A red-hot Penn State women’s soccer team is one of four programs headed to 2015 College Cup this weekend to battle for the national championship in North Carolina. The top-seeded Nittany Lions will face No. 2 Rutgers, while No. 1 Florida State vs. No. 3 Duke face off on the other side of the bracket.
En route to its fifth College Cup appearance, Penn State has done it in flamboyant fashion. The Nittany Lions have crushed their opponents through their first four matches of the NCAA tournament, with a combined goal difference of 17 to zero. That clean sheet record dates back to the first round of the Big Ten tournament, which the Lions conceded a goal in a 3-1 win over Illinois on Nov. 1.
Penn State finished the regular season second in the country in the RPI, among 333 other programs, in part due to a rigorous strength of schedule, which featured three teams in the top 10 in RPI. Rutgers trailed not too far behind, coming in at fourth on that list and the Scarlett Knights are one of three teams this season that have handed Penn State a loss, the others West Virginia (No. 7 in RPI) and Minnesota, all three matches 1-0 defeats.
The Nittany Lions achieved vengeance against Rutgers and West Virginia in postseason action, however, though Minnesota did not enter their path. Penn State topped Rutgers 2-0 to win the Big Ten tournament, completing the conference regular season and tournament double.
Penn State has benefitted from a deep roster with players in excellent form late in the season. Coach Erica Walsh has shuffled her backline, comprised of freshman and sophomores, around late in the year to help them save their legs. The five-person rotation has been instrumental in helping senior goalkeeper Britt Eckerstrom keep the ball out of the net.
On the attack, midfielder Emily Ogle who finished the regular season with two goal and has been on a tear in the postseason with five goals through the Big Ten and NCAA tournaments in November. And the sophomore is only fourth on the team in goals, trailing forwards Mallory Weber (8), Frannie Crouse (10) and Megan Schafer (13).
Penn State played the Blue Devils to a scoreless overtime draw in Happy Valley back on Aug. 28 but with the College Cup held in North Carolina this year, a large Duke crowd can be expected. The Seminoles, reigning national champions entering their fifth consecutive College Cup appearance. The two teams haven’t met since the NCAA tournament semifinals in 2012, which Penn State won 2-1 in overtime to advance to its lone championship appearance.
That national championship has alluded the Blue and White through the program’s storied history, but in her ninth season at the helm, coach Walsh certainly has a balanced and talented team that is capable of making history.
