LION CAREER 2011: Made 26 appearances with 15 starts in the midfield for Penn State...Earned All-Big Ten Freshman Team honors...Scored one goal and one assist on 14 shots...Made collegiate debut at then-No. 2 Stanford (8/19)...Named to Virginia Nike Soccer Classic All-Tourney Team...Started first collegiate game at Bucknell (9/20)...Assisted on game-winning goal against second-place and then-No. 22 Illinois (9/25)...Scored first collegiate goal, a game-winner vs. Nebraska (10/14).
U.S. NATIONAL TEAM EXPERIENCE
Participated in three training camps for U.S. U-17 squad in 2009.
BEFORE PENN STATE
Rated the No. 2 defender in the country and 10th-best player in the 2011 class by TopDrawerSoccer.com...Named to the 2010 NSCAA All-Region team...Helped lead Broad Run High to three-straight State, Region and District Championship from 2008-10 coached by Claire Collins...Earned VHSL AA State, Region and District Player of the Year in 2010...Named to the All-State First Team in 2009 and 2010...Earned 2010 Spring All-Met Player honor...All-Met Honorable Mention in 2009...Earned three letters in soccer.
CLUB EXPERIENCE
Plied her club soccer with the Loudoun U-18 squad coached by Randy May...Team earned third place at the Disney Showcase...Participated in Virginia ODP from 2005-10 while being apart of the Region 1 pool from 2007-10...Member of Virginia ODP trip to Germany as well as Region 1 ODP trip to Portugal and Spain.
PERSONAL
Whitney Marie Church was born April 30, 1993 in Fairfax, Va. to Donna and Ricki Church...Majoring in education...Intends to play soccer after graduation but would like to teach in the future.
QUOTING COACH WALSH ON CHURCH
"Whitney reads the game as well or better than any defender in her class. Her soccer brain combined with her athleticism and ability in the air will help her to step into the college game right away and challenge for a spot in the back for us. She is a tremendously talented defender and a very good overall soccer player and will be a great addition to our team."
QUOTING CHURCH ON PENN STATE
"I chose Penn State because the moment I stepped on the campus, I felt at home. It just felt like the right place to be and with the top of the line soccer program, I knew it would be the school I wanted to go to."
