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Aug. 24, 2017
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The No. 9 Penn State women's soccer team (2-0-0) begins a two-match road trip as it travels to Fayetteville, Ark., to take on the Arkansas Razorbacks (1-1-0) Friday, Aug. 25. The match is slated for a 7:30 p.m. (EDT) start at Razorback Field.
FOLLOW ALONG
The match will be streamed live on SEC Network+, but fans must have a cable subscription with the SEC Network to watch. Fans can also follow along with free live stats on StatBroadcast.com.
LOOKING AT ARKANSAS
The Arkansas Razorbacks opened the 2017 season ranked No. 17 in the United Soccer Coaches poll, but after going 1-1-0 in Texas last weekend they are currently receiving votes.
The Razorbacks began the year with a 1-0 overtime loss at SMU on Aug. 18 before posting a 2-0 victory at North Texas on Aug. 20. Offensively, Arkansas is led by Taylor Malham and Kayla McKeon. Last weekend, the duo of Malham and McKeon each scored once in the victory at North Texas.
In net, goalkeepers Jordan Harris and Rachel Harris both split time during the road trip in Texas. R. Harris made three saves in the 1-0 overtime loss at SMU, while J. Harris made five saves in the 2-0 win at North Texas.
Last season the Razorbacks finished with an overall record of 18-5-1, which included a record of 8-3-0 in SEC play. The 2016 season came to a close for Arkansas as it tied No. 12 Clemson, 0-0, but fell in penalty kicks in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
The 2016 season was highlighted for the Razorbacks with wins over No. 2 Duke (2-1) and No. 4 Florida (2-1).
PSU VS. ARKANSAS
Friday's match marks the second time the two programs will meet as Penn State captured a 4-2 victory over Arkansas in Happy Valley during the 2015 season.
In the first meeting between the two programs, Megan Schafer tallied a two-goal outing and Frannie Crouse netted a goal of her own.
LAST TIME OUT
The Penn State women's soccer team opened its 24th season as a varsity program with a 3-1 victory against then-No. 8 BYU on Friday, Aug. 18.
In the season-opener, junior Marissa Sheva netted her first career two-goal outing to help the Nittany Lions prevail in front of 3,570 fans. Along with Sheva, Alina Ortega Jurado found the back of the net for her first goal of the season, while Charlotte Williams tallied a pair of assists.
The Nittany Lions then closed out the opening weekend with a 3-0 victory over Hofstra on Sunday, Aug. 20. Against the Hofstra Pride, three Nittany Lions found the back of net.
For Penn State, freshman Frankie Tagliaferri netted her first goal in the 53rd minute followed by Emily Ogle connecting on a penalty kick in the 54th minute. Megan Schafer then rounded out the scoring with her first goal of the season in the 78th minute.
BIG TEN HONORS
Following her first career two-goal game in a 3-1 victory against No. 8 BYU, junior Marissa Sheva was named the Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week on Aug. 22. Her Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week honor was the first of her career.
THE POLLS
The Nittany Lions are ranked in the top-10 in all three major polls. Penn State is No. 1 according to TopDrawerSoccer, No. 3 according to Soccer America, and No. 9 according to the United Soccer Coaches.
CLIMBING THE CHARTS
Seniors Frannie Crouse and Megan Schafer have ascended the Penn State all-time charts over the past three seasons.
Crouse ranks 15th in points (78), 12th in goals (33), T-10th in game-winning goals (12), seventh in shots on goal (91), and is 12th in shots attempted (190).
Schafer ranks 21st in points (67), 17th in goals (26), and tied for 16th in game-winning goals (nine).
WELCOME BACK
The Nittany Lions return 22 letterwinners to the program for the 2017 season, including seven starters from the 2015 College Cup Final.
Of the 108 points tallied as a team last season, the Penn State offense returns 97 of those points. Offensively last season, Frannie Crouse paced the Nittany Lions with 27 points on a Big Ten-best 12 goals and she added three assists. In addition to Crouse, Megan Schafer posted 17 points on six goals and five assists, while Charlotte Williams netted 16 points on six goals and four assists.
In net, Rose Chandler returns to the team after sitting out last season after joining the U.S. U-20 Women's National Team for the 2016 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup. Along with Chandler, Amanda Dennis is back for her sophomore season. As a true freshman last year, Dennis went 12-5-4, recorded seven solo shutouts, posted a goals against average of 0.92, and tallied 59 saves.
#PSU2021
The Penn State women's soccer class of 2021 is comprised of five members. Though it is a small class, it is a highly touted class; according to TopDrawerSoccer, the Nittany Lion freshman class is ranked No. 4 overall.
Kerry Abello, Casey Ballow, Shea Moyer, Frankie Tagliaferri, and Emma Thomson make up the Penn State freshman class this fall. The quintet bring numerous accolades and
experience with the U.S. Women's National Team youth program to the Nittany Lions.
