Penn State women’s soccer (8-3-2, 3-2-1 Big Ten) outplayed Maryland (2-6-5, 1-5 Big Ten) 2-0 on Sunday afternoon in College Park.

Junior Natalie Wilson scored her first career goal in the 20th minute, and the Terrapins were unable to respond throughout the rest of the match. Cori Dyke notched the Nittany Lions’ insurance goal in the 51st minute to close out Penn State’s scoring, and Katherine Asman tallied four saves on the afternoon.

How It Happened

Head coach Erica Dambach rolled out a familiar lineup against the Terrapins.

Maryland tallied the first shot of the game in the fifth minute from a Mikayla Dayes attempt. Dayes’ shot went high of Katherine Asman’s net and didn’t test the goalkeeper.

Ally Schlegel drew a foul about one yard outside the Terrapin’s penalty box in the seventh minute. Penelope Hocking’s chip service went too far past the Nittany Lions crashing the back post and the game was reset for a Maryland throw-in.

Penn State struck first in the 20th minute off a Wilson conversion. Hocking headed the ball toward Wilson and split the two Terrapin center-backs. The junior sent a left-footed shot past goalkeeper Madeline Smith to put the Nittany Lions up 1-0.

Natalie Wilson's first career goal puts @PennStateWSOC up 1-0 at Maryland! #WeAre pic.twitter.com/ruVVB5tpjt

— Penn State Women’s Soccer (@PennStateWSOC) October 9, 2022

Rachel Wasserman subbed into the game in the 25th minute and immediately increased Penn State’s offensive pace. Wasserman beat two Maryland defenders on the left wing and sent a low-drive cross to Schlegel in the penalty box. Schlegel had two defenders marking her and couldn’t get any power behind her attempt at goal despite Wasserman’s accuracy.

Maryland sent a long ball over center defenders Mieke Schiemann and Cassie Hiatt to Dayes on a breakaway in the 31st minute. Ellie Wheeler recovered with authority and muscled Dayes off the ball to prevent a shot on Asman.

Maddie Myers was dealt a yellow card in the 44th minute and gave Maryland a free kick just outside of the penalty box. Sofi Vinas served the free kick and combined with Kam Fisher. Fisher flicked the ball past Asman and scored the tying goal.

Just seconds into the Terrapin’s celebration, the sideline referee signaled that Fisher’s goal was offside. Maryland’s goal was ultimately called back, and the Nittany Lions headed into the locker leading by one goal after 45 minutes.

Freshman Olivia Smith opened the second half by drawing a foul in the 47th minute to earn a free kick. Dyke and Kate Wiesner laid the free kick off to Smith and the freshman sent a blazing shot over the wall and straight into the hands of Madeline Smith.

Just one minute later, Olivia Smith broke away from the central defenders and found herself in a one-on-one with Madeline Smith. The Nittany Lion freshman got ready to take a shot but was taken down from behind by two Terrapins in the penalty box. The referee blew the whistle right away, served Amanda Schafer a yellow card, and gave Penn State a penalty kick.

Schlegel lined up to take the penalty kick and took her time in an attempt to fake out Madeline Smith. Schlegel sent a low-drive shot to the right side of the goal, but Madeline Smith dove on top of the ball and thwarted the shot.

In the 51st minute, Olivia Smith drew another foul right outside of the penalty box. Wiesner lined up to take the free kick but faked the shot. Olivia Smith and Dyke were both on top of the ball and the freshman tapped the ball off toward Dyke. Dyke released a powerful, lofting shot that Madeline Smith couldn’t get a hand on. Dyke’s second career goal put the Nittany Lions up by two goals.

Penn State dominated the next 20 minutes over the Terrapins. Maryland produced two solid attempts at goal, but Asman comfortably saved each and minimized the Terrapin offense.

Maryland never managed to put a shot past Asman, and the Nittany Lions finished the match with a 2-0 road win.

Takeaways:

• Olivia Smith sure knows how to draw a foul, folks. The freshman picked up three fouls in about five minutes, one of which earned a penalty kick. Perhaps anyone could’ve drawn those fouls, but Smith did all the right things, which can be tough.
• Penn State’s service was there, but no one was crashing the net to convert. Ally Schlegel and Rachel Wasserman manufactured several incredible crosses right to the penalty spot, but the services went unfinished because of a lack of transition from the offense in the first half. Players like Cori Dyke, Amelia White, and Payton Linnehan need to be crashing the goal to make the most out of every cross.
• Erica Dambach and Co. needed this win. After a tough, winless week against Michigan State and Ohio State, this domination over Maryland will likely be a huge morale boost for the team. With exciting goals from Natalie Wilson and Cori Dyke, hopefully the Nittany Lions can maintain this momentum and roll into their matches against Wisconsin and Michigan later this week.

What’s Next?

The Nittany Lions will return to Happy Valley to take on Wisconsin at 6 p.m. on Thursday, October 13. The game will be broadcast live on the Big Ten Network.