Dec. 5, 2015
CARY, N.C. - The top-seeded Nittany Lion women's soccer team (21-3-2) will play in the College Cup final for the second time in program history on Sunday at 12 p.m. (ESPNU) against third-seeded Duke (14-5-5).
Penn State marched into the national title match with a 2-0 victory over second-seeded Rutgers on Friday evening in WakeMed Soccer Park. After a forward Frannie Crouse raced down a loose ball for a sliding shot that looped over the outstretched arms of the Rutgers goalkeeper in the 24th minute, the Nittany Lions turned to freshman defender Kaleigh Riehl with a goal in the 79th minute to cement the team's place in the national title match.
The Nittany Lions (2012 and 2015) and Wisconsin (1991) are the only two Big Ten universities that have played in the women's soccer national championship match.
The third-seeded Duke Blue Devils advanced to the College Cup final with a 2-0 victory over top-seeded Florida State in the second match on Friday night.
The Nittany Lions and Blue Devils have played five times before Sunday's national title match, including earlier this season Penn State is 3-1-1 all-time against Duke. The Lions and Blue Devils played to a 0-0 tie at Jeffrey Field on Aug. 28.
Penn State's journey to the national championship match has been a remarkable one. The Nittany Lions have outscored their opponents, 19-0, during the NCAA Tournament. Additionally, Penn State has logged seven-straight shutouts, dating back to Nov. 1.
Of the Lions' 19 goals scored in the tournament, either freshmen or sophomores have scored 17 of them. In total, 10 different Nittany Lions have scored the team's goals in the NCAA Tournament. Penn State's NCAA Tournament opponents have managed just 10 shots on goal during the five matches.
The final chapter of the 2015 season will be written on Sunday afternoon in Cary. Head coach Erica Walsh and the Nittany Lions are thrilled to have the opportunity to compete for the program's first national championship.