Coffey, Naeher Win Gold with USWNT at 33rd Olympiad – Penn State

PARIS – Penn State women’s soccer alumnae Sam Coffey and Alyssa Naeher joined the United States Women’s National Team in a Gold Medal performance at the 33rd Summer Olympiad, with the USWNT utilizing both Coffey and Naeher in starting roles in a 1-0 result against Brazil in the Gold Medal Match from Parc des Princes on Saturday.

Both Coffey and Naeher were pivotal to the United States’ Gold Medal run, with Naeher serving as the USWNT’s last line of defense in all six matches over the 16-day tournament. Coffey was dominant in the holding midfield position for the Red, White & Blue, earning five caps in head coach Emma Hayes’ starting XI, with her only missed match due to a pair of accumulated yellow cards in group play. In the Gold Medal match, Coffey started in the midfield and played all 90 minutes for the USWNT, facilitating multiple scoring chances while holding an Olympic finalist scoreless for just the second time in history. Naeher, meanwhile, almost single-handedly kept the United States’ Olympic dreams alive in the final, standing watch over goal for all 90 minutes and recording a pair of saves, including one in stoppage time that prevented a Brazilian equalizer.

Coffey, a native of Sleepy Hollow, New York, secured the first Olympic Medal of her career Saturday with Team USA, adding one of the sport’s ultimate honors to her decorated career as a collegian at Penn State. Coffey was a First Team All-Big Ten selection on two occasions after transferring to Happy Valley from Boston College, with the pivotal midfielder adding United Soccer Coaches First Team All-America distinction during her time in University Park. Coffey stood at the pinnacle of student-athlete success in the classroom as well, garnering Senior CLASS Award First Team All-America laurels as well as College Sports Communicators Academic All-America distinction. During her time with the Nittany Lions from 2019 to 2021, Coffey appeared in 62 matches and tallied 25 goals while leading PSU to three straight NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 bids.

In the spring of 2021, Coffey entered the NWSL Draft pool and picked up the 12th overall selection, beginning her career with Portland Thorns FC. Since joining the Thorns, Coffey has been a nominee for NWSL Rookie of the Year as well as an NWSL Best XI First Team honoree, serving as a regular starter for the organization which took home the 2022 NWSL Championship. Coffey appeared on multiple Women’s Youth National Team rosters for the…