Three Penn State women’s soccer players earned weekly honors on Tuesday. Bella Ayscue was named a Top Drawer Soccer National Team of the Week Honorable Mention, Nikki Crane was named Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week, and Mackenzie Gress was named Big Ten Goalkeeper of the Week.

Well-earned recognition after a four-point week from Bella Ayscue #WeAre | #PSWS pic.twitter.com/h846iAEyh4

— Penn State Women’s Soccer (@PennStateWSOC) September 1, 2026

Was there really any other choice?

Nikki Crane is your 𝐁𝐢𝐠 𝐓𝐞𝐧 𝐎𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐖𝐞𝐞𝐤 #WeAre | #PSWS pic.twitter.com/bO5Q35QhAM

— Penn State Women’s Soccer (@PennStateWSOC) September 1, 2026

2⃣ clean sheets for Mack means she is the 𝐁𝐢𝐠 𝐓𝐞𝐧 𝐆𝐨𝐚𝐥𝐤𝐞𝐞𝐩𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐖𝐞𝐞𝐤 #WeAre | #PSWS pic.twitter.com/xN9hRbtbmE

— Penn State Women’s Soccer (@PennStateWSOC) September 1, 2026

The Nittany Lions beat Bucknell 5-0 and thrashed Brown 6-0 to improve to 2-1-1 on the young season. The Bucknell win propelled longtime head coach Erica Dambach to 300 career wins at Penn State.

Ayscue notched one assist against the Bison and knocked in a goal and another assist against the Bears as she gets the gears turning on her season. Crane splashed onto the scene against Brown with her first career hat trick and only the 26th in program history. She registered her first career point with an assist against Bucknell.

Gress kept Penn State steady between the sticks over both matches. She made three saves in the Bucknell match and made two more against Brown. Freshman Lily Selvy relieved her late in the second half in both games.

The Nittany Lions are next set to face Virginia Tech at 7 p.m. on Thursday, September 3, at Jeffrey Field.

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