Penn State dominates Michigan to open up Big Ten play

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The No. 12 Penn State women’s soccer team defeated Big Ten rival Michigan by a score of 6-0 in a Thursday night matchup.

It was Pride Night at Jeffrey Field, and a large crowd showed up to watch the opening conference play game.

“It’s not just to wear the shirt or show up and celebrate the day, but it’s really to understand what it’s all about and how to continue to move it forward,” Penn State head coach Erica Dambach said of celebrating Pride Night.

Penn State had six different players put points on the board for the Nittany Lions, including an opening goal by midfielder Devon Olive and a penalty kick goal in the 71st minute by defender Mieke Schiemann.

This was the second career goal for Olive, who was so excited about celebrating with her teammates.

“That’s what you come here for, that’s what you play college soccer for is to be a part of this family,” she said after the match.

The blue and white (6-1-1) entered the match on a four-game win streak, most recently defeating Princeton 1-0 on the road.

Michigan (1-6-1) came into University Park after earning their first win of the season in a home match against Alabama.

Nittany Lions goalkeeper Amanda Poorbaugh had her third consecutive shutout win with four saves, while Wolverines goalkeeper Stephanie Sparkowski recorded ten saves.

Here’s how the match went down:

The first 11 minutes of the game saw neither team be able to put the ball in the back of the net. Michigan had a corner kick in the sixth minute, but it was blocked by Penn State.

In the 12th minute, the Nittany Lions got their first point of the game from an unassisted goal by Olive in the middle of the net.

After a couple of shots by both teams, midfielder Jordan Fusco put away another goal for Penn State in the 29th minute off an assist from Katie Scott.

Just four minutes later, midfielder Julia Raich hit one past Sparkowski in the top left of the goal to give the Nittany Lions a three-point lead.

To start the second half of the game, Michigan had three shots on goal within the span of 35 seconds, but none of them hit the back of the net.

Forward Kaitlyn MacBean tallied her ninth goal of the season in the 56th-minute. Amelia White and Kayleigh Herr were credited with assists, which was Herr’s first point as a Nittany Lion.

The blue and white then added their fifth score of the game with a goal by Elle Kershner in the 69th minute from Audrey Kulpa and Katie Scott.

Two minutes later, the Wolverines’ Tamia Tolbert fouled in the goal box, setting up a penalty kick for the Nittany Lions. Schiemann drilled it in the bottom left corner as Sparkowski dove right.

Michigan defender Aniyah League received the match’s only yellow card in the 72nd minute, and the Nittany Lions’ defense did not allow the Wolverines to get another shot on goal the rest of the match.

The whistle blow at the end of the game meant that Penn State had earned their fifth straight win and started off 1-0 in Big Ten play.

“We got performances out of every player that played tonight,” Dambach said regarding the victory.

The Nittany Lions will return to Jeffrey Field for their second of the four-match homestand this Sunday against the Columbia Lions at 1 p.m. ET where the match will serve as Senior Day.

Ashley Mascaro is a third-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact her, please email aem6398@psu.edu.