Women's Soccer: No. 5 Penn State Awaits
August 28, 2009 08:29 AM | General
By Tim Goodenow for MSNsportsNET.com
August 28, 2009
GAME NOTES
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The 14th-ranked West Virginia women’s soccer team takes its first road trip of the season with a pair of matches in the Penn State Invitational. WVU battles tournament host and fifth-ranked Penn State on Saturday, Aug. 29, at 7:30 p.m. and takes on BYU on Monday, Aug. 31 at noon.
West Virginia and Penn State State meet for the sixth time, with WVU holding a slight 3-2 lead in the all-time series. The Mountaineers have won three straight over the Nittany Lions, all by one goal margins, including a pair of 1-0 wins in 2007. WVU is 2-1 all-time against PSU at Jeffrey Field.
The Mountaineers’ match with BYU marks the first meeting between the two programs. The only Mountain West Conference opponent WVU has faced is Wyoming, a 1-0 West Virginia victory in 2000.
PSU, led by third-year coach Erica Walsh, brings a record of 1-0-0 into Saturday’s contest. Walsh arrived in State College, Pa., in 2007 and guided the Nittany Lions to an 18-4-2 record. A year ago, PSU finished 16-8-0 while capturing its 11th-straight Big Ten Championship and the 2008 Big Ten Tournament crown.
The Nittany Lions return nine starters and are led by two-time All-America goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher. Penn State features a dangerous offense with All-America forward Katie Schoepfer and all-Big Ten forward Danielle Toney.
Penn State is coming off an impressive 1-0 win over Virginia in its season opener on Friday, Aug. 21. Toney scored the game-winner in the seventh minute, while Naeher had four saves for the shutout. The game, seen by 3,098 in attendance, was the second-largest crowd in Jeffrey Field history.
BYU, led by veteran coach Jennifer Rockwood, brings a record of 0-0-1 into Monday’s contest. Rockwood has led her teams to over 200 wins at the school, including a 17-4-2 mark in 2008.
The Cougars are led by senior defender Andrea Willis, a 2009 Soccer America Preseason All-American and Hermann Trophy watch list selection.
BYU played to a 0-0 tie at Hawaii in its season-opener on Friday, Aug. 21. The Cougars held a 15-10 shot advantage and 7-1 edge on corner kicks.
