Penn State women’s soccer (11-4-3, 5-3-2 Big Ten) fell to USC (13-1-2, 8-0-1 Big Ten) in a last-minute thriller on Sunday afternoon in California.

The Trojans were up 1-0 for the majority of the game, holding back Penn State’s attacks. Kaitlyn MacBean won a penalty kick for Penn State in the 88th minute that Rowan Lapi converted to tie the game. Before the game ended in a draw, USC ran back downfield and won the game in the final seconds through a top bins free kick goal from Helena Sampaio.

How It Happened

USC started the game ahead, going on the attack and immediately winning a throw-in. Penn State fought back and possession was shared in a chaotic start.

The Trojans won two back-to-back corner kicks early on and Kayla Colbert got a wide shot off.

Both teams battled in the midfield for about 10 minutes before USC won another corner kick, but it could not convert. Penn State won a free kick but lost possession, and USC came back down to win its third corner. Simone Jackson took a shot but goalkeeper Mackenzie Gress saved it.

Neither team found an edge before the Trojans won a free kick in the 20th minute to set up an attack. It fought through and Aaliyah Farmer received the ball, slotting it into the bottom center of the net past Gress to take the lead in the 23rd.

Penn State went on the attack right after the goal and won a corner kick. The ball was sent to the front post and fell out to Molly Martin whose shot was deflected right over the crossbar for another corner. This time the corner went out to the short pass and then sent to the far post, but Elle Kershner failed to hit the header.

The Nittany Lions stayed on the attack and won a free kick to calm down and reset at the half. It sent the ball long where it was loose in the box, and Kaitlyn Wolf broke past her defenders and shot at the net, but goalkeeper Laurence Gladu got a hand on it.

Penn State won a corner kick in the 35th, with a scramble for a loose ball that resulted in a free kick for USC.

The Nittany Lions didn’t give much up but couldn’t find that final push to find an equalizer and ended the first half trailing 1-0.

The Trojans went on the attack first to start the second half, forcing Penn State to step up and clear the ball out of its box. They controlled the tempo for the beginning of the half before turning possession back through a shot over the crossbar.

Penn State won a free kick as USC picked up a yellow card for a bad foul on Martin. Nothing formed from the kick, but the Trojans kept possession and built up play, searching for a breakthrough.

The Nittany Lions made three substitutions in the 65th, hoping for a chance in pace. Aubrey Kulpa, Olivia Damico, and Kershner replaced Bella Ayscue, Kaelyn Wolfe, and MacBean.

The Trojans broke into Penn State’s half, weaving through the midfield, but the defense held it back after a slew of attempts and Gress came out to scoop up the ball. Right after getting the ball back though, Penn State picked up a foul and had to defend another shot stopped by Gress.

The Nittany Lions picked up a yellow card of their own after Kershner had a hard foul on Maile Hayes. Play was paused and they took the break to huddle up and search for a new approach for the final 15 minutes of the game.

Penn State fought hard to make it downfield, getting a throw in around the 20-yard line. It was too rushed searching for an equalizer though and wasted no time throwing the ball back in, giving it away. Its play became sloppy with the rushed feeling and it gave away multiple unnecessary fouls.

The Trojans had the upper hand and sprinted at the box, breaking past Penn Sttae’s defense. Hayes’ shot was hard to the top, but Gress got a hand on it to push it out for a corner kick. The kick fell in the middle of the box but rolled out for a goal kick.

Penn State’s midfield sent long passes towards the box, trying to just find a breakthrough for a quick goal. Mieke Schiemann received it at the top of the box, tapping in a through ball, but Penn State’s offense was overwhelmed and sent it back out. Jordan Fusco took a shot but it was right at Gladu for an easy grab.

The Nittany Lions won a last-minute corner kick, their first of the half. Ayscue stepped up to take it, taking the short option for a give-and-go with Kershner before blasting it in towards the far post. They could not control the ball in the box and it fell out to the 30-yard line, where they attempted to break in again.

MacBean broke into the top of the box before being taken down, winning a penalty kick for Penn Stae with only two minutes to play.

Lapi stepped up for the penalty, staying calm and composed to slot it into the bottom right of the net as Gladu dove to her left. Penn State tied the game 1-1 in the 88th minute.

USC wasted no time in trying to regain the lead, immediately finding it at Penn State’s goal before losing control of it for a Penn State goal kick. USC’s midfield was desperate to stop any attack, fouling Penn State at any counter opportunity.

The Trojans won a free kick right outside of the box in the closing seconds. Sampaio took the kick all by herself, hitting it top bins right into the top left corner of the net over Penn State’s wall.

USC retook the lead 2-1 in the 90th minute to secure a late-minute winner.

Takeaways

• The West Coast had some technical difficulties, folks. The game was streamed on BTN+ but cut in and out in the beginning before completely going on for most of the first half. Even after coming back, it was still glitchy and not the best watching experience for those not in person.
• The Nittany Lions’ midfielders and forwards were not too cohesive in this match. Too many times the midfield simply kicked the ball far, hoping the out-numbered forwards will break past a whole back line. This Penn State team is too talented to waste chances on long balls instead of building up play, but often gets too rushed and focused on a quick goal that waits for quality chances.
• This was a last-minute, chaotic match in California In the final five minutes there were three substitutions, one corner kick, three goal kicks and shots, and two goals. There were fewer than two minutes between Lapi’s and Sampaio’s goals that crushed Penn State’s comeback and allowed USC to remain undefeated in Big Ten play.

What’s Next?

The Nittany Lions only have one game left this regular season. They’ll play Ohio State at noon on Sunday, October 27, in Ohio. Folks can watch the game on BTN+.