By Scott Traweek, GoPSUsports.com Student Staff Writer
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - It was a season marked by highs for the 2011 Penn State women's soccer team.

The Nittany Lions dominated the Big Ten with an impressive 10-1-0 record during the regular season on their way to winning an unprecedented 14th-consecutive Big Ten Championship.  Penn State then proceeded to make a solid run in the NCAA tournament before falling to top-seeded Wake Forest (17-3-4) in the round of 16, finishing the season at 21-5-0.

Though the final result was less than ideal, head coach Erica Walsh called the season a success because of the steps the team made toward the ultimate goal of winning a national championship.  The players matured after a rough start and successfully broke through the second round barrier in the NCAA tournament that had plagued the Nittany Lions over the past couple of seasons.

"The reality is, the sweet 16 is great, but that's not our goal," said Walsh.  "I think we're proud of the steps we made this year, but it was just a stepping stone."

Penn State began its journey with a difficult test against then ranked No. 2 Stanford, a game in which the Cardinal imposed their will early on and dominated the youthful Lions, 4-0.  Stanford exploited the players' inexperience and taught them a valuable lesson - they needed to come together as a team and develop an identity if they wanted to compete on the national level.

"I think we went into that game not really knowing exactly the way we were going to play and it showed," reflected coach Walsh.  "You can't have indecision facing Stanford."

The loss against Stanford in the first game of the season marked a turning point for the Nittany Lions.  The players' determination to prove that they could compete with the best in the country accompanied by a relentless work ethic fostered by their coaches epitomized the team's attitude both in practice and on the field.

Penn State continued it's challenging pre-Big Ten schedule routing previously ranked No. 17 West Virginia, 5-0, followed by downing seventh-ranked Virginia, 3-2.  Sophomore forward Maya Hayes established herself as an elite attacker, scoring four goals between the two games with an assist against the Cavaliers, escorted by her cheerful fellow sophomore forward Taylor Schram who assisted three of her scores.

The grueling matches against out of conference opponents proved to be crucial in preparing the Nittany Lions for Big Ten play and showing the players and coaches how they compare to the top teams in the nation.

"It keeps you grounded," commented coach Walsh on the tough out of conference schedule.  "We want to walk out of September feeling a) ready to tackle the Big Ten season and b) realizing exactly where we stand among the country's best."

The decision to brave a tumultuous out of conference itinerary proved to be the right call.  Penn State, after dropping the Big Ten opener against Wisconsin, 1-0, flew through the remaining conference schedule winning ten straight games and finishing the season with a flawless 9-0-0 record on their home turf.  Led by an unwavering senior class dedicated to defining their legacy and carrying on the Nittany Lion tradition, the team took home its record breaking 14th-straight Big Ten title.

"That's one thing that our seniors really instilled in our team is this is a privilege every day to play for this program and it's a privilege to play at Jeffrey in front of those fans," said Walsh.

Although the Nittany Lions entered the conference tournament the favorite to win the championship, they fell, 2-1, in overtime against Illinois in the finals.  Nevertheless, the players took yet another negative and turned it into a reason to up their level, to train even harder.

The week of practice following the Big Ten tournament was the best the team had all year.  Once again, the seniors came forward and inspired their teammates, daring them to step up to the challenge. 

"I just think it was a really special formula in this senior class," said Walsh.  "To me, championship teams are built out of great players stepping up and achieving greatness, but you've got your nucleus and your core that drives you every day and our senior class was our nucleus and our core."

Heading into the NCAA Tournament, the players were confident and their desire was as strong as ever.  Penn State dominated a proven Army defense in the first round, 1-0, out-shooting the Black Knights, 29-3.  They continued the momentum into the second round, cruising past Marquette, 4-1, and securing their spot in the final 16 at top-seeded Wake Forest.

By the time Penn State reached the third round, injuries had taken their toll.  Taylor Schram was unavailable for the game against the Demon Deacons and key starters junior midfielder Maddy Evans and freshman midfielder Emily Hurd were forced to play hurt.  After going up 1-0 early, the Nittany Lions fell into a 4-1-deficit midway through the second half.  Despite the score, the players refused to give in, pouring on shot after shot only to come up short in the end, 4-2, after a goal by Maya Hayes in the 83rd minute, her second of the game.

