TOKYO, Japan – Penn State alumnae Alyssa Naeher and head coach Erica Dambach won the bronze medal with the U.S. Women's National team following a 4-3 win over Australia. Megan Rapinoe and Carli Lloyd both scored twice in the win.
Naeher started five of the six matches in goal for the U.S., including a heroic effort in the quarterfinal match against the Netherlands. Naeher saved three penalty kicks, one in regulation and two in a penalty kick shootout.
Naeher's first PK save came in the 80th minute with the match tied at 2-2. Naeher's save sent the game into extra time. In the PK shootout, Naeher saved the first and fourth shot attempts by the Neatherlands. The U.S. advanced with a 4-2 win in penalty kicks.
An injury in the Olympic semifinal match against Canada in the 30th minute forced Naeher to be subbed out. She was unavailable to play in the bronze medal against Australia due to this injury.
Dambach has now been on staff with two Olympic medal winning teams. Dambach served as an assistant coach with the USWNT during the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing when the U.S. captured the gold.
Dambach enters her 15th season at the helm for the Nittany Lions this fall. Last season, she led Penn State to the program's 20th Big Ten regular season title and the 11th under her direction. The Nittany Lions advanced to the Sweet 16 for the eighth time in the last 10 seasons and made the NCAA Tournament for the 26th straight season.
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