Penn State women’s soccer: Nittany Lions begin quest for national title against Albany

The path is clear for Penn State women’s soccer: win six games, and it takes hold of the national title.

It’s as straightforward as you can get, but it certainly won’t be an easy journey. Winning six games in late November and early December — after already playing 21 matches this year — is a tall order.

But it’s one, at least physically, the Nittany Lions feel they are ready for.

“It’s survival of the fittest,” Penn State coach Erica Walsh said. “And I think that’s where we have the upper hand.”

Their trek begins Friday night, as the Nittany Lions (16-3-2) host Albany (11-8-1) at 6:30 p.m. at Jeffrey Field.

Utilizing its home-field advantage as a No. 1 seed, Penn State will be home until the College Cup in Cary, N.C., if it progresses that far. But before setting their eyes on soccer’s semifinals, the Nittany Lions’ primary concern is Albany, a program playing in its first-ever NCAA Tournament after winning the America East conference tournament last weekend.

Penn State and Albany have never played each other in the past, so Walsh said they’ve done everything — from watching film to calling other coaches — to prepare for the Great Danes.

“We don’t want to be surprised by anything,” Walsh said. “We want to make sure we can control the things we can control.”

One thing they could control is the match’s flow.

Walsh, in her ninth season at the helm, has now made nine straight NCAA Tournament appearances. She said that, in the past, some of her teams were basically held together by duct tape, hampered by health entering tournament play.

That isn’t the case this year.

Not only is Walsh thrilled with where the Nittany Lions are at physically, but Penn State is also loaded with options should injury or fatigue become a factor. Of 24 players that have seen time this season, 15 have played at least 500 minutes.

That should allow the Nittany Lions to push the tempo and have fresh legs whenever they need it.

“I think depth has been a luxury of ours all season long,” Walsh said.

What has also made Walsh’s job a little easier — and Albany’s exponentially harder — is the multiple scoring options the Nittany Lions boast.

Penn State’s Big Ten-leading scoring offense (2.1 goals per game) is highlighted by Megan Schafer, who has 10 goals on the year. Following Schafer is Mallory Weber and Frannie Crouse, who have both scored eight this season. In addition, Raquel Rodriguez has four, and the trio of Nickolette Driesse, Emily Ogle and Marissa Sheva have three apiece.

Perhaps the most interesting thing about Penn State’s attack — and defense, for that matter — is the balance in experience. Weber and Rodriguez provide senior leadership, while Schafer and Crouse are heading the offensive charge as sophomores.

As far as how experience might play a role in Penn State’s NCAA title hopes, there are several significant contributors making their postseason debut. The Nittany Lions have four freshmen who have played more than 700 minutes this year, including three who have seen more than 1,000 minutes of action.

One of those freshmen, defender Ellie Jean, said Friday is the biggest game of her career to date.

“I’m pretty nervous,” she admitted.

What might put Jean at ease, though, is having older, more seasoned teammates to lean on, if necessary.

Rodriguez, a senior, is certainly accustomed to the big stage. Not only has she played in three NCAA Tournaments, but the Costa Rican international starred at last summer’s Women’s World Cup.

“Nerves might be a little higher,” Rodriguez said of the postseason, “but focusing on the small details and improving game after game will take care of the big picture.”

That advice could prove helpful for freshmen like Jean.

Playing at home should be beneficial, as well.

“I think it’s a huge advantage to be at home,” Jean said. “We always kill it at home.”

Jean and the Nittany Lions are hoping for much of the same against the Great Danes.

This story was originally published November 12, 2015 at 8:07 PM with the headline "Penn State women’s soccer: Nittany Lions begin quest for national title against Albany."