. match-up.