Dec. 5, 2014
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.; Dec. 5, 2014 - The honors keep pouring in for Penn State senior Whitney Church (Ashburn, Va.), who was named to the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) All-America first team today.
Church becomes the 12th Nittany Lion selected to an NSCAA All-America first team.
For her outstanding performance leading the Nittany Lions' backline this season, Church captured the Big Ten Defender of the Year, NSCAA All-Great Lakes Region first team honors and is a MAC Hermann Trophy Award semifinalist.
This season, Church commanded one of the top defenses in the nation, which allowed more than one goal just twice and posted nine clean sheets. She helped mentor the Nittany Lions' 11 freshmen, four of whom started 20-or-more matches. Church also scored a goal against Ohio State (9/19) and assisted on the game-winner against Nebraska (10/24).
Over her career, Church started 89 of Penn State's 100 matches and rounds out her time in the Blue and White as the program's all-time leader in minutes played (8,243). The two-time Big Ten Defender of the Year was named to an All-Big Ten team following each of her four campaigns.