UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- Three Penn State women’s soccer alums will be honored at halftime of the Penn State football game on Saturday. Ali Krieger, Carmelina Moscato and Alyssa Naeher will make their way back to Happy Valley this weekend.
Krieger and Naeher became the first Nittany Lions to win a World Cup as part of a senior national team this past July, as they helped the U.S. to a 5-2 victory over Japan in the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup final. Five Nittany Lions participated in soccer’s biggest event, hosted by Canada. Penn State was tied for second among collegiate soccer programs (Stanford also had five and North Carolina had nine).
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 the Red, White and Blue back line that recorded five-straight shutouts before the final and held opponents scoreless for 540 consecutive minutes before Japan scored in the 27th minute. Krieger played all but nine minutes in the tournament, subbing out in the 81st minute in the Round of 16 match versus Columbia.
Making her second world cup appearance, 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 goalkeeper for Hope Solo. The former Nittany Lion made her World Cup debut with the senior team after helping the U.S. U-20 women’s national team to win the 2008 FIFA Women’s World Cup, where she won the Golden Glove as the top goalkeeper in the tournament.
Moscato helped Canada reach the quarterfinal round before being eliminated by England.
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 cup against the Netherlands, playing the entire match, and entered in the 68th minute against New Zealand.