Aug. 31, 2015
By Jack Dougherty, GoPSUsports.com Student Staff Writer
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. ââ'¬" The sixth-ranked Penn State women's soccer team is off to a familiar great start. After defeating Hofstra and Loyola Marymount handily at Jeffrey Field, the Nittany Lions battled a formidable Duke team to a 0-0 tie and impressed with a 4-2 win against Arkansas during weekend matches.
Megan Schafer was a huge part of the successful duo of games, scoring twice in the win over Arkansas and imposing her will on a stingy Duke defense that hasn't surrendered a goal yet this season. The sophomore was unable to net one Friday night, but her hustle and speed created multiple chances that just fell short for PSU.
As a team, the Nittany Lions amassed 21 total shots against the 21st-ranked Blue Devils, but goalie EJ Proctor was able to turn away a career-high 11 shots. Senior captain Mallory Weber hit the post early in the first half on a promising attack, and reigning Big Ten Freshman of the Year Emily Ogle struck the crossbar on a powerful free kick in the 62nd minute, but it wasn't meant to be.
"Great energy tonight and learned a ton about our group," said head coach Erica Walsh. "There were times when we were all over them and when they were back all over us I thought we did a good job of solving some problems. I was looking out to the field and seeing players solve problems which is big for us with such a young team."
Despite the blank goal line, Penn State's front line played a fantastic game. Schafer led the charge as every forward pressured the Duke back line whenever they touched the ball. The aggressive game plan forced a plethora of turnovers and breakaways, which is a strong positive to look back on.
"We were all pressing hard and committing numbers," said goalie Britt Eckerstrom. "That does leave us a little bit vulnerable to their attack, but that's just what it takes to waste a little bit more to hopefully get a goal but we didn't get one tonight."
Eckerstrom played a stellar game between the posts for Penn State, as did the entire defense. The keeper saw 14 shots in 110 minutes of play and was able to stop each one on target. The nationally recognized front line of Duke was stifled all night long by Eckerstrom's quickness and length.
"Our defense is strong," Eckerstrom said. "We work together really well and we always want to keep that clean sheet and do everything we can to give our team the best opportunity."
Sunday was a different story as Penn State came out firing on all cylinders. After a flurry of chances in the early goings, Raquel Rodriguez found Mallory Weber with a perfect ball over the defense and Weber skillfully sidestepped the keeper with one touch and finished with her left foot to put PSU on the board in the 25th minute. Her goal vaulted Weber to eighth place on the all-time PSU scoring list.
Six minutes later, Weber shared the love and found Frannie Crouse for a close range goal to put the Nittany Lions up 2-0. Crouse was one of 11 players that appeared off the bench for PSU.
"Feeling comfortable to put all 27 players into this game is massive, especially on a Sunday," said Walsh. "We talk all the time about how it's going to take all 27 to be successful and I thought today was a great step forward. We saw some really good performances out of some of these players who haven't had the chance."
In the second half, Schafer took it upon herself to finish off the Razorbacks in dazzling style. The forward masterfully guided a pinpoint header off of an Emily Ogle cross in the 48th minute to the back post and in with defenders draped all over her.
Later in the contest, Schafer received a through ball from Erika Miller with the defense out of place and beat the final defender en route to a powerful left-footed strike to seal the game for Penn State.
"Coach told me to go in with about 11 minutes left and she said finish it off," said Schafer. "It was an awesome pass from Erika and I had one focus and that was just goal."
Schafer now leads the team in the young season with three goals. She is on pace to shatter her total last year of six goals, and it doesn't look as if she'll be slowing down any time soon.
The Duke game on Friday saw an attendance of 4,207, the second highest total in the history of women's soccer at Jeffrey Field.
The Nittany Lions will be back in action on Sept. 4 in Morgantown, W.V., as they take on the West Virginia Mountaineers. PSU will be back at Jeffrey Field on Sept. 17 to welcome the Wisconsin Badgers in the Big Ten opener.