UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — International competition is in full swing, and four Penn State women's soccer alumnae are representing the program at the highest level this summer.
Alyssa Naeher and Sam Coffey are members of the U.S. Women's National Team playing in the CONCACAF Championship Tournament alongside Rocky Rodriguez of the Costa Rican Women's National Team.
Across the Atlantic Ocean, Laura Freigang is playing for the Germany Women's National Team in the UEFA Women's Euro.
Championships are on the line as well as qualifications for the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup and the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics.
Read about each of our alumnae and their respective teams below:
UNITED STATES
Alyssa Naeher and Sam Coffey of the USWNT qualified for the 2023 World Cup and will face Canada in the CONCACAF championship final on July 18.
Along with the championship on the line, the winner of the tournament final will also earn a spot in the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics with the runner up advancing to a CONCACAF Olympic play-in against the winner of the third-place game.
Naeher started in goal vs Jamaica, earning her 48th clean sheet as the USWNT won 5-0 on July 7 in Mexico; the match that clinched the World Cup berth. The 2009 PSU alumna saved both of Jamaica's only shots on goal. Naeher has 48 caps to her name.
Coffey was with the U.S. team for its pre-tournament training camp and games against Colombia but did not play in either of those friendly matches. When Ashley Hatch sustained an injury in the match versus Jamaica, Coffey was called up to the 23-player roster to add depth to the USA's midfield during the knockout rounds.
2021 PSU alumna Coffey was available on the bench during USA's match vs Costa Rica but did not make an appearance.
COSTA RICA
With wins over Panama and Trinidad and Tobago, Rocky Rodriguez and the Costa Rican Women's National Team advanced to the CONCACAF semi-finals and qualified for the World Cup.
With losses to Canada and USA, the squad became Group B runners-up. They next face Jamaica in the third-place game July 18. The winner moves on to a CONCACAF Olympic play-in match to be played on a later date.
Rodriguez has made three starts so far during the tournament. On July 5 versus Panama, Rodriguez started the game off right in the sixth minute with a header into the back of the net. Costa Rica went on to defeat Panama 3-0.
The 2015 PSU alum is averaging 76 minutes per match during the tournament.
GERMANY
2017 PSU alumna Laura Freigang and the Germany Women's National Team went a perfect 3-0 and did not concede a goal in UEFA Euro 2022 group stage. Next, the team will face Austria in the quarterfinals of the knockout stage.
Freigang has played one match in the group stage as the squad went on to defeat Finland 3-0.
To stay up-to-date with Penn State women's soccer, follow the team on Twitter and Instagram, @PennStateWSOC, and 'like' the team on Facebook.
