The last time Penn State women’s soccer played at Jeffrey Field was during a late October 13 win against Minnesota. The Nittany Lions then concluded the season on a rough road trip consisting of a draw to UCLA, back-to-back losses to USC and Ohio State, and a short stint in the Big Ten Tournament in Minneapolis.

Through all of the uncertainty left after the rocky end to the season, it was unclear if Penn State did enough to secure a home game in the NCAA Tournament. Fans and players alike wondered if that October match against the Golden Gophers was the last time senior players would grace to Jeffrey Field in their Penn State careers.

“I’d love to give them many more games at Jeffrey Field, certainly to give them a proper celebration,” head coach Erica Dambach said after the NCAA Tournament selection show. “For their careers and for everything they’ve put into this program and this university, they’re certainly deserving of it.”

Redshirt senior and leading goalscorer Kaitlyn MacBean expressed a similar sentiment following the selection show, too.

“We love playing on Jeffrey. It’s our favorite place in the world,” MacBean said. “I think it’s great to just get one more game out there.”

Following the winless streak and early Big Ten Tournament exit, Penn State fans also feared the Minnesota game was the final match at Jeffrey Field this season without realizing it.

“We obviously have the Park Avenue Army, and we have a little group of them that comes to every single game, and I think it’s awesome to see the same faces out there,” MacBean said. “Honestly, it just comes down to playing for each other and those that came before us and I think Jeffrey just has that amazing history.”

The Nittany Lions’ love of Jeffrey Field shines in their play this season. When playing at home, their record is 7-2-1 with a total of 26 goals and four shutouts. When they compete on the road, results take a downturn, posting a 4-3-2 record with only 12 goals scored. Yet, after all, the Nittany Lions secured home field in their NCAA Tournament opener.

Penn State hopes to defend the fortress for the first time in over a month as it hosts Stony Brook at 6 p.m. on Saturday, November 16. The match will be the Nittany Lions’ 30th-straight NCAA Tournament appearance.