Penn State women’s soccer is almost back, folks.

With a new season approaching, the Nittany Lions are preparing to secure another title this fall, starting with its home opener against Texas Tech on Thursday, August 15. Following their first game, Penn State will also play three teams at home, Virginia (August 22), West Chester (August 25), and West Virginia (August 29), this month.

After a season full of ups and downs, as well as appearances in both the Big Ten and NCAA Tournaments, the Nittany Lions are approaching the season ahead hot with its strong returning players, new prospects and transfers, and another chance at this year’s title.

Here is our preview of Penn State women’s soccer’s upcoming season.

Where The Nittany Lions Left Off Last Season

We last saw Penn State as they closed off the previous season with an appearance in the NCAA Tournament quarterfinal, ending their campaign with a 2-1 loss to Clemson. After losing to Iowa in the Big Ten Tournament, the Nittany Lions were eliminated in the semifinals, also losing their shot at a Big Ten trophy.

On the final matchday of its regular season, the team lost to Wisconsin, costing them a regular season trophy. It was their only loss of the 2023 regular season.

Offseason

During this offseason, Penn State lost several key players in both its forward and defensive positions.

Payton Linnehan, who was selected in the 2024 NWSL Draft, started 19 games for the Nittany Lions last season, tallying a tied-team high of 10 goals along with Kaitlyn MacBean.

On the defensive side, starters Kate Wiesner and Ellie Wheeler were also selected in the NWSL, leaving the team with two more holes to fill. Wiesner was taken seventh overall to the Washington Spirit with Wheeler picked 18th overall in the second round to the Kansas City Current.

Additionally, defender Cori Dyke and goalkeeper Kat Asman went pro.

Strong Returning Players

Starting the season off on a hopeful note, Penn State women’s soccer was ranked No. 2 in the Big Ten’s preseason poll with star players Olivia Borgen, Kaitlyn MacBean, and Mieke Schiemann being named Big Ten Players to Watch by the conference.

Last season, MacBean led the team with 26 points, also tying Dyke with six assists, continuously earning her spot as a full-time starter for the team. As for defense, Schiemann has proven to be a consistent anchor for Penn State, starting every game over the past two seasons, while providing leadership to her teammates.

Junior Amelia White, who played all 23 games with three starts, ranked 12th in minutes played last season. However, after putting up two goals and one assist on the previous season, she has shown that her time on the field is well spent and she is another acting anchor for the team.

Along with White, Elle Kershner has been in a similar position so far in her career, showing her continuous effort and ability to shine despite her limited playing time. Previously, she appeared in 18 out of 23 games for the Nittany Lions last season, scoring one goal and four assists.

Another proven dominant player, Rebecca Cooke, transferred from Quinnipiac last season, coming in with 35 goals and nine assists in 37 appearances within a two-year window. Despite her impressive career, other players took the spotlight, allowing her to observe and train to prove herself for the upcoming season.

Returning players Nicollette Kiorpes, Ava Minnier, and Frankee Flesher also have eyes on them as they are anticipated to fill the spots of departed seniors and graduate students. Kiorpes and Flesher both utilized their redshirt seasons in 2023. Although Minnier appeared in three games, she has yet to record any stats.

Incoming, Noteworthy Players

For both offense and defense, the Nittany Lions have welcomed many new transfer players and rising freshmen who show great promise ahead of this season.

Joining the team from Penn as a graduate student, Ginger Fontenot brings an impressive background, as she was previously a dominant force on the back end and one of the most dominant defenders within the Ivy League. Fontenot was a two-time All-Ivy League selection, while also starting every game she appeared in throughout her career at Penn.

After an impressive high school career at H.B. Plant High School, Jolie Farmer, who was named school MVP every season during her tenure while holding the school’s career scoring record, joins Penn State this season. Farmer led Florida in scoring in 2022 and 2023 while also picking up Southeast All-Conference Second Team honors in 2023.

Along with Farmer, Aubrey Kulpa joins the team as an impressive attacking prospect from Connecticut, where she played at Oakwood Soccer Club. So far in her career, Kulpa was named a 2022 Youth All-American and MVP of the GA U17 National Championship, inevitably leading her team to the title. While playing at Oakwood, Kulpa learned under many different coaches including Penn State’s very own Tiffany Weimer.

Coming to Penn State from Virginia, Addison Hess comes to Penn State as the No. 27 prospect in the nation and the top prospect out of Virginia from her time in high school and club, and was part of the U.S. Youth National Team development levels as well. During her high school tenure, she was named player of the year in 2022 and 2023 at her school, along with All-Region First Team, All-Cedar Run District First Team, and Washington Post All-Met First Team.

Kieryn Jeter, the No. 2 defender in Georgia in 2024, comes to Penn State following an impressive career at Forsyth Central High School. During her high school career, Jeter was named Forsyth County Defensive Player of the Year while also securing First Team All-County and GHSA All-Region squad selection in each of the last two seasons.