Nov. 14, 2013
By Matt Allibone, GoPSUsports.com Student Staff Writer
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa- After a long season spent fine-tuning every detail and working on consistency, the moment has finally arrived for the Penn State women's soccer team.
When the Nittany Lions take the field against Monmouth on Friday night at Jeffrey Field to kick off their NCAA Tournament competition, the real test will begin and there will be no more second chances.
"This is it and one lapse in judgment could end our season," said senior forward Tani Costa. "This is the last time the 2013 team will play together and I think everyone gets that we need to work for each other and not take anything for granted."
Although the Lions are well aware of the consequences that come with playing in the NCA Tournament, they are not letting themselves get worked up over the pressure.
For Penn State, playing on such a big stage merely increases the anticipation and excitement to get their NCAA journey started.
"We're really excited to have another opportunity to play under the lights at Jeffrey Field," said redshirt junior midfielder Emily Hurd. "We've had a couple of days of rest and we're looking forward to getting back on the field."
Despite being one loss away from having their season end, the Nittany Lions attitude is one of complete calmness as they look forward to Friday.
According to Hurd, the pressure of playing in the NCAA tournament is negated by the amount of preparation that she and her teammates have put in.
"You go through the season figuring out the details that you need to refine for the postseason and for games like this," said Hurd. "We've faced a lot of adversity this season and it has put us in a position to be really prepared."
Having returned the majority of a lineup that came just one win away from a national title last season, the Nittany Lions are accustomed to dealing with the intensity of the postseason.
Still, the players are adamant that they are not thinking about their past successes, as this is a new year with a new set of challenges ahead of them.
"Last year was great and having the majority of that team back to go through this journey gives us a lot of leadership," said Hurd. "At the same time this is a whole new season and a whole new team and we're just going to keep fighting to play one more game."
One of the biggest differences from last year is that this group of Nittany Lions will enter the NCAA tournament with a much bigger chip on their shoulder, having earned a No. 4 seed in the tournament after being a No. 1 seed a year ago.
After falling in the semifinals of the Big Ten Tournament, the Blue and White are looking to prove that they remain one of the elite programs in college soccer, not just to the rest of the country but also to themselves.
"The point that we all want to make is more to ourselves," said Hurd. "We've dropped a few games and to our standards that is not good enough and I think that getting a good result on Friday will give us confidence moving forward in the tournament."
With numerous key seniors, including Costa, forward Maya Hayes, defender Bri Hovington, and midfielder Taylor Schram set to play their last NCAA Tournament, the Nittany Lions are not ready to see their season end for the sake of their graduating players.
The seniors themselves are not ready to see their careers come to an end, and have stressed to their teammates the importance and urgency of these upcoming elimination games.
"I don't think you realize how important (the NCAA Tournament) is as a freshman because you know you still have three years left," said Hovington. "It's hard to understand the importance until you've gone though it but I think all of our players are on the same page."
Though the intensity of the game is sure to increase on Friday, the Nittany Lions feel their home field advantage gives them a major edge.
With an 8-1-1 record at Jeffrey Field this season, the Lions are pumped to experience the atmosphere that the Penn State faithful bring to postseason play.
"We have a huge legacy on Jeffrey Field and playing there brings out the pride in all of us," said Costa. "Playing under the lights on our field in front of our community is a magical experience."
This Friday will also most likely mark the last time the senior class steps foot on their home field, and they plan on making the moment count.
"We know this is probably the last time we play on Jeffrey and we want to go out with a bang," said Hayes. "It'll be a meaningful experience and one where we want to leave a lasting impression."