ERIE — Rachel Weyand went looking for stability. She wound up bringing it.

The Butler graduate recently completed her junior season with the Penn State Behrend women's soccer team. She was named Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference Defensive Player of the Year and followed that up by snaring the ECAC South Defensive Player of the Year honor.

“Rachel has started every game but one for us since she came here,” Behrend coach Patrick O'Driscoll said. “She's quick and she has outstanding feet.

“She understands our defensive philosophy well and she's used that to her advantage.”

Weyand played for two head coaches at Butler. The Golden Tornado lost 30 of 33 games her freshman and sophomore years before going 16-15-3 her final two seasons.

“You could see Butler's program organizing and coming on under (coach) Steve Perri,” Weyand said. “I wanted to go to a good college program and contribute.

“I played midfield and defense in high school. That experience playing up top has definitely benefitted me here.”

Behrend has won six consecutive AMCC championships. With Weyand anchoring the defense, the Lions are 45-19-1 over the past three years, including 23-4 in conference play.

This year, Behrend was unbeaten in AMCC play and allowed only three goals in nine conference games.

“We took a lot of pride in that,” Weyand said. “We didn't give up very many shots on net. There were games when we didn't give up any. We made sure the opposition earned everything they got.”

That wasn't much. The Lions posted nine shutouts this season and a 1.14 goals-against average overall.

Sophomore Mackenzie Troyan, also a Butler graduate, started 14 games at goalkeeper and posted a 1.30 goals-against average.

“We had two good goalkeepers and it's important on defense to be in-tune with the keeper and know what she wants,” Weyand said. “We have to know what side she wants us to turn their player toward and whether she wants us to clear the ball or let it come all the way back so she can field it.”

Weyand produced offensively as well. She had two goals and eight points this season and has six goals and 24 points through three years.

“I like our defense to be aggressive and join the attack,” O'Driscoll said. “Rachel can sense when to do that. She reads the play very well that way.

“We use Rachel a lot on corner kicks and to set up plays. She's committed to good off-season work habits and she continually gets better at handling the ball.”

Weyand enjoys the attacking style Behrend employs.

“When we're on the attack, it takes more pressure off us defensively,” she said.

“Our team scores a lot of goals and that helps, too. A defensive mistake doesn't hurt as much.”

Seneca Valley graduate Alex Bilka scored 20 goals and 49 points for Behrend this season and is graduating. Junior Olivia Belack, the AMCC Offensive Player of the Year with 20 goals and 53 points, will be back.

Weyand has one big goal left to achieve in her soccer career.

“This program still has never won an NCAA playoff game,” she said. “I want to be on the first Behrend team to do that. Next year has to be the year.”