As coach Walsh reflected on the tournament and the season in general, she saw promise.  Her team was merely a few steps away from their true goal, a national championship, and with the right mindset, that goal was attainable.

"What I hope that the 2011 season accomplished for our team is to get them to understand that it's achievable and that if they believe it, if they truly believe it in their heart, that they can achieve it," said Walsh.

Looking ahead to the 2012 season, the Nittany Lions are losing a top-of-the-line senior class that embodied the team's confidence and energetic personality.  Each senior contributed to the team as a whole in her own way both on and off the field.  Their leadership was invaluable and replacing them will be no easy task.  Coach Walsh was quick to note junior defender Lexi Marton as a candidate to step into the leadership role.

"She's got all the pieces to be a great leader," said Walsh.

On the other side, Penn State returns the vast majority of its players including its feature trio on offense, Hayes, Schram, and junior midfielder Christine Nairn.  Hayes is coming off of a phenomenal season where she put up record-setting and league-leading numbers in goals (31) and points (70).

Coach Walsh has high hopes for next season and is not afraid to set a goal her players will have to strive to achieve, seeking a number one seed in the NCAA Tournament.  After going undefeated on Jeffrey Field this season, playing at home would prove to be a decisive advantage.

"My biggest goal for the 2012 team is to be a one seed going into that NCAA Tournament," said Walsh.  "Let's play at home on Jeffrey Field in front of our home fans.  I'll take anyone on any day under any conditions on Jeffrey Field."

Her message to the players going into the offseason was simple: If they want to win the grand prize, then they must be willing to work for it.

"Their expectations for the fall should be set on their desire to improve in the offseason.  Everybody wants to win the big one, but do you want to put the work in?"

The Nittany Lions remain a young team and their bench players have proven themselves time and time again.  With this year's experience comes a veteran squad going into next season.  The stage is set and the future looks promising.

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - 'Tis the season for giving thanks, and the Penn State student-athletes wanted to take an opportunity to say thank you to their loyal fans on Thanksgiving.

As you sit down with family and friends to eat your traditional meal while the Lions and Cowboys host their annual Thanksgiving day home games, Penn State Athletics would like to thank you, the fans, for the unrivaled support you give every team on campus.  Penn State's teams would not be the same without the greatest fans in college sports.

As a token of their appreciation, several athletes would like to say thank you and Happy Thanksgiving for the support you give them throughout the athletic season.

By Scott Traweek, GoPSUsports.com Student Staff Writer
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The fourth-seeded and 13th-ranked Penn State women's soccer team (20-4-0) emerged from its 1-0 victory against Army last Friday night amped and ready for its second round bout against No. 12 Marquette (18-3-0).  The players brought the energy to practice this week and have shown that they are set to compete on the national stage.

"Everybody's just so pumped up and so psyched and ready to go," said freshman midfielder Kori Chapic.  "We flipped on that other gear and we felt it [Tuesday] at practice, so I think that we're ready."

"I honestly think this was the best training session of the year," added head coach Erica Walsh.

The team's enthusiasm showed in each and every drill.  The players were running relentlessly and communicating on a constant basis.  Mistakes were few and far between.  The coaches responded by pushing them harder, challenging them to exceed their previous accomplishments.  Not a single player faltered.  They merely encouraged each other more and upped their game to the next level.  It was the seniors who were at the heart of the endeavor.

"They're a great inspiration," said Chapic.  "After our last game at home there were just tears in their eyes and it's very inspiring, especially as a freshman, to see how much heart they have for Jeffrey Field, for Penn State, and for the rest of their teammates."

As the players have entered the postseason, realization has dawned on many of them, particularly the seniors, that the next game could be their last.  The concept of 'win or go home' has fueled an intense determination that they have brought onto the field.

"It's the NCAA tournament and everyone knows if you lose you're out," said senior midfielder Ali Schaefer.  "You don't know what to expect.  You just know that you're going to give everything you have every game."

"We have to go into every single game with the highest expectations," added Chapic.  "We have to come in with our minds in the right places."

Penn State faces a difficult challenge this weekend in the form of a Marquette team that has shown both a balanced attack and a stout defense with 13 shutouts on the season including a 1-0 win in the first round of the tournament against Toledo.  Coach Walsh sees the game as a quality test for Penn State going forward.

"We're going to need to be sharp to get a result against this Marquette team and I think that's exactly what you need at this point," said Walsh.

