Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/541265
Former Penn State players Ali Krieger and Alyssa Naeher became the first Nit- tany Lions to win a World Cup as part of a senior national team, as they helped the United States to a 5-2 victory over Japan on July 5 in Vancouver, British Co- lumbia, in the final of the FIFA Women's World Cup. Five Nittany Lions participated in soc- cer's biggest event, which was hosted by Canada. Penn State was tied with Stan- ford for second among collegiate pro- grams. North Carolina led all programs with nine World Cup participants. Krieger started all seven U.S. matches, including the final in which the former two-time NSCAA All-American played every minute and recorded a shot in the 48th minute. Krieger was part of a U.S. back line that recorded five consecutive shutouts leading up to the final and held oppo- nents scoreless for 540 consecutive minutes before Japan scored in the 27th minute. She played all but nine minutes in the tournament, subbing out in the 81st minute in the round-of-16 match vs. Columbia. Making her second World Cup appear- ance, Krieger also recorded shots in the 73rd minute vs. China and a shot on goal in the 34th minute against Sweden. Naeher, a three-time NSCAA All- American at Penn State, served as a backup to goalkeeper Hope Solo. The former Nittany Lion made her World Cup debut with the senior team after helping the U.S. U-20 national team win the 2008 FIFA Women's World Cup. Carmelina Moscato and Erin McLeod helped Canada reach the quarterfinal round before being eliminated by Eng- land. The pair helped the host country advance out of Group A and defeat Switzerland in the round of 16. McLeod, playing in her fourth World Cup for the senior national team, started all five games in net for the host nation. The two-time NSCAA All-American made two saves apiece vs. England and Switzerland. In the group stage, she recorded four stops against the Nether- lands and one save apiece vs. Canada and New Zealand. Moscato made her third World Cup appearance and has been a member of Canada's national program since 2000. She earned her first start of the tourna- ment against the Netherlands, playing the entire match, and entered in the 68th minute against New Zealand. Penn State senior Raquel Rodriguez started all three games and played every minute in the midfield for Costa Rica, as the nation made its FIFA Women's World Cup debut. The senior made na- tional and Penn State history with her goal in the 14th minute of Costa Rica's opening match vs. Spain. It was the na- tion's first World Cup goal and the first goal in World Cup competition by a Nit- tany Lion. ■ Head coach Jeff Thompson has re- ceived a three-year contract extension, athletic director Sandy Barbour an- nounced July 10. The extension will keep him at the helm of the Nittany Lions through at least the 2017-18 season. "In five seasons leading our women's gymnastics program, Jeff has laid the foundation for a program that is highly competitive on the national stage," Bar- bour said in a prepared statement. "His student-athletes consistently excel in competition and in the classroom, while going above and beyond with their com- munity service efforts. Jeff and his staff have demonstrated the ability to recruit great-fit student-athletes to Penn State, and with the resources and support the program has here, I'm confident that this program can reach new levels of success that will excite and entertain our fan base." Under Thompson's tutelage, Penn State has made one NCAA champi- onship appearance (2014), earned 21 Ac- ademic All-Big Ten distinctions, had one Big Ten Gymnast and Freshman of the Year award winner and garnered six first-team All-Big Ten honors. He owns a career regular-season record of 146- 100, which includes a 74-18 mark at Penn State. In addition, his student- athletes have claimed the Penn State Team Community Service Award during each of his five seasons. Thompson said he was "honored and humbled that [university president] Eric Barron and Sandy Barbour have shown so much support for the women's gym- nastics program, and I am excited to continue to represent the Pennsylvania State University. We take a lot of pride in the accomplishments of our student- athletes in the arena, classroom and community. Our success as a program wouldn't be possible without our alumni support and the incredible support of the Penn State faithful." ■ WOMEN'S SOCCER Penn State alumni help U.S. claim World Cup crown WOMEN'S GYMNASTICS University extends Thompson's pact through 2018 KRIEGER NAEHER