Nov. 16, 2017
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UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The No. 10 and third-seeded Penn State women's soccer team (13-4-4) takes on the No. 24 Wake Forest Demon Deacons (11-5-4) in the second round of the NCAA Tournament on Friday, Nov. 17. The match is scheduled for a 4 p.m. start at the Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium in Morgantown, W.Va.
FOLLOW ALONG
Fans can follow along with a free live video and live stats on WVUsports.com.
TICKET INFORMATION
Fans can purchase tickets for Friday's match now at WVUGAME.com. Tickets are $7 for adults, $5 for students and youth and $2 for groups of 10 or more.
LOOKING AT WAKE FOREST
The No. 24 Wake Forest Demon Deacons enter the match against No. 10 Penn State with an overall record of 11-5-4.
The Demon Deacons are coming off a penalty kick victory against No. 15 Georgetown in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. After playing to a 0-0 draw, Wake Forest was able to defeat Georgetown, 2-1, in penalty kicks.
Offensively, Bayley Feist leads the team in goals and points with eight and 18, respectively. In addition to Feist, three other Demon Deacons have tallied at least 10 points on the year.
In net, Lindsay Preston has played all but 74:07 minutes of the 2017. On the year, she has a record 11-5-4, has made 60 saves, recorded eight solo shutouts, has a goals-against average of 0.70, and a save percentage of .811.
SERIES HISTORY VS. WAKE FOREST
Friday's match marks the fourth meeting between the two programs with Wake Forest leading the all-time series, 3-0-0
The two teams last met in the second round of the 2013 NCAA Tournament with Wake Forest capturing a 1-0 victory.
LAST TIME OUT
The Nittany Lions are coming off a 7-0 victory over the Stony Brook Seawolves in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Nov. 10.
In the match, Laura Freigang netted three goals within the first 38:00 of play for the 21st hat trick in program history. Along with Freigang, freshman Frankie Tagliaferri scored twice within a 49-second span late in the match.
No. 21 NETS No. 21
Sophomore Laura Freigang netted the 21st hat trick in program history in Penn State's 7-0 win over Stony Brook on Nov. 10.
SMART LIONS
Megan Schafer and Emily Ogle were honored for their work in the classroom as they garnered CoSIDA Academic All-District Two First Team honors.
The duo are now up for CoSIDA Academic All-America honors.
BIG TEN TOURNAMENT RECAP
During the Big Ten Tournament, the Nittany Lions faced a battled-tested three-game stretch as Penn State went to penalty kicks, won in double overtime, and was able to overcome a late deficit en route to its seventh Big Ten Tournament title.
In the Big Ten Quarterfinal round, Penn State topped Rutgers in penalty kicks, 4-3, to advance to the Big Ten Semifinal round against Ohio State.
Against the Buckeyes, Laura Freigang scored with 42 seconds left in double overtime to give Penn State a 1-0 victory.
Then in the Big Ten Tournament Championship match, Penn State scored twice during the final 19:26 of regulation to defeat Northwestern, 2-1.
ALL-B1G HONORS
For Penn State, four Nittany Lions were tabbed with All-Big Ten honors, as Emily Ogle was named to the First Team, Kaleigh Riehl and Megan Schafer received Second Team plaudits, and Charlotte Williams was named to the Third Team.
Along the PSU quartet that garnered All-Big Ten Team honors, Frankie Tagliaferri was named to the All-Freshman Team and Laura Suero received the Sportsmanship Award for Penn State.
THE POLLS
In the polls before the NCAA Tournament, Penn State sits at No. 9 (Soccer America), No. 10 (United Soccer Coaches), and No. 12 (TopDrawerSoccer).
The Nittany Lions are also No. 10 in the NCAA RPI.
NCAA TOURNAMENT HISTORY
The 2017 NCAA Tournament marks Penn State's 23rd-straight appearance.
Penn State sports an all-time record of 48-20-2 in NCAA Tournament matches, including a record of 13-6-0 in second round contests.
The Nittany Lions have advanced to the College Cup five times in (1999, '02, '05, '12, & '15) and won their first NCAA title in 2015.
CLIMBING THE CHARTS
Seniors Frannie Crouse and Megan Schafer have ascended the Penn State all-time charts during their Nittany Lion careers.
Crouse ranks 12th in points (89), is tied for 10th in goals (36), is 10th in game-winning goals (13), is sixth in shots on goal (109), is 11th in shots attempted (229), and is tied for 25th in assists (17).
Schafer ranks 16th in points (78), is tied for 15th in goals (30), is tied for 14th in game-winning goals (11), is 19th in shots attempted (153), is 13th in shots on goal (67), and is tied for 22nd in assists (18).
Along with Crouse and Schafer, a quartet of Nittany Lions have also etched their names into the PSU record books.
Haleigh Echard has netted 47 shots on goal during her career, which ranks 20th.
Salina Williford is 21st in shots on goal (46) and is 24th in shots attempted (126).
Emily Ogle's 14 goals rank 23rd all-time, while her four penalty kicks made are third-most in program history.
Junior Charlotte Williams is tied for 25th in assists (17), is 12th in shots on goal (71), is 22nd in shots attempted (149), and is tied for 26th in goals (12).
COMING UP CLUTCH
Seniors Frannie Crouse and Megan Schafer have combined for 24 career game-winning goals.
Crouse's 13 game-winning goals rank 10th all-time at PSU, while Schafer's 11 game-winning goals are tied for 14th.
PROLIFIC ATTACK
Since the start of the 2011 season, the Penn State women's soccer team has scored the second-most goals in the country (400). Virginia leads the nation in goals scored during that stretch (448). (Stats courtesy of UVa Sports Info.)
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.
QUICK ATTACK
In Penn State's 7-0 victory over Stony Brook, Laura Freigang netted three goals in the first 38 minutes of play, while Frankie Tagliaferri scored twice within a 49-second span.
DEPENDABLE DEFENSIVE DUO
Seniors Elizabeth Ball and Brittany Basinger have been a mainstay on the Nittany Lion backline during their time at PSU.
Heading into the Wake Forest match, Ball ranks sixth all-time at PSU in minutes played (7,611), while Basinger is 11th (6,856).
UP NEXT
The winner of No. 10 and third-seeded Penn State and No. 24 Wake Forest will play the winner of No. 7 and second-seeded West Virginia and No. 22 Rutgers on Sunday, Nov. 19. The match will start at 5 p.m. at Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium.