A Perfect September
Sunday afternoon sealed the deal for the Lions. Indeed, the Penn State Women’s Soccer team, with it’s 4-1 win over the Indiana Hoosiers, has not lost a game the entire month of September. Ranked No. 8, Penn State currently holds a record of 9-1-1, and 3-0 in Big Ten conference games. Sunday’s matchup was a “Pink Game” whereby money was raised for the Penn State Pink Zone via an auction.
Starters for the game included Basinger, Hurd, Hayes, Rodriguez, Chapic, Weber, Church, Schram, Williford, Hovington and Eckerstrom in goal. Seven minutes into the game, Raquel Rodriguez (#11) headed the ball into the net, putting the Nittany Lions ahead 1-0, just as she did in Penn State’s last game against Purdue. Despite this 1-0 lead, Head Coach Erica Walsh in a post-game interview asserted that “Indiana came in and they were flying. They took it to us early on in the game and we weren't prepared mentally” (gopsusports.com). Indeed, Monica Melink put Indiana on the board with a goal originating from the far corner of the box. Though Penn State had multiple opportunities to capitalize on another goal, so too did Indiana. With a 1-1 tie at the half, both teams knew that effort, heart, and dedication would be determinants in the second half.
Penn State brought forth this sense of urgency and effort in the second half, taking 4 shots in less than ten minutes. Off a beautiful cross from Emily Hurd (#3), Tani Costa (#22) pocketed a goal for the Nittany Lions from 12 yards out. Superb play from Emily Hurd earned her a goal of her own 15 minutes in to the second half, putting the Lions ahead 3-1. Penn State’s keeper, Britt Eckerstrom held strong on multiple shots from Indiana, tallying eight saves for the day. With just seven minutes remaining in the game, senior Maya Hayes (#5) tallied her twelfth goal of the season off an assist from Taylor Schram (#19). Penn State captured the win with a final score of 4-1.
The next home game for the Nittany Lions will be against Michigan on October 11 at 8 p.m. as part of Homecoming Weekend. Before then, the Lions will travel to both Wisconsin (10/4) and Minnesota (10/6).
Starters for the game included Basinger, Hurd, Hayes, Rodriguez, Chapic, Weber, Church, Schram, Williford, Hovington and Eckerstrom in goal. Seven minutes into the game, Raquel Rodriguez (#11) headed the ball into the net, putting the Nittany Lions ahead 1-0, just as she did in Penn State’s last game against Purdue. Despite this 1-0 lead, Head Coach Erica Walsh in a post-game interview asserted that “Indiana came in and they were flying. They took it to us early on in the game and we weren't prepared mentally” (gopsusports.com). Indeed, Monica Melink put Indiana on the board with a goal originating from the far corner of the box. Though Penn State had multiple opportunities to capitalize on another goal, so too did Indiana. With a 1-1 tie at the half, both teams knew that effort, heart, and dedication would be determinants in the second half.
Penn State brought forth this sense of urgency and effort in the second half, taking 4 shots in less than ten minutes. Off a beautiful cross from Emily Hurd (#3), Tani Costa (#22) pocketed a goal for the Nittany Lions from 12 yards out. Superb play from Emily Hurd earned her a goal of her own 15 minutes in to the second half, putting the Lions ahead 3-1. Penn State’s keeper, Britt Eckerstrom held strong on multiple shots from Indiana, tallying eight saves for the day. With just seven minutes remaining in the game, senior Maya Hayes (#5) tallied her twelfth goal of the season off an assist from Taylor Schram (#19). Penn State captured the win with a final score of 4-1.The next home game for the Nittany Lions will be against Michigan on October 11 at 8 p.m. as part of Homecoming Weekend. Before then, the Lions will travel to both Wisconsin (10/4) and Minnesota (10/6).
