Penn State women’s soccer is back in the United Soccer Coaches Poll for the first time since late September. This week, the Nittany Lions check in at No. 24 in the ranking.

The Nittany Lions saw a blistering preseason form — including the dispatching of then-No. 3 Virginia — which led to a comfortable top-10 ranking. However, Erica Dambach’s squad began Big Ten play in abysmal style, and even sat last in the conference table as recently as two weeks ago.

Now, the group looks like itself once again. Penn State earned its ranking on the back of two more Big Ten wins last week. The Nittany Lions defeated Indiana 3-0 on Wednesday, and a hard-fought 2-1 victory over No. 18 Purdue on Senior Day secured the No. 24 spot heading into the final week of the regular season.

The Nittany Lions still have work to do, sitting at eighth in a conference that only allows eight teams into the postseason. Penn State will play two teams ahead of it, Michigan and Michigan State, this week. Two more wins will surely cement the Nittany Lions both a playoff spot and a better ranking.

Ironically, Penn State is one of only three Big Ten teams ranked this week, behind Rutgers (No. 9) and Purdue (No. 18). Florida State, Virginia, Pepperdine, Arkansas, and USC make up the top five in this week’s poll.

The Nittany Lions will play next this Thursday against Michigan in Ann Arbor. The match will be televised on FS1 and kick off at 7 p.m.