Nov. 4, 2014
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.; Nov. 4, 2014 - After winning its 16th Big Ten Championship and maintaining a top-11 ranking every week of the regular season, No. 6 Penn State was rewarded generously with the conference's individual awards. Erica Walsh earned her third Big Ten Coach of the Year title, Whitney Church (Ashburn, Virginia) was named the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year for the second time in her career (2012), 2012 Big Ten Freshman of the Year Raquel Rodriguez (San Jose, Costa Rica) is the 2014 Big Ten Midfielder of the Year and garnering Big Ten Freshman of the Year accolades is Emily Ogle (Strongsville, Ohio).
Walsh captured the third Big Ten Coach of the Year honor of her eight-year Penn State career. At the helm of the Blue and White, she led the 2014 team to the program's third outright conference championship in four years and 16th Big Ten title in 17 seasons. Walsh's young club maintained a top-11 ranking every week during the regular season, besting five top-25 opponents en route to a 17-2 regular season record.
Church's second Defender of the Year honor makes her one of the most decorated defenders in Penn State history. She becomes just the second Nittany Lion to capture two Defender of the Year awards after anchoring an outstanding Penn State backline that has posted eight shutouts and a total 0.68 goals against average (13 goals against). Over her four-year career, Church earned All-Big Ten honors every season and two NSCAA All-Great Lakes selections.
Rodriguez earned her second player of the year honor after being named the 2012 Big Ten Freshman of the Year. The junior sets the tempo of the Nittany Lions' hugely successful midfield; in 949 minutes on the pitch over 14 games played, she has netted five goals and posted 28 shots. The Costa Rican Women's National Team member recently helped Las Ticas make history by becoming the first Central American team to earn a Women's World Cup bid.
Alongside Church and Rodriguez on the All-Big Ten team are second team honorees Emily Hurd (Sammamish, Washington), Frannie Crouse (Greensburg, Pennsylvania) Kori Chapic (Russell, Ohio) and Britt Eckerstrom (Germantown, Maryland).
Ogle, who becomes Penn State's first Freshman of the Year honoree since Rodriguez, has been one of the most integral Nittany Lions in her first collegiate season. Logging 1,495 minutes and starting every Penn State match, the midfielder has scored a trio of goals and posted five assists with four of her helpers coming in Big Ten play.
Maddie Elliston (Omaha, Nebraska) joins Ogle and Crouse on the All-Freshman Team.
Additionally, Kindrah Kohne (Homer, New York) was honored as Penn State's Sportsmanship Award winner.
The Nittany Lions open the Big Ten Tournament on Wed., Nov. 5 at 1:30 p.m. against Northwestern. The match will be broadcasted on BTN2Go.com.