Penn State Women’s Soccer Defeats Illinois, 2 - 0
The Penn State Women’s Soccer team hosted Illinois Friday night under the lights at Jeffrey Field and earned a shutout victory against Big Ten opponent Illinois 2-0. With the victory, Penn State is now unbeaten in eight matches with seven wins and one draw.
Penn State junior Frannie Crouse opened up the scoring for Penn State early on in the 13th minute after beating a few Illini players on defense and putting the ball past Illinois' goalkeeper Claire Wheatley. With the goal, Crouse leads the team with eight goals this season. Throughout the rest of the first half, Penn State had a few good chances but were unable to capitalize and went into the locker room with a 1-0 lead.
In the second half, Nittany Lion players Marissa Sheva and Charlotte Williams were able to extend the Penn State lead 2-0 in the 66th minute following a series of give-and-go passes and Sheva was able to earn her first goal this season.
On defense, Penn State goalkeeper Amanda Dennis was able to earn her fourth clean sheet of the year as Illinois was unable to get a shot on goal against the Nittany Lions.
“Obviously I’m excited about the result tonight,” head coach Erica Dambach said in a post game interview. “It was a good shutout in tough conditions and I think it is really challenging to keep a good team like Illinois off the scoreboard in these types of conditions. But I give the backline and Amanda Dennis credit. I thought we struggled a little bit in the first half to put the pieces together, but we were much better in the second half.”
Women’s soccer will begin preparations for a two game road series as they take on Indiana University on October 6th and the University of Maryland on October 9th.
Penn State junior Frannie Crouse opened up the scoring for Penn State early on in the 13th minute after beating a few Illini players on defense and putting the ball past Illinois' goalkeeper Claire Wheatley. With the goal, Crouse leads the team with eight goals this season. Throughout the rest of the first half, Penn State had a few good chances but were unable to capitalize and went into the locker room with a 1-0 lead.
In the second half, Nittany Lion players Marissa Sheva and Charlotte Williams were able to extend the Penn State lead 2-0 in the 66th minute following a series of give-and-go passes and Sheva was able to earn her first goal this season.
On defense, Penn State goalkeeper Amanda Dennis was able to earn her fourth clean sheet of the year as Illinois was unable to get a shot on goal against the Nittany Lions.
“Obviously I’m excited about the result tonight,” head coach Erica Dambach said in a post game interview. “It was a good shutout in tough conditions and I think it is really challenging to keep a good team like Illinois off the scoreboard in these types of conditions. But I give the backline and Amanda Dennis credit. I thought we struggled a little bit in the first half to put the pieces together, but we were much better in the second half.”
Women’s soccer will begin preparations for a two game road series as they take on Indiana University on October 6th and the University of Maryland on October 9th.
