Aug. 12, 2015
Big Ten Release
ROSEMONT, Ill. -- The No. 6 Penn State women's soccer team has been picked to defend its 2014 Big Ten regular season title, according to the 2015 Big Ten Women's Soccer Preseason Coaches' Poll released Wednesday.
Three players from each Big Ten team were named Big Ten Women's Soccer Preseason Players to Watch, with seniors Britt Eckerstrom (Germantown, Md.), Raquel Rodriguez (San Jose, Costa Rica) and Mallory Weber (Novi, Mich.) representing the Nittany Lion Blue and White. This is Rodriguez's third-straight appearance on the Preseason Players to Watch list.
Penn State appeared in its 20th-straight NCAA Tournament in 2014, closing out the season with a 20-4-0 overall record. The Nittany Lions return 18 student-athletes from last year's squad, including the Big Ten Midfielder of the Year in Rodriguez and the Big Ten Freshman of the Year in Emily Ogle (Strongsville, Ohio). The Nittany Lions welcomed nine student-athletes to the program for the 2015 campaign.
The Nittany Lions have sat atop the Big Ten preseason poll every season since the poll began in 2003. They begin the quest for their 17th Big Ten title and 21st consecutive NCAA Tournament berth with the Penn State Invitational on August 21 at 7:30 p.m. against Hofstra.
BIG TEN WOMEN'S SOCCER PRESEASON COACHES POLL
1. Penn State
2. Michigan
3. Rutgers Wisconsin
5. Illinois
6. Minnesota
7. Maryland
8. Northwestern
9. Ohio State
10. Nebraska
11. Iowa
12. Michigan State
13. Indiana
14. Purdue
BIG TEN WOMEN'S SOCCER PRESEASON PLAYERS TO WATCH
Jannelle Flaws, Illinois, Sr., Forward
Hope D'Addario, Illinois, Jr., Defense
Nicole Breece, Illinois, Sr., Midfield
Sarah Stone, Indiana, Sr., Goalkeeper
Marissa Borschke, Indiana, Jr., Defense
Kayla Smith, Indiana, So., Forward
Hannah Clark, Iowa, Sr., Goalkeeper
Amanda Lulek, Iowa, Jr., Defense
Corey Burns, Iowa, Jr., Defense
Sarah Fichtner, Maryland, Sr., Midfield
Rachelle Beanlands, Maryland, Sr., Goalkeeper
Erika Nelson, Maryland, Sr., Defense
Nicky Waldeck, Michigan, Jr., Forward
Corinne Harris, Michigan, Sr., Midfield
Ani Sarkisian, Michigan, So., Forward
Mary Kathryn Fiebernitz, Michigan State, Sr., Defense
Jamie Cheslik, Michigan State, So., Forward
Alex Gjonaj, Michigan State, Sr., Defense
Josee Stiever, Minnesota, Jr., Midfield
Simone Kolander, Minnesota, Jr., Forward
Haley Helverson, Minnesota, Sr., Defense
Jaycie Johnson, Nebraska, Jr., Forward
Caroline Flynn, Nebraska, Jr., Midfield
Jaylyn Odermann, Nebraska, Sr., Defender
Niki Sebo, Northwestern, Sr., Midfield
Addison Steiner, Northwestern, Jr., Forward
Margo McGinty, Northwestern, Sr., Defense/Midfield
Morgan Wolcott, Ohio State, Jr., Forward
Nichelle Prince, Ohio State, Jr., Forward
Sarah Roberts, Ohio State, Fr., Midfield
Raquel Rodriguez, Penn State, Sr., Midfield
Mallory Weber, Penn State, Sr., Midfield
Britt Eckerstrom, Penn State, Sr., Goalkeeper
Kim Love, Purdue, Sr., Defense
Maddy Williams, Purdue, Jr., Forward
Melissa Casella, Purdue, Jr., Midfield
Casey Murphy, Rutgers, So., Goalkeeper
Brianne Reed, Rutgers, Sr., Defense
Madison Tiernan, Rutgers, Jr., Forward
Rose Lavelle, Wisconsin, Jr., Midfield
Kinley McNicoll, Wisconsin, Sr., Midfield
Bri Stelzer, Wisconsin, Sr., Defense