Dec. 5, 2014
By Miranda Kulp, GoPSUsports.com Student Staff Writer
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The Nittany Lion women's soccer team will take great pride in its efforts during a tremendous 2014 season.
Between several players earning national and international acknowledgment and the team's superb record, 2014 is a year head coach Erica Walsh and the Nittany Lions will build on as the group shifts towards next fall.
Ending the season overall with a 20-4 record and earning its 16th Big Ten title within the last 17 seasons, the Lions have a lot to be proud of this season.
Although the team's season came up just short in the NCAA Quarterfinals, the players and coaching staff have no regrets when it comes to how the team performed.
"I thought they were prepared, I thought they performed and unfortunately we ended up on the wrong side of the score line, but we left it all out on the field and I can't complain at all about this season," Walsh said. "Regardless the outcome, I think our team was peaking at the right time. The team's hard work and dedication showed the whole way through."
The 2014 team had one of the best records the program has seen in the past decade, reaching 20 wins for only the eighth time in program history.
With 11 freshmen and four seniors on the roster, the Lions excelled with consistent contributions from both youth and experience.
Freshman Frannie Crouse led the team with 10 goals in her first year at the college level.
The likes Haleigh Echard, Elizabeth Ball, Maddie Elliston, Katy Keen, Megan Schafer and Emily Ogle were among the freshmen who played significant roles in their rookie campaign.
Ogle was one of the four players on the roster to capture a NSCAA All-Great Lakes Region honors. She earned the Big Ten Freshman of the Year accolade and helped showcase the talent of the freshman class.
Although the freshman class was outstanding, the group credits the leadership of the upperclassmen for making this year so successful.
"Despite being a young team and having an abundance of freshmen, we had four tremendous seniors this year that were leaders on the team," Walsh said. "Each one of them carried a special role on the team, we're not only losing four players-we're losing four additional coaches."
What made this senior class special was how they use their drive and passion to always motivate the team to take it one game at a time.
Although Emily Hurd, Whitney Church, Kori Chapic, and Kindrah Kohne will be saying goodbye to Jeffrey Field, their impact on the team will not be forgotten.
"Probably more than anything this group of seniors left on the program was their attitudes and how unselfish they were. These seniors continuously showed how often they put this team first," Walsh said.
In addition to the seniors, veterans Mallory Weber, Raquel "Rocky" Rodriguez, and Britt Eckerstrom stepped up as additional role models for the team. All three will play a paramount role in Penn State's success in 2015.
The 2014 season was especially memorable for Rodriguez, who also was able to help Costa Rica's national team make history.
Mid-way through the Penn State season, Rodriguez departed Happy Valley to play for her native country of Costa Rica. Rodriguez helped Costa Rica qualify for the FIFA Women's World Cup for the first time ever.
Both individually and as a team, the team has a lot to be proud of this year.
Through the highs and low of the season, the Lions prevailed as a family and never gave up.
"I look at it as a very successful season. I think regardless we are one of the top five teams in the country. This team made me extremely proud and gets me excited to see what the future brings," Walsh said.