Penn State women’s soccer head coach Erica Dambach has proven that her Nittany Lions are not a team to sleep on in 2026. Penn State is off to a hot start in Big Ten play and is riding a two-game win streak.

The Nittany Lions took down Minnesota and defeated Maryland 2-0 away from home on Friday, but Penn State is still stung by its loss to then-No. 6 Ohio State.

Dambach’s main goal is to “close out a game a little bitter” after not being able to net any goals against the Buckeyes in what she said was a “very winnable” game for the Nittany Lions.

The team is doing more video review and “accessing all the resources” while it is home in Happy Valley, which has been easier with the new Jeffrey Field Soccer Complex.

“[It] has changed our daily operations, and we can tell that it will prepare them [the players] better,” Dambach said.

Penn State’s first match of a three-game homestand is against Iowa. Dambach commended Hawkeye head coach Dean Ward and emphasized transition play through the middle of the field as a key challenge Iowa presents.

The main focus going into Thursday’s game is “to win the six different 15 minutes.”

One standout Nittany Lion thus far has been senior forward Paige Kalal. Kalal transferred to Penn State from Minnesota this offseason.

Dambach said Kalal is a huge spark for the Nittany Lions. She’s recorded three goals and three assists for Penn State so far this season and is tied with Aubrey Kulpa for the team lead in points.

Kalal will remain a key piece for the Nittany Lions as they settle back home for a while. Penn State doesn’t hit the road again until its away trip to Oregon on October 8, allowing time to recuperate and rest.

“[The] feeling of running out in front of our home crowd, that’s why they [the players] come to Penn State, that feeling, the Park Avenue Army, the community,” Dambach said.

The Iowa matchup is set for 7 p.m. on Thursday as the Nittany Lions’ White Out. Penn State will then play USC at 1 p.m. on Sunday for the program’s annual THON match.

The Nittany Lions will end their three-game home stand at 7 p.m. on Saturday, October 3, to face Purdue.