COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – A highly decorated former Nittany Lion women's soccer player and Penn State alumna, Alyssa Naeher (pronounced NAY-err) was named to the U.S. Olympic Women's Soccer Team that will compete at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020. This is the second Olympic Games for Naeher, a goalkeeper, who was named to the roster for the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games, and who has been a member of the USWNT since 2013. Former Penn State women's soccer All-American Erin McLeod, a two-time Olympian, was selected as an alternate for Canada Soccer's Women's National Team roster Wednesday.
In her fifth year with the National Women's Soccer League's (NWSL) Chicago Red Stars, Naeher has started all seven games with three clean sheets in 2021. She captivated the world with her penalty kick save to preserve a 2-1 lead vs. England and help the U.S. continue its run to the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup Championship.
Naeher was named the 2014 NWSL Goalkeeper of the Year with 106 saves in 24 games for the Boston Breakers which helped her secure a spot on Team USA's 2015 World Cup team. Her NWSL accolades include First XI recognition in 2014 and Second XI honors in 2016 and 2019.
Captain of the Nittany Lions as a senior, Naeher earned All-America honors at Penn State three times with first-team nods in 2007 and 2008. She was selected as the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year in 2007 and 2009.
"After three amazing seasons at Penn State, watching Alyssa grow into the world-class goalkeeper she is now has been incredibly fulfilling and enriching as a coach" said Penn State women's soccer coach Erica Dambach. "Alyssa is obviously a big talent, and she is extremely hard-working, but most importantly, she's a really good teammate."
A MAC Hermann Trophy semifinalist and two-time All-American for the Nittany Lions, McLeod's name sits atop the all-time Penn State winning percentage list at 92.1 with a 39-2-3 record and the program's best career goals against average at 0.64. She was selected the program's Most Valuable Player in 2005 and was a member of the 2005 NCAA All-Tournament Team as Penn State advanced to the College Cup that season.
The Nittany Lions made two NCAA Tournament appearances during her two-year career and won back-to-back Big Ten titles in 2004 and 2005.
"Erin shared her journey with our players a few months ago and I know I speak for the entire team when I say how proud we are of everything she has accomplished as a professional on the field and off the field as the co-founder of an inspiring organization," Dambach said. "Her career has been nothing short of incredible and this selection is the icing on the cake!"
McLeod and teammate Carmelina Moscato became the first two Nittany Lions to win an Olympic medal when Canada won a bronze medal in the 2012 London Olympics. McLeod was the starting goalkeeper for Canada for both the 2012 London and 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.
Canada qualified for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at the 2020 CONCACAF Women's Olympic Qualifying Championship in January 2020, earning its fourth consecutive Olympic berth in women's soccer.
McLeod, who signed with the Orlando Pride in 2020, has been a staple on the Canada Soccer Women's National Team since 2002 and became just the 12th player to make 100 career appearances for Canada with her 100th appearance coming in November of 2014. She was inducted into the Canadian Olympic Hall of Fame in 2019.
The USWNT returns to competition with a pair of friendly matches vs. Mexico on Thursday, July 1, and Monday, July 5, at Rentschler Field in East Hartford, Connecticut.
The 2020 Olympic Games, which were postponed for a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, are scheduled to begin with women's soccer tournament Group play matches beginning on Wednesday, July 21.
