Penn State women’s soccer: Nittany Lions’ defense ready for Big Ten tournament semifinals
Losing two starting defenders, Penn State women’s soccer head coach Erica Walsh brought in two of the top 10 players in the country to join returning starter Elizabeth Ball and Brittany Basinger to restore the backline.
Following the departures of two-time Big Ten Defender of the Year Whitney Church and four-year starter Kori Chapic, Walsh imported a top-class recruiting class, headlined by the nation’s No. 2 prospect Ellie Jean and No. 10 prospect Kaleigh Riehl.
The four of them have combined to form a stout backline, complementing a high-powered offense that helped Penn State (14-3-2) earn the top seed in the Big Ten tournament. The Nittany Lions host fifth-seeded Michigan at 6 p.m. Friday at Jeffrey Field in the semifinals, and third-seeded Rutgers takes on seventh-seeded Ohio State at 3:30 p.m. Friday in the other semifinal matchup.
Penn State has allowed just 14 goals through 19 matches, and hasn’t conceded more than one goal in a match since a 4-2 win over Arkansas on Aug. 30.
In her first season, Riehl was named to the All-Big Ten second team and earned a spot on the Big Ten All-Freshman team along with Jean.
But the accolades are not as meaningful as team success to this young backline.
“It’s a great feeling, but I don’t focus on that,” Riehl said. “We want to win a national championships and that’s all that matters.”
Jean called the honor exciting, but added, “I’m continuing with the season and continuing to get better everyday, as well as the team.”
After redshirting last season, Basinger, the oldest of the group, said she gained a new perspective. She was able to heavily study film of herself and other players.
“It was the first time I’ve been able to sit back and learn how other people play,” she said, “and take things that I like how other people do and learn.
“It was fun to bring a whole bunch of different styles together to make what I am this year.”
Despite being the longest tenured Nittany Lion on the backline, Basinger said the entire group values each other’s voice, which has allowed everyone to flourish for the betterment of the team.
“I wouldn’t say that one person is more powerful or more of a leader than somebody else,” she said. “That’s what makes us so great and strong back there, that we all have each other’s backs.”
The relationship between Basinger and Riehl, who both play on the left side of field, dates back to 2014 when they both played for the U.S. national U-20 team. Walsh was an assistant coach.
On the other side of the pitch, Jean and Ball have had to build their chemistry from scratch, but Jean said Ball’s vocal instruction has given her the confidence to roam up and down the touchline.
Ball too cited the communication among her three partners on the backline as a key to success, while acknowledging her emerging presence as a vocal leader.
“This year has been a big year for me,” she said. “I feel more comfortable and confident in knowing that coach and the whole team supports me.”
The sophomore has also been an enforcer this season, according to Walsh, for a Penn State team that has committed the fewest fouls in the conference with 116 — 22 fewer than the next school.
But Walsh said the team should never be hesitant in letting their presence be felt.
“We want to play physical to the point of being fair and honest but there is a certain degree of protecting your teammates, protecting Jeffrey Field,” Walsh said. “We’re really encouraging our team to be blue collar and make sure they’re getting stuck into these tackles.”
The Nittany Lions boast talent beyond their starters.
After starting all 24 matches and earning conference All-Freshman honors last season, sophomore defender Maddie Elliston has played sparingly this season, making 10 appearances and one start.
“You look at Maddie Elliston, we have five starters in that backline right now, without a doubt,” Walsh said. “We’ve got a little bit of a rotation going, but wouldn’t have any issue with her stepping in right there as a starter.”
Penn State earned nine Big Ten honors as a team this season, but the Nittany Lions have bigger aspirations.
“We’ve had a really positive season as a group and we’re starting to come together,” Riehl said. “And this is a perfect time right before the NCAA tournament and we’re focus on doing well in that and doing the best we can.”
Marley Paul is a Penn State journalism student.
This story was originally published November 5, 2015 at 7:42 PM with the headline "Penn State women’s soccer: Nittany Lions’ defense ready for Big Ten tournament semifinals."