UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The 14-time defending Big Ten champion Penn State women’s soccer team was tabbed by its conference coaches to win yet another title in 2012. The Nittany Lions were picked atop the pack of the 12 conference teams. Illinois came in at second, followed by Ohio State.
Sixth-year head coach Erica Walsh and the Nittany Lions return the majority of their offensive core from last year’s Sweet Sixteen squad. 2011 MAC Hermann Trophy Finalist Maya Hayes (West Orange, N.J.), two-time NSCAA All-American Christine Nairn (Arnold, Md.), Emily Hurd (Sammamish, Wash.) and Taylor Schram (Canonsburg, Pa.) tallied 52 goals and 38 assists (142 points) to lead a potent Penn State offensive attack in 2011.
Hayes and Schram were selected for the U.S. Under-20 National Team, which will be competing in the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup later this month. The Nittany Lion duo completed training in Bradenton, Fla. on July 30 before being officially selected to head coach Steve Swanson’s squad. Hayes and Schram will miss the beginning portion of the season because of their U.S. National Team obligations, but are expected to return to the Penn State program no later than Sept. 16 as the Nittany Lions host Wisconsin in their Big Ten opener.
Additionally, the Lions will welcome back All-Big Ten Second Team goalkeeper Erin McNulty (Winnipeg, Manitoba) for her final year of eligibility. Also back is NSCAA All-Great Lakes and All-Big Ten First Team defender Lexi Marton (Aurora, Ontario) as well as All-Big Ten Freshman Team honorees Kori Chapic (Novelty, Ohio), Whitney Church (Ashburn, Va.) and Hurd.
Ninth-ranked Penn State opens its regular season schedule on Friday when it travels to No. 7 Virginia for a 7 p.m. contest. The Nittany Lions will return to Jeffrey Field on Aug. 19 as they host St. John’s at 2:30 p.m. Defending national champion and preseason No. 1 Stanford comes to town on Aug. 24 for a 7:30 kick time, which will be aired live on the Big Ten Network.
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