UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The saying "defense wins championships" may or may not be true, but one thing is certain – the Nittany Lions' commitment to keeping the ball out of the back of the net is paying off.
After giving up two goals against both UCLA and Virginia early in the season, Penn State's back line has been greatly improved. On top of ranking first in the Big Ten with only three goals allowed in conference play the entire season, the Blue and White have only allowed eight goals in 12 games on the year and have registered six total shutouts.
"I trust them," head coach Erica Dambach said of her defense. "I trust the back five, I trust Ogie in front of them. I trust that we are going to be really stingy defensively, and I trust that they can help us create chances in the attack off of really good defending."
But what changed from the beginning of the year, when the Nittany Lions had their fair share of mistakes in the backfield?
"Communication has just gotten better as a group," Dambach noted. "I think we have been a bit more determined to be honest. Earlier on I think the group thought it was just going to come. They've been more intentional and deliberate in their actions and in film, training, and it's paid off on the field."
Redshirt junior defender Kaleigh Riehl, who has started all 12 games for Penn State this year and has played an important role on the team's defense, talked about some of the improvements the unit has made together.
"As a back line, we continue to get more comfortable with each other and you can see that what we've discussed in training and in film is starting to translate onto the field," Riehl said. "We're working as a more cohesive unit all together, and that includes the midfielders and forwards and goalkeepers. I think that's a huge reason for those shutouts this season."
As Riehl mentioned, the team's incredibly low goals-allowed total is not just attributed to the defense, but the goaltending as well. Junior goalkeeper Amanda Dennis has come into her own in her second year as Penn State's full-time starter. The former Big Ten All-Freshman Team recipient has made 28 saves on the year to the tune of a very respectable .778 save percentage.
"Amanda Dennis is our anchor, and not just because that's her position," Dambach said of the San Diego, California native. 'We've heard her voice a lot more in the last weeks and she's coming into her own confidence wise. I think she's a real force back there."
"Amanda has been huge for us this season," Riehl added. "She has such a powerful voice both on and off the field and she's really just someone that's well respected within the team. She's made huge plays for us this season and she's a big reason why we've had six shutouts. I just think overall she's a player everyone can trust."
Despite the recent success on the defensive side of the ball, the Nittany Lions' refuse to take their foot off the gas. They continue to seek improvement in any way possible.
"The thing that I love about this team is that no one is complacent, and everyone just wants to learn and grow and I feel I'm the same in that aspect," Riehl said. "I really think we're a team that's never satisfied and we just want to keep getting better each game."
With that mindset, Riehl, Dennis and the rest of Penn State's defense will look to continue their string of shutouts as they travel to East Lansing, Michigan to take on the Michigan State Spartans Friday night at 7 p.m.