Every game for the rest of the tournament will be a fight and every team will bring different challenges to the table.  It's up to the players to adapt and find a way through the adversity. The Nittany Lions know what to expect and they have been well prepared.

"We are preparing ourselves for a battle each and every day," said Schaefer.  "Every competitor that we're going to face from here on out is going to be difficult and we're expecting to go in full force."

After watching her team in practice this week, coach Walsh couldn't be more proud.

"After three hard months these guys are in a fantastic place," grinned Walsh.  "I couldn't ask for anything more out of them, their commitment, their unity, their dedication, I am so impressed with this group."

The Nittany Lions look to break the second round barrier that has plagued the team in the NCAA tournament for the past couple of years and the players are confident that their time has come.

"This is our year," said Schaefer.  "We've been doing wonderfully.  All the goals we've set we've achieved, so winning on Friday is just going to be one more check on our list."

"There's a different level of determination right now than I've ever seen in this team," added coach Walsh.

The game will take place at 5 p.m. Friday evening in Winston-Salem, N.C. Should the Lions advance they will face the winner between Wake Forest and Boston University.

By Scott Traweek, GoPSUsports.com Student Staff Writer
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The Nittany Lion women's soccer team defeated Army, 1-0, on its home turf Friday night, capping off a flawless 9-0 record at Jeffrey Field this season.

In a game where the Penn State offense completely dominated throughout, out-shooting its opponent 29-3, it was a goal by junior midfielder Christine Nairn in the final five minutes that propelled the Nittany Lions to victory over the Black Knights.

"We always have confidence in each other and we knew somebody's going to step up," said Nairn.  "We were just trying everything we could... they [Army] did a great job and fortunately we were able to put one away late."

The offense struggled to find a rhythm early against a stingy Army defense that dropped six players back at all times.  The Black Knights hoped to catch the Nittany Lions off guard and score on a counter attack.  Though Penn State controlled the ball for virtually the entire first half, they were unable to oust Army's sensational goalie, senior Monica Lee, who made a career high 12 saves in the game.

"I think it was just a combination of compacting the midfield and then their keeper just playing big today," commented sophomore forward Maya Hayes on what the Army defense was doing so well.

The Lions poured on shot after shot towards the end of the half, only to be turned away by the Black Knights' defense with every attempt.  Lee made her presence known on every corner kick and breakaway opportunity Penn State had.  She slid out of goal on more than one occasion to deny Hayes, the nation's leading scorer.  The game was knotted at zero going into half time.

"It was frustrating, but it was great to be surrounded by teammates that you can depend on when you can't put the ball in and score for our team," said Hayes, who tallied eight shots on the night.

The second half proved to tell a similar tale save for a single, critical exception: the offensive blitz by the Nittany Lions had begun to wear Army down.  Penn State relentlessly attacked the goal, unleashing a seemingly endless barrage of shots, but to no avail.  The Army defense held strong until the final five minutes when sophomore defender Bri Hovington lofted a perfectly placed cross by Hayes to Nairn who controlled the ball and slipped it into the lower left corner of the net.

"In my head I was just saying, 'just put it on goal, put it on goal,'" said Nairn.

"We wanted to push the tempo," added head coach Erica Walsh.  "We wanted to be the ones to decide how quickly the game was going to end."

The Black Knights clearly demonstrated why they had compiled 15 shutouts this season.  They constrained the middle, forcing Penn State's formidable trio of Nairn, Hayes, and sophomore forward Taylor Schram, to take difficult shots from outside the box and then Lee smothered any ball that snuck by the defense.  It was the Nittany Lions' unfettered determination, fueled by the home crowd, which allowed them to emerge triumphantly.

"I thought the crowd was phenomenal," said coach Walsh.  "I felt a tremendous energy in here tonight, a positive energy and it kind of willed us to win this game."

The coaches have repeatedly told the players how important it is to win on their home field.  The players have united behind their seniors and their captains and shown that they never lose at Jeffrey Field.

The Nittany Lions head to Winston-Salem, N.C., home of the Wake Forest Demon Deacons, where they will face Marquette in the second round of the NCAA tournament.

By Scott Traweek, GoPSUsports.com Student Staff Writer
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The fourth-seeded Penn State women's soccer team will commence its NCAA Tournament bid at home Friday night at 7 p.m. against the Army Black Knights of West Point.  This marks the 17th-straight tournament appearance for the Nittany Lions to go along with their record of 14-consecutive Big Ten titles.

