Penn State women’s soccer’s win over Michigan on Sunday was a high point for the whole team, especially for redshirt senior Ally Schlegel. In her final regular-season home game of the season, Schlegel scored twice and reached 100 career points.

In true Schlegel fashion, she stirred up Michigan’s defense and had incredible chemistry with the rest of Penn State’s offense despite the high-energy season nearing a close. The flexibility of the team as a whole drove its confidence and ability to adapt to challenges as they arose on the field.

“I think oftentimes, at the ends of these seasons your body’s tired, you’re wearing down, you’re getting a little bit tired,” Schlegel said in her postgame media availability. “But when we have a bench [with great players], we’re able to rotate players. We’re able to give players breaks. We’re able to get players minutes. So it’s like there’s not even a dip in anything.”

As head coach Erica Dambach put it, the Nittany Lions are “bulletproof” when every single player on the team works together to problem solve. And, it doesn’t stop at just the team.

Penn State fans and the Park Avenue Army student section are huge motivators for the team and help build the energy that gets the team ready for a game. It meant a lot for Schlegel to hit 100 points in front of her supporters at Jeffrey Field.

“Jeffrey Field has such a special place in my heart. I think you’ll hear every Penn State women’s soccer alum say that, but like this place is different,” Schlegel said. “Being here in this atmosphere with a really awesome Sunday crowd — come on. Park Avenue Army is doing awesome things. There’s just nothing like it.”

Just six minutes into the match, Schlegel put Penn State up 1-0 with a gorgeous header assisted by Ellie Wheeler and Kate Wiesner for her 99th point.

Early into the second half, Schlegel did it again and found the back of the net.

“That’s what I love doing. That is my favorite thing to do. So having two goals just puts the biggest smile on my face,” said Schlegel. “I love that it was a goal like that. You know, not pretty at all. The first one was way cooler, but I love having it just dirty, doing nine things, picking little balls out, the poetry.”

After her second goal, Dambach subbed Schlegel off the field. Schlegel said she sat down on the bench with teammates Cori Dyke and Wiesner, and started thinking about the 100-point milestone.

“[Dambach] asked me [what went through my mind], and I was like, ‘I don’t even know.’ I forgot, but I had remembered that 96 had been for a while now,” said Schlegel.

Schlegel made sure to note that the team’s success is not isolated to one specific entity, noting it’s a family effort “from the bottom all the way to the top, and left and right.”

“You know, it’s everybody. It’s the Park Avenue Army, it’s the crowd, you know, it’s you guys. I guess everybody. It’s coach, all of our coaches, our equipment managers, our managers,” Schlegel said.

Players like Schlegel leave lasting impacts on Penn State’s women’s soccer program, walking among greats like Ali Krieger, Raquel Rodríguez, Christie Welsh, Maya Hayes, and Alyssa Naeher.

“Schlegel is certainly one of the best to ever wear the Penn State uniform and she’s just a joy to watch and plays with so much heart,” Dambach said in her postgame press conference. “She leaves it all out and is a wonderful captain for us. She leads by example, and today was great. She fights in scrubs for everything. People want to follow her.”

With 43 goals and 19 assists, Schlegel is making a name for herself, showcasing her ability, talent, and hard work.

“I’m so grateful. It’s a big moment. And that moment doesn’t come without everything at Penn State –my coaches, teammates, God. It’s just such a culmination of so many things,” said Schlegel. “I’m only a reflection of this team.”

Moving forward to their matchup at Nebraska, the Nittany Lions are riding the high and setting their minds to another conference win.

“We know what our dreams are,” Schlegel said. “We talked about it for eight months, you know, we know what they are. And now, it’s just about inch by inch, brick by brick, and putting that together. But, I think we’re just having a lot of fun doing it and that’s what I want to do: have fun.”

With just two more Big Ten games left in the regular season, both on the road, Penn State is working hard to maintain its confidence and dominate the final games.

“I think they feel that energy growing and they feel the the camaraderie within the group,” Dambach said. “I think our best soccer is definitely still ahead of us right now.”