Raquel Rodriguez hopes senior season ends with national championship

Raquel Rodriguez paused, looked down at the Beaver Stadium media room dais, picked her head up, and smiled before she answered the question.

Do you have a checklist of what you’d like to accomplish?

“Absolutely,” the curly-haired senior said. “I would love to just be a part of the team that wins the first NCAA championship for Penn State.”

The thing is, Rodriguez has been more than just “a part” of this Nittany Lions team. And that’s partially why Penn State women’s soccer is positioned so well to check that item off the list.

Penn State, a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament, has, so far, breezed through its opponents easier than someone binge-watching “Game of Thrones.” In games against Albany, Boston University and Ohio State, the Nittany Lions have throttled them 5-0, 6-0 and 4-0, respectively.

It’s been a team effort, no doubt. A total of nine different goal-scorers have accounted for those 15 goals.

But arguably no Nittany Lion has meant more to the team than Rodriguez, a captain in every sense of the word.

One of the team’s five seniors, Rodriguez will play in her third career Elite Eight game in Saturday’s quarterfinal against West Virginia — valuable experience for any underclassmen looking for advice.

But, in terms of scope, Rodriguez’s biggest games haven’t been played in Penn State’s blue and white.

In fact, they weren’t even in this country.

As the United States claimed glory at this summer’s Women’s World Cup, setting the nation into a frenzy, Penn State had a little something extra to celebrate. Earlier in the tournament — before Carli Lloyd became a household name — Rodriguez played for her native Costa Rica, scoring the country’s first World Cup goal.

Rodriguez looks back on the summer fondly, and so too does Penn State coach Erica Walsh.

She knows that as much as the experience helped Rodriguez, it resonated with her Penn State teammates and supporters, as well.

“There have been a few times I’ve seen Rocky out on the field and think back to watching her on TV up in Canada at the World Cup,” Walsh said, “and I hope — and think — the community really understands what we have here, in the opportunity to see one of the best players in the world compete in our home stadium.

“We’ve all been able to benefit from it and enjoy it, and I think the rest of the community has as well.”

Playing against the world’s best has made things a little easier on Rodriguez. She said with the level of play and added minutes on the pitch, the game slowed down for her a tick.

It’s obvious, too.

Watching her handle possession in the midfield can be mesmerizing. The ball control, awareness and decision-making has been unparalleled this tournament.

Boston University even tried man-marking her — something normally reserved for strikers. And if the Terriers’ plan was to keep her off the scoreboard, it worked. Rodriguez didn’t tally a goal or assist.

But she did settle things down and spearhead possession for a team that scored half-a-dozen goals.

“Raquel has been a calming force for us,” Walsh said.

Calm is what the Nittany Lions need, especially against West Virginia — a team Penn State lost to earlier in the season and stands in Penn State’s way of winning a national title.

And that’s what Rodriguez wants so badly. Not only is it on her checklist, but it’s also something she has thought of, over and over.

It’s something she dreams of.

Now, after playing 90 games in her collegiate career, Saturday will be her final game at Jeffrey Field.

That in mind, Rodriguez was asked what memory at Jeffrey Field she remembers most fondly.

“I’ve been thinking about it these days,” Rodriguez said, calmly and confidently, “But I think the best has yet to come.”

This story was originally published November 25, 2015 at 5:50 PM with the headline "Raquel Rodriguez hopes senior season ends with national championship."