After a heartbreaking 2-1-overtime loss in the Big Ten championship game to No. 18 Illinois on a windy Sunday afternoon, the Lions returned to practice this week with a renewed sense of determination heading into the tournament.  The coaches viewed Sunday's game as a teaching opportunity, while the players used it as a way to fuel their desire to perform on the national stage.

"We took that loss to just build fire for us and get even more excited for the NCAAs," said senior midfielder and team captain Jess Rosenbluth.  "We've used it to fuel us to come out even harder and stronger on Friday."

Head coach Erica Walsh was quick to point out that the time to move forward and concentrate on the team's original goals was now.

"This has been our focus all season long," said coach Walsh on the upcoming NCAA tournament.  "I think that this group of upperclassmen has been really focused on making a push at the national level.  This is a whole new season for us and I think the excitement's there."

The new season begins as Penn State hosts Army in the first round of the tournament, a team the Nittany Lions have never faced before and have virtually no information regarding what type of team they may be facing.   Nevertheless, the players are unconcerned and exude confidence in both their teammates and their coaches.

"We're all very focused," said Rosenbluth.  "We all have a strong belief that we can go really far this year.  Our main focus and goal from day one of preseason has been a National Championship so we're excited to start the journey."

"We expect them to be fit and play hard and be disciplined," added sophomore forward Taylor Schram.  "We're just trying to get ready and bring our energy.  That's all we can do is play our game.  Doesn't matter who we play."

The Black Knights have a proven defense that has completed fifteen shutouts and propelled them through the Patriot League and into the postseason.  Coach Walsh expects a grueling battle and hopes to attack the Army defense, keeping them on their heels the entire game.

"We're going to try to score early and often," said coach Walsh.  "I think our focus is really to put them on their heels and to impose ourselves on our home field."

The Nittany Lions are excited to play on their very own Jeffrey Field where they boast an undefeated 8-0 record this season, outscoring their opponents 27-5.  The general mindset has been that there's nothing like a home game on Friday night, under the lights, and in front of the Penn State faithful.

"It's huge for us," said Rosenbluth.  "Our favorite place to play is at Jeffrey, so having home field advantage is a huge advantage."

The key to the game will be the Nittany Lion offense, an attack that can strike at any moment and from practically any player of the field.

"We have so many threats that teams will try and defend us one way, but then we'll break them down a different way," said freshman defender Jackie Molinda.

At the forefront of the Penn State offense is arguably the most feared trio in the country consisting of Schram, junior midfielder Christine Nairn, and sophomore forward Maya Hayes, who leads the nation in goals scored (27) and total points (62).  Though the three struggled against Illinois, holding them at bay for a second game in a row will be a tall task.  As Schram notes, all they have to do is relax and compliment each other's games.

"I think we just need to find our rhythm early," said Schram.  "Just have fun with it.  That's when the three of us play the best together is when we're having fun and trying different things and laughing and playing off each other."

Overall the team is confident.  Each player knows what it will take to make a deep run into the NCAA tournament.  They believe in each other.  They have the drive and the inspiration to win.

"It's going to take a lot of dedication, a lot of concentration and some hard work," said Molinda.

"Just playing with heart and desire and just wanting it more than everyone else and maybe a little luck," smiled Schram.

All they need now is to focus on one game at a time, win one game at a time.

"In preseason we came up with this slogan of 'one more,'" said coach Walsh.  "'One more this, one more set piece, one more sprint.'  And that's kind of what we're feeling right now is we want one more game, we want one more game."

Should Penn State emerge victorious, they will face the winner of Marquette and Toledo in the second round.

By Scott Traweek, GoPSUsports.com Student Staff Writer
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The 11th-ranked and top-seeded Penn State women's soccer team will play eighth-seeded Northwestern (2-15-1, 1-9-1 Big Ten) in the first round of the Big Ten tournament Wednesday evening in Evanston, Ill.  The Nittany Lions come in sporting an11-game winning streak accompanied by an all but flawless 10-1-conference record.

