No. 20 Penn State women’s soccer (10-3-2, 4-2-1 Big Ten) took down Maryland (3-8-4, 0-6-1 Big Ten) 5-0 in College Park, Maryland on Thursday night. 

The Nittany Lions looked uncomfortable to start the match but a goal from Kaitlyn MacBean in the 18th minute settled them down. For the rest of the half Penn State held possession of the ball but could not double the lead. In the second half, though, the goals started to come. Penn State scored in the 52nd, 77th, 79th, and 89th minute in a game that started to get out of hand near the end. 

How It Happened

Neither team found footing in the opening five minutes of the match. Maryland had the first shot of the game three minutes in, but Mackenzie Gress made the save. 

Maryland also received the first corner of the match in the eighth minute. A perfect cross found a Terrapin head three yards from goal, but she guided the ball over the crossbar. 

For the next 10 minutes, Penn State struggled to find itself offensively. Maryland held more of the ball. Penn State did not record a shot through the opening 15 minutes. 

When the Nittany Lions got a shot, though, they made the most of it. In the 18th minute, a successful press found Kaitlyn MacBean wide open inside of the 18-yard box. The redshirt senior slotted the ball to the right of the keeper to take the 1-0 lead. 

Blessed

1H | 20:17 | PSU 1, UMD 0#WeAre pic.twitter.com/dhgrubdoQH

— Penn State Women’s Soccer (@PennStateWSOC) October 10, 2024

As time progressed Penn State started to push the pace more. The Nittany Lions took control of the game by the 30th minute. 

Despite four more shots though, Penn State couldn’t find an insurance goal before halftime. 

The Nittany Lions went into the break leading by one. 

The Terrapins opened the second half with another opportunity from a corner. Ginger Fontenot blocked the ensuing shot, though, and cleared the ball. 

On the other end, Penn State had their first corner of the match in the 52nd minute. Molly Martin jumped higher than all the defenders to get her head on the ball and scored to make it 2-0.

Set piece perfection #B1GWSoccer x @PennStateWSOC pic.twitter.com/YK3EuCuMmS

— Big Ten Soccer (@B1GSoccer) October 11, 2024

Maryland had three corners with 52 minutes and no goals, and Penn State had just one corner and one goal off it. 

With 34 minutes left in the match, MacBean almost doubled her goal tallie. She beat her defender in the box and forced a save from the Maryland goalkeeper. The subsequent corner was cleared easily by the Terrapins as well. 

With the two-goal lead, Penn State took over. The Nittany Lions used its back line to hold on to the ball for as long as it could and take the sting out of the match. 

The first yellow card of the match came in the 62nd minute. It was awarded to the Nittany Lion bench for dissent. 

Penn State’s possession late in the game almost paid off in the 73rd minute. Elle Kershner ran onto a ball and tried a first-time shot. The ball ripped across the goalmouth and went just wide. 

A few minutes later Kershner found herself open for a shot once again. This time she finished beautifully to give the Nittany Lions a three-goal lead. Aubrey Kulpa also found the back of the net shortly after to make it 4-0 in the 79th minute. 

GRIDDY performance from Aubrey Kulpa

2H | 81:41 | PSU 4, UMD 0#WeAre pic.twitter.com/IAy8VZ4k1i

— Penn State Women’s Soccer (@PennStateWSOC) October 11, 2024

Both teams made mass substitutions after the fourth goal. Penn State wasn’t done, though, and scored again with 15 seconds left to take the 5-0 lead. Rebecca Cooke scored the final goal.

Penn State left College Park with a 5-0 win.

Takeaways

• Gress just returned from the Youth National team play and has stepped right back into the starting role for the Nittany Lions. In her second consecutive start, the redshirt freshman was tested much in this one but played well.
• One of the most important players on this Penn State squad is Rowan Lapi. Playing in the pivot role Lapi is as cool as you like with the ball at her feet. She is the connection from the backline to the midfield for the Nittany Lions and her importance can’t be overstated. 
• Erica Dambach has coached over 450 games at the NCAA level and has still not lost to Maryland. The last time it happened was in 2004.

What’s Next?

Penn State will return home for a Down Syndrome awareness matchup at 1 p.m. on Sunday, October 13, against Minnesota.