TOUGH TEST EARLY
The Penn State women's soccer team will embark on a tough stretch during its non-conference season. The Nittany Lions will open the season against No. 8 BYU (Aug. 18) before hosting Hofstra (Aug. 20). Following the opening weekend of the season, Penn State then travels to No. 17 Arkansas (Aug. 25) and then to Morgantown, W.Va., for a clash with No. 1 West Virginia (Sept. 2).
Following a two-game road trip, the Nittany Lions return home to host No. 6 North Carolina (Sept. 7) at Jeffrey Field and then the non-conference slate comes to a close with a trip to No. 11 Virginia (Sept. 10).
THE B1G SLATE
The 2017 Big Ten regular season schedule features Penn State playing six road matches and five matches at Jeffrey Field. Penn State opens the conference slate with fellow 2016 Big Ten champion No. 23 Northwestern on Sept. 14 at Jeffrey Field. The opening weekend of conference action continues with the Blue & White hosting Illinois on Sept. 17.
The Nittany Lions then head on the road for three matches against Iowa (Sept. 22), No. 22 Nebraska (Sept. 24), and Ohio State (Sept. 30). Following Penn State's road trip, the Nittany Lions return home to host Michigan (Oct. 6) and Michigan State (Oct. 8).
The final stretch of conference play begins with a pair of matches at No. 21 Rutgers (Oct. 12) and Maryland (Oct. 15). Penn State then returns home for its regular season home finale against Purdue (Oct. 20) before heading to Madison, Wis., to close out the regular season against Wisconsin (Oct. 25).
Due to a rotating schedule, Penn State will not play Indiana or Minnesota during the 2017 regular season.
HOME SWEET HOME
The Nittany Lions have posted an all-time record of 226-26-12 at Jeffrey Field, which includes a Big Ten Conference record of 102-6-5. Since the start of the 2011 season, Penn State has a record of 66-6-6 at Jeffrey Field.
Penn State kicked off its 2017 campaign with the fifth-best crowd in program history at Jeffrey Field. Against No. 8 BYU on Aug. 18, 3,570 fans came out to witness the Nittany Lions capture a 3-1 victory.
OH CAPTAINS, MY CAPTAINS
Defenders Elizabeth Ball and Brittany Basinger have been named the captains of the 2017 Penn State women's soccer team.
Heading into her senior year, Ball has played in 72 matches, which includes 71 starts, scored six goals and added one assist.
Basinger will be a redshirt senior in 2017 as she received a redshirt during the 2014 season. Heading into 2017, she has posted 71 starts in 71 games played, netted 14 points on four goals and six assists.
#PSWS ON BTN
The Nittany Lions will have three regular season matches broadcasted live on the Big Ten Network (BTN) during 2017. BTN is scheduled to broadcast the North Carolina-Penn State match (Sept 7), the Northwestern-Penn State match (Sept. 14), and the Penn State-Rutgers match (Oct. 12).
PRESEASON HONORS
Heading into the 2017 season, six Nittany Lions have received preseason honors.
The Big Ten announced its players to watch list with Elizabeth Ball, Brittany Basinger, and Frannie Crouse garnering honors.
TopDrawerSoccer announced its Preseason Top-100 list and its Preseason Best XI Teams. On TopDrawerSoccer's Top-100 list, Emily Ogle is No. 5, followed by Kaleigh Riehl at No. 7, Crouse is No. 18, Maddie Elliston is No. 43, and Ball rounds out the Nittany Lion contingent at No. 55.
Ogle and Riehl were also named to the TopDrawerSoccer Best XI First Team, while Crouse was named to the TopDrawerSoccer Best XI Second Team.
Along with the Big Ten and TopDrawerSoccer honors, Crouse and Ogle were named to the MAC Hermann Trophy Watch List.
PICKED TO DEFEND
Prior to the start of the 2017 season the Nittany Lions were picked to win the Big Ten regular season title. Since the beginning of the coaches' preseason poll in 2003, the Nittany Lions have been picked to win the conference every season. The 2016 season saw Northwestern, Minnesota, and Penn State all tie for the league title.
FOR CLUB AND COUNTRY
The 2017 Penn State women's soccer roster is bolstered with numerous Nittany Lions with national team experience with their respective countries.
Last fall, six Nittany Lions competed at the 2016 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup, as five Penn Staters represented the United States and Laura Freigang was a member of the German National Team. For the United States, Rose Chandler, Maddie Elliston, Ellie Jean, Emily Ogle, and Kaleigh Riehl donned the Red, White & Blue.
Along with the Penn State presence at the 2016 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup, a handful of Nittany Lions have taken part in competitions/training camps for their respective national teams at different age levels since the start of the calendar year.
UP NEXT
Penn State closes out its two-match road trip at No. 1 West Virginia. The match against the Mountaineers is slated for a 7 p.m. start at Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium in Morgantown, W.Va.