June 18, 2015
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. ââ'¬" Four former members of the Penn State women's soccer team are moving on to the Round of 16 at the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup, hosted by Canada. Five Nittany Lions participated in soccer's top event, tied for second among all collegiate soccer programs (Stanford has five and North Carolina has nine).
Ali Krieger '06 and Alyssa Naeher '09 have helped the United States to advance into the Round of 16 as the Red, White and Blue won Group D with victories against Australia and Nigeria and a draw vs. Sweden. The United States will take on Colombia on Monday, June 22 at 8 p.m.
Carmelina Moscato '05 and Erin McLeod '05 helped Canada to advance out of Group A with a win over China and draws against New Zealand and the Netherlands. Canada will face Switzerland on Sunday, June 21 at 7:30 p.m.
Senior Raquel Rodriguez (San Jose, Costa Rica) started all three games in the midfield as Costa Rica made its FIFA Women's World Cup debut. Rodriguez made national and Penn State history with her goal in the 14th minute of Costa Rica's opening match against Spain. It was the first goal for Costa Rica, as we well as the first Nittany Lion to score in a World Cup. For her efforts, she was named LYG Player of the Match.
Rodriguez played every minute of Costa Rica's three matches, including draws vs. Spain and South Korea and a loss against Brazil. The senior had two shots vs. Brazil and a shot vs. South Korea.
Krieger, making her second World Cup appearance, has started and played every minute of all three games for the USA. In the draw against Sweden, the two-time NSCAA All-American recorded a shot on goal in the 34th minute.
A three-time NSCAA All-American at Penn State, Naeher has served as a backup goalkeeper for Hope Solo. This is Naeher's World Cup debut with the senior team, but she helped the U.S. U-20 women's national team to win the 2008 FIFA Women's World Cup, where she won the Golden Glove as the tournament's best goalkeeper.
McLeod has started all three contests for the host nation. She made one save each vs. China and New Zealand. The two-time NSCAA All-American and first team All-Big Ten selection recorded four stops in the draw against Netherlands. McLeod has now started in four World Cups.
Moscato, who has been a member of Canada's national program since 2000, made her 2015 World Cup debut, entering in the 68th minute against New Zealand and earned her first start of the tournament against the Netherlands, playing the entire match. This is Moscato's third World Cup.
The five players have combined to help Penn State to 12 Big Ten titles and three College Cup appearances, with Naeher and Rodriguez leading the Nittany Lions to a 2012 national championship game appearance. The group has combined for seven NSCAA All-American honors, six Big Ten Player of the Year awards and two NSCAA Scholar All-America accolades.
Penn State Participant World Cup Schedule
Canada
June 6 ââ'¬" vs. China W, 1-0
June 12 ââ'¬" vs. New Zealand D, 0-0
June 15 ââ'¬" vs. Netherlands D, 1-1
June 21 - vs. Switzerland at 7:30 p.m. ET (Vancouver)
United States
June 8 ââ'¬" vs. Australia W, 3-1
June 13 ââ'¬" vs. Sweden D, 0-0
June 17 ââ'¬" vs. Nigeria W, 1-0
June 22 ââ'¬" vs. Colombia at 8 p.m. ET (Edmonton)
Costa Rica
June 9 ââ'¬" vs. Spain D, 1-1
June 13 ââ'¬" vs. South Korea D, 2-2
June 17 ââ'¬" vs. Brazil L, 1-