Oct. 17, 2015
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- Eight Nittany Lions were named to TopDrawerSoccer's Top-100 midseason lists, with three named among the top-100 freshmen and five named to the Top-100 upperclassmen list. The Top-100 upperclassmen list is comprised of the top sophomores, juniors and seniors in NCAA women's soccer.
Raquel Rodriguez (San Jose, Costa Rica) leads the Nittany Lion contingent among the TopDrawerSoccer Top-100 midseason upperclassmen list. Rodriguez checks in at sixth, followed by Emily Ogle (Strongsville, Ohio) (26th), Mallory Weber (Novi, Mich.) (34th), Frannie Crouse (Greensburg, Pa.) (60th) and Elizabeth Ball (Richmond, Va.) (76th).
Rodriguez has tallied three goals this season, including a pair of game-winning goals over the past two matches. Rodriguez netted the first goal in the 4-0 win over Indiana last weekend and she scored the game-winning goal in the 80th minute in a 2-1 victory over Purdue Thursday night.
In the 2015 Big Ten rankings, Weber is tied for the lead in assists (six), tied for second in points (20) and is tied for fourth in goals (seven).
A trio of sophomores were named to the Top-100 upperclassmen list. Crouse is third on the team in goals (six) and Ogle has tallied a pair of goals and added three assists on the year. Defensively, Ball is a member of the Nittany Lion backline that has tallied seven shutouts and only allowed 10 goals on the year.
Ball currently leads the team with 1,349 minutes played. Against Indiana last weekend, she netted her first goal of the season.
Among TopDrawerSoccer's Midseason Top-100 Freshmen list, Kaleigh Riehl (Fairfax Station, Va.) ranks sixth, Ellie Jean (Coventry, Conn.) checks in at 16th and Alina Ortega-Jurado (Wetzlar, Germany) is 83rd.
Jean and Riehl have played a key role in the Nittany Lion defense that has tallied seven shutouts and only allowed 10 goals in 2015. Both Jean and Riehl have started all 15 matches this season. Jean has dished out three assists and Riehl has played all but 62 minutes this year.
Ortega-Jurado has played in 14 contests this season, scored one goal and recorded three assists.
The No. 9 Nittany Lions continue their road trip Sunday, Oct. 18, for a top-25 showdown against No. 25 Rutgers at Yurcak Field in Piscataway, N.J. Game time is set for 1 p.m.