Penn State women’s soccer (3-2-2, 1-1 Big Ten) beat Minnesota (5-2-1, 1-1 Big Ten) 1-0 at Jeffrey Field on Sunday afternoon.

Aubrey Kulpa pushed the Nittany Lions ahead near the end of the first half. Penn State held steady defensively and produced far more threatening attacks than Minnesota en route to its first Big Ten win.

How It Happened

Lily Boyden made a solid run down the left flank to open the game up early for Penn State, but Minnesota snuffed it out before she could make a threatening cross. Minnesota’s Selah Koleth got a shot off at Nittany Lion goalkeeper Mackenzie Gress, but it sailed off target.

Aubrey Kulpa worked her way into the box from the left side and whipped in a cross to a Minnesota defender. The ball rebounded to Bella Ayscue at the top of the box, who tried a curling shot that Golden Gopher goalkeeper Sarah Martin calmly rejected between the sticks.

The two squads played evenly over the middle of the first half, but Penn State was the one creating actual chances at goal. Kulpa sprinted towards the Golden Gophers’ end and unleashed a low-driven shot across goal, but the ball narrowly missed the far post in the 25th minute.

Minnesota once again failed to connect on a cross to the far post from outside of the box. The Golden Gophers got the run in, but there was too much on the ball once more after a similar attack earlier in the half.

Olivia Robinson took over the ball following a Minnesota defensive miscommunication. She slid down the end line and crossed it towards Kulpa in the middle of the box. Martin dove early and grazed the ball with her fingertips, but it still fell right to Kulpa, who buried it into the bottom right corner for the game’s opening score. Penn State led 1-0 in the 34th minute.

Now that's just pretty #WeAre | #PSWS pic.twitter.com/0pWtIXyh2s

— Penn State Women’s Soccer (@PennStateWSOC) September 13, 2026

Nikki Crane got another shot off past the Minnesota defense near the end of the first half, but it bounced outside for a Golden Gopher free kick. The first half ended with Penn State up 1-0.

Anna Babcock linked up with Paige Kalal for a point-black shot in the first two minutes of the second half, but Martin sized herself up and saved the shot off her right leg.

Martin extended for another big save after a Penn State free cross from Kennedy Ring, but the Nittany Lions were called offside. Kulpa hit the rebound right into the back of Martin’s head as the Minnesota training staff came on to check on her. She continued on the field, but Kulpa received a yellow card for unsporting.

Kulpa fired another strong shot off from a tough angle, but still got Martin to dive for it. It went out for a Minnesota goal kick.

Kulpa continued attacking the Minnesota end well into the second half, trying to find a teammate with a low-driven cross through the box. She put a little too much on the pass as it went out for another Golden Gopher goal kick.

Penn State played keepaway in the final 10 minutes and preserved its 1-0 win.

Takeaways

• Aubrey Kulpa was all over the field for Penn State. The game ran through her. She ended her day with the game’s only goal, four shots, and two shots on goal.
• Penn State as a whole never let off its front foot on the attack. The Nittany Lions outshot the Golden Gophers 18 to seven, with eight shots on goal as opposed to Minnesota’s two.
• The Nittany Lions notched their first Big Ten win and set themselves up in comfortable position. They are not set to face a currently-ranked team for the remainder of the season.

What’s Next?

Penn State will head on the road to take on Maryland at 5 p.m. on Friday, September 18, at Ludwig Field. Folks can follow along on Big Ten Plus.