Penn State women’s soccer head coach Erica Dambach has proven to be one of the most consistently successful soccer coaches in the nation.

Since she was named the team’s head coach in 2007, the Nittany Lions have brought in all kinds of hardware, including 19 consecutive NCAA Tournament bids, five Big Ten Tournament titles, and the national championship in 2015. She is also a two-time National Coach of the Year and a five-time Big Ten Coach of the Year.

Despite this run of dominance, Dambach is aiming to alter her team’s philosophy in 2026.

“For the last few years, I think we’ve been such a counterattack team,” Dambach said. “This team can sustain it in the attack more, while not losing that counterattack piece to our game.”

After opening the season 0-1-1 against two ranked teams in Notre Dame and West Virginia, Dambach emphasized the need to play Penn State’s own brand of soccer after a tough road stretch.

“I just want to stop worrying about what our opponent’s doing and start to be us a little bit more,” Dambach said.

Playing Penn State soccer requires effort and buy-in from the team’s players, particularly those stepping into leadership roles this season, such as junior forward Aubrey Kulpa.

Kulpa is coming off a season in which she led the team with 22 points in just 15 games.

After battling through injuries a year ago, Kulpa started off hot in 2026 with a goal and an assist in the team’s season opener against Notre Dame. Despite her dominance on the field, her impact is felt perhaps even more off it.

“There’s a culture she [Kulpa] wanted to create in that attacking group,” Dambach said. “She’s done well in the offseason to create it.”

While Kulpa can help lead Penn State’s attack, it’s hard to keep up pressure if the defense behind her isn’t just as strong.

In recent years, the Penn State back line has frequently been a strength of the team. This year, however, Dambach has emphasized the group’s athleticism, which gives the team versatility and allows it to hold up against some of the nation’s best offenses.

This year’s group also has six players rotating. The depth allows the Nittany Lions to keep fresh legs on the pitch at all times.

As the team looks forward to facing Bucknell, a team that is “stingy and frustrating to play against,” the Nittany Lions will need to bring their best effort to get a win in the column for the first time this season.

“I’d like to see us sustain our attack a bit in the attacking half and make them run, make them work more,” Dambach said.

If the Nittany Lions are indeed able to get the Bison on the back foot early, a home victory for Penn State would mark Dambach’s 300th career win since arriving in Happy Valley.