The Nittany Lions (17-3-0, 10-1-0 Big Ten) dominated the Wildcats in their previous encounter, 4-0, as senior midfielder Ali Schaefer put on a show for the home fans with two goals and an assist.  Sophomore forward Maya Hayes added two goals of her own to cap off the crushing offensive performance.  The defense flashed their prowess as well holding Northwestern scoreless with six shots the entire game.

The key going into the matchup Wednesday will be for the Lions to stay focused on one game at a time and not look ahead to the possible rematch against either Wisconsin or Minnesota in the next round.  If Penn State plays its game, the Lions will put themselves in a position to win against Northwestern.

Should the Nittany Lions advance into the second round, they could face two capable defenses in the forms of Wisconsin and Minnesota.  The Badgers handed Penn State its sole conference loss this season in a defensive bout in which the Lions fell 1-0 despite outshooting their opponent 12-6.

In a game featuring 38 fouls, 27 of them on the Badgers, and six yellow cards, Penn State was unable to capitalize on key opportunities and, as head coach Erica Walsh would say, lost the physical battle on the field.  A rematch with Wisconsin in the Big Ten tournament would be too perfect for a newly improved Nittany Lion team yearning for round two.  Since that game Penn State has gone undefeated, outscoring their opponents 34-6.

The other possible second round matchup would be the Golden Gophers, who tied Wisconsin in their first meeting.  Penn State defeated Minnesota 1-0 earlier this season in another defensive struggle.  Despite the score, the Lions outshot their foe 16-5, 7-1 in the second half.  It was Maya Hayes who put in the game-winning goal off of a through ball combination from Taylor Schram and Carly Niness.

Penn State heads into the Big Ten tournament with one of the top offenses in the country led by the Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year, Maya Hayes, who leads the nation in both goals scored (25) and total points (58).  She is complimented by two more Big Ten honorees in Taylor Schram and Christine Nairn.  The trio has been all but unstoppable this season and their continued dominance will be crucial to the Nittany Lions continued success throughout the Big Ten tournament.

The key to the offense will be the team's flank play, an aspect that has been pounded into the players' heads by coach Walsh at every practice all season long.  Teams will try to defend the middle of the field to hold the triad of Hayes, Schram and Nairn at bay, which means players like Jess Rosenbluth and Emily Hurd will see their fair share of opportunities throughout the tournament.  If they can keep up the same intensity they have played with all season, opponents will have no choice but to defend the edges, which will allow the forwards to go on an offensive frenzy.

The defense has played consistently well all season, aside from a couple of occasions, and the bench has been exceptional.  As a team, the Nittany Lions are well balanced and experienced with a family-like chemistry that's simply fun to watch.

By Scott Traweek, GoPSUsports.com Student Staff Writer
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The Penn State women's soccer team capped off its regular season schedule with a sure-handed 2-0 victory against the Purdue Boilermakers (7-11-2, 4-6-1 Big Ten) at home on Senior Night.  The win marked the first time the seniors have gone undefeated on Jeffrey Field in their collegiate careers and allowed the Nittany Lions to clench the No. 1 seed in the upcoming Big Ten Tournament.

Before the game, the players described their traditional bus ride over to the stadium as an exciting, yet emotional time for everyone.  They were amped and ready to play a home game on Friday night in front of their families and friends, but they were also sad to see the seniors play their last regular season home game.

"We were all cheering louder than ever," said freshman defender Jackie Molinda.  "And just with our seniors, we love them, they're such a great group, so it was an emotional ride."

Penn State (17-3-0, 10-1-0 Big Ten) had a hard time getting the offense going in the first half.  A cold, wet field accompanied by a stingy Purdue defense, made it difficult for the Nittany Lions to find a rhythm early.  It was an emotional game and the players found themselves caught up in the atmosphere on Jeffrey Field and the concept of losing their seniors next season.

"I think it's an emotional night for the seniors and for everybody involved," said senior defender and team captain Emma Thomson.  "I think at times it probably got the better of us, but once we settled down we started to connect our passes and we started to play the game we're known to play."

With the score knotted at zero going into halftime, the players rallied around their coaches who challenged them to show that they are one of the top teams in the country.

"It was just about that it's bigger than the Big Ten now," said sophomore forward Taylor Schram of the speech at halftime.  "We want to set a standard to everybody in the nation that we're for real this year, that we weren't playing like it tonight, and that we needed to pick it up.  I think they [the coaches] really did a good job of getting us fired up."

