Blue White Illustrated

P ASADENA, Calif. – The biggest mo- ment of goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher's career came in the 84th minute of the semifinal in the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup in Lyon, France. She and the tournament-favorite United States Women's National Team had a 2-1 lead over England. But that lead was 12 yards away from being erased. A converted penalty kick for England would more than likely send the match to extra time. England captain Stephanie Houghton took a short four steps to the ball and struck it to her left. Naeher dived to her right, directly into the path of the rolling shot. She grabbed the ball and held it tight. "She saved our ass in that moment," co- captain Alex Morgan said afterward. The United States held on to win, 2-1, before reclaiming the World Cup title in the final against the Netherlands – a 2-0 shutout for Naeher. She allowed only three goals over the course of the team's seven games. "Our coaches did a great job preparing us for every situation," Naeher said at the Rose Bowl after the United States began its Victory Tour by defeating Ireland, 3- 0, on Aug. 3. "Everything they could see coming, we prepared for. You've got four years to prepare for something like that." In the Lyon crowd, Naeher's twin sister and parents jumped with joy, while Nae- her's Penn State coach, Erica Dambach, filmed and tweeted a video from her seat in the stadium. Naeher played in 78 games at Penn State and said her time in University Park pre- pared her for a career as the starting goalie for the four-time world champi- ons. "I learned how to be a professional," said Naeher, who plays club soccer for the NWSL's Chicago Red Stars. "[Dambach] taught us not just how to be good players but to be good people and how to priori- tize things and mentally prepare for things. She treated us like professionals and held us at a high level, and that helped us going forward as professionals." The team arrived back home to a ticker tape parade in New York. Fellow Penn State alum and defender Ali Krieger shared a float with Naeher, and the two couldn't help but notice that their alma mater was represented in the crowds lin- ing the streets of the city. "Every person we saw who wore a Penn State shirt or memorabilia, we were shouting each other out like, 'Oh my God, look!' " Krieger said. "Having that con- nection with your alumni is pretty amaz- ing. You don't find that everywhere." NAEHER KRIEGER Penn State players Kaleigh Riehl, Sam Co=ey and Frankie Tagliaferri have been named to the MAC Her- mann Trophy watch list for college soccer's top honor. The MAC Her- mann Trophy is presented annually to the United Soccer Coaches National Players of the Year in NCAA Division I in men's and women's soccer as voted on by Division I coaches. Riehl, a senior from Fairfax Station, Va., was named a semier anchoring a PSU defense that allowed only 13 goals all season. She was named a

• Cover