May 21, 2015
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.; May 21, 2015 - Penn State women's soccer rising senior and 2015 team captain Raquel Rodriguez (San Jose, Costa Rica) has been named to the Costa Rican Women's National Team roster for the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup this summer in Canada.
She is one of five Nittany Lions competing at the international tournament, which runs from June 6 to July 5. Alyssa Naeher and Ali Krieger will represent the United States at the Women's World Cup, and Carmelina Moscato and Erin McLeod will suit up for Team Canada.
Rodriguez has been a member of Las Ticas' senior team since 2012. She helped the team make history by becoming the first Central American team to earn a Women's World Cup bid after finishing second at the 2014 North, Central American and Caribbean Association of Football (CONCACAF) Women's World Championship. Rodriguez started four-of-five matches at the tournament, scoring the fourth-most goals of any player (3). For her performance, Rodriguez was named a 2014 CONCACAF Female Player of the Year nominee, the only amateur player nominated for a Player of the Year award.
Rodriguez, the 2014 Big Ten Midfielder of the Year, a National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) Scholar All-America pick, NSCAA All-Great Lakes Region first team member and Academic All-Big Ten honoree, posted 17 points in 18 games played during the Nittany Lions' 2014 season en route to their 17th Big Ten title in 18 years.
Las Ticas play friendlies against the Mexican Women's National Team on May 25 and 28 in Mexico City and the Columbian Women's National Team on May 31 at Metro State in Denver, Colo. The team opens the Women's World Cup against Spain on June 9.