Penn State came out of the locker room energized and focused on their present goal.  The result showed immediately as three minutes into the half, freshman midfielder Emily Hurd took a ball from Schram and launched it just under the cross bar for the first goal of the game.  The score was just what the Nittany Lions needed to ignite the offense, an attack that has outscored opponents 34-2 in the second half over the last 19 games.  From there the Purdue defense crumbled as Penn State poured on shot after shot until in the 64^th minute, Schram put the game out of reach with her 12^th goal of the season off of a give and go from her fellow forward Maya Hayes.  Head coach Erica Walsh described Schram's play as "game-changing."

"When she moved into that attacking mid role I thought that things really started to turn for us," said coach Walsh.

The Nittany Lions dominated the second half; out-shooting Purdue 15-2 and rarely letting the ball leave the Boilermaker side of the field.  To win on Senior Night and to go undefeated at home was the perfect way for the players to reward their fellow seniors for all the hard work they put in and all that they've accomplished at Penn State.

"Our seniors are like the core and heart of our team and to win for them on seniors night and go undefeated on Jeffrey is just everything that we could have wanted for this season," said Schram.

"These guys are right now defining their legacy and I think for the most part every game this season they've made it very clear that they want to accomplish something big this year," said coach Walsh.

Penn State plays Northwestern in the first round of the Big Ten Tournament on Wednesday.  As key starters like Maddy Evans and Bri Hovington return from injury, the players are more confident than ever.  They crave more than a Big Ten title and they are ready to fight on the national stage for a championship trophy.

By Scott Traweek, GoPSUsports.com Student Staff Writer
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The role of a senior on the Penn State women's soccer team carries with it a number of responsibilities.

Seniors are leaders, leading by example both on and off the field.  They welcome incoming freshmen to the team and embrace them into the Nittany Lion tradition. They are the glue that holds the team together when faced with adversity, brewing the chemistry that drives their team through the season.

"It all surrounds our leadership," said senior defender and team captain Emma Thomson.  "We have to be the ones that lead the team through thick and thin.  Whenever things are good, whenever things are bad it's always on our seniors' shoulders and we take it with great pride."

It's the seniors who pass down the Penn State tradition from generation to generation.  They set the tone in the locker room, during practices and during games.

"I think they're the ones that set the culture," said head Coach Erica Walsh.  "As far as I'm concerned the culture on this team right now is the best that it's ever been during my time here and I directly attribute it to the work that they put in."

Their hard work has paid off with a Big Ten trophy for every season they've played as a Nittany Lion, extending their future alma mater's streak of consecutive conference championships to 14.  The fact is every senior knows Penn State is expected to win the Big Ten year after year.

"We're [14]-time big ten champs and you learn that from your freshman year to your senior year," said redshirt senior Meghan Gill.  "By the time you're a senior you know what it means... to step out on that practice field every day and work to be that champion, not just show up on game days."

"Every team looks at us as the biggest target and so we always have to come out each game strong and focused and ready to battle for every game," added senior captain Jess Rosenbluth.

A senior's experience plays a key role in keeping the team focused.  Whether the previous game ended in a win, tie, or loss, it is up to them to bring the team back to Earth in preparation for their next opponent.

"It's really helpful having a lot of experience," said Rosenbluth.  "Each game provides you a different challenge so being able to play each game and through it for four years is really helpful."

The impact the seniors have had on such a youthful team this season was made apparent early on.  The Nittany Lions opened the season with a 4-0 setback to Stanford, the second-ranked team in the country.  Since then Penn State has gone 16-2-0, 9-1-0 in the Big Ten, with a flawless 7-0-0 record at home.

Not only have the players learned fundamentally from the game against Stanford, they have come together as a team, led by their seasoned veterans, combining for a school record 69 assists with goals from 11 different players and should they run into the Cardinal again somewhere down the road, the result will be different.

"The most important thing is expectations and their expectations are high," said Coach Walsh.  "I don't think they're interested in just being good this year and I think they show that in the way that they trained."

"I just think it shows the depth, the strength of our team and how dynamic we are as a unit," added Thomson.

Each senior provides something different to the team as a whole.  Players like Carly Niness and Krissy Tribbett bring energy to the field during practice and games when the team is in need of a spark.  Senior captains Jess Rosenbluth and Emma Thomson lead by example, passing along their knowledge of the game to their younger teammates.  Senior midfielder Ali Schaefer stepped up with career highs in both goals (4) and assists (5).  Meghan Gill adds a passionate and determined personality, along with her entertaining women's soccer blog.  Together these seniors helped build the team that won Penn State's 14th straight Big Ten title.

"There's a lot of work done off the field that these seniors do in their own little ways," said Coach Walsh.  "We have all sorts of leaders in this senior class and I think they've all done their part to take this team to where we are right now."

Penn State heads into its final game of the regular season against Purdue Friday night at 7 p.m., Senior Night.  The Nittany Lions will then enter the Big Ten Tournament boasting one of the top offenses in the country backed by a defense with 11 shutouts, all led by an experienced senior class hungry for a national championship.

"For them [the seniors], I think it's a stepping stone," said Coach Walsh.  "I think it's a stepping stone to something bigger and hopefully the experience we gained in the Big Ten this year will help us on the national stage."

By Scott Traweek, GoPSUsports.com Student Staff Writer
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - With victories at Michigan State (3-1) and Michigan (4-0) over the weekend, the Nittany Lion women's soccer team captured its unprecedented 14th consecutive Big Ten title, the longest streak by a Big Ten women's program in any sport.

Though the stakes were high prior to the two crucial conference away games, the players remained zeroed in on their goal.

"Just play our game," said sophomore sensation Maya Hayes. "I think that's been our mindset throughout the entire season... We have to take each game one step at a time and I think that was the main focus this weekend."

After struggling early and falling behind 1-0 against the Spartans, Penn State emerged victorious following a three-goal offensive blitz in the second half within a span of 15 minutes.  Two goals by Hayes put the Lions ahead and a score by junior midfielder Maddy Evans just 87 seconds later sealed the deal.

"You can prepare for one part of our team, but you can't prepare for everything," said Hayes.  "There's no right way to mark us or right way to stop us and I think that's one of the crucial pieces of this team this year is everybody's a big part and plays a big role."

The Nittany Lions carried that momentum into Sunday's match against Michigan, whom they attacked early and often, jumping out to a two-goal lead by the end of the first half.  When the second half began, the players never let up as Hayes scored her second goal of the afternoon, fourth of the weekend, adding to her nation-leading season total of 25 goals.  Senior midfielder Ali Schaefer capped off the afternoon with her career high fourth goal of the season giving Penn State the win 4-0 and the conference championship.

"It's a tradition," said sophomore forward Taylor Schram on winning a 14th straight Big Ten crown.  "We're a family with everybody that's been here before us and our team now and Penn State pride is the most important thing to us, so to carry on a tradition like that, it means a lot to all of us."

"Winning brings confidence," added goalie Erin McNulty.  "I think we're just working hard and trying to get better every day and hoping to be where we want to be at the end of the season."

The urge to continue the streak of winning the Big Ten was apparent in each player this season.  They expect to win every year.  As head coach Erica Walsh has said in the past, their focus and determination is displayed in the way that they train during practice and battle during games.  They believe in the Penn State tradition and those players who came before them.  They know what needs to be done to play at a consistently high level.

"That's been our motto for forever and we really bought into that this season," said Hayes on following in the footsteps of their predecessors.  "Just to play for those who came before us and to put work in every single day whether it's practice or a game or a light day or a hard day.  Whatever it takes to just make each other better."

At the core of Penn State's success through the years have been the coaches.  As freshmen enter college and seniors leave, it's up to the coaches and recruiters to bring in new talent and integrate these players into the Penn State tradition.  They energize the players prior to every game and help refocus the team afterwards.  Both on and off the field, the coaches are the ones who build the foundation for their team.

"They are the people that get us ready every year," said Schram.  "They train us hard, they make sure that we're mentally prepared for every game, and they keep us focused, so they are a huge piece of it all."

"[Coach Walsh] gives us a speech before the game and we all look at each other and we're like 'we are so lucky to have such a wonderful speaker,'" added freshman midfielder Emily Hurd.  "She just gives us so much energy."

With the Big Ten conference under their belts, the Nittany Lions crave more.

"This year we have higher standards, so it was great to win the Big Ten, but we want to keep moving forward," said Schram.

Penn State plays its final game of the regular season at home against Purdue Friday at 7 p.m.  It's Senior Night and the players look to extend their 10-game winning streak, while protecting a daunting 7-0-0 home record.