Penn State women's soccer blanks Golden Rams 5-0

The No. 3 Penn State Nittany Lions looked to bounce back in a big way in their third game of the season Sunday, as they hosted the Westchester University Golden Rams in a matinee at Jeffrey Field. Penn State convincingly took the game, securing a 5-0 shutout victory.

The blue and white had an easier test this time out, after fighting their way through an early season gauntlet, which had them split matches against No. 8 Texas Tech and No. 21 Virginia.

Penn State is led by experienced Head Coach Erica Dambach, whose 314 career wins and 70.8% winning percentage in 17 years with the Lions is one of the most impressive marks in college sports. Dambach collected her 300th career coaching victory against West Virginia in 2023, and will look to potentially add on to her five Big-Ten Coach of the Year Awards.

Coming in as the top-scorer for the blue and white is none other than redshirt senior forward Kaitlyn MacBean. The 2023 All-Big Ten Third Team selection has now scored in six straight games for Penn State dating back to last season, where she notched a tally in each of the Nittany Lions’ final three NCAA tournament games. She added another one today early, hitting the bottom left of the goal off her right foot. MacBean is the only Big-Ten nominee from last year’s squad to return in 2024, and her experience will be a needed addition.

When asked about her stellar play, MacBean had nothing but praise for her teammates. “I’ve been put in really good places because of the balls [my teammates] have played me. I think all around our team has put a lot of work in, especially this summer, to prepare and be ready to play together, and I think we’ve shown that really well in the first few games so far.”

Despite being the third-ranked team in the country, a challenge for Penn State will be the lack of team chemistry carrying over from last year to this season. Transfers Kayleigh Herr, Jordan Fusco, and Ginger Fontanot bring support to the midfield and defensive line.

Fontanot, the graduate student transfer from the University of Pennsylvania, was a standout Ivy League defender last season, and was a key bright spot for Penn State Sunday. She played 78 minutes, and held Westchester to absolutely nothing the whole day.

“She brings speed… she’s a calming force and she cleans things up for us,” Coach Dambach said about her star center back. “She just connects and she does her job.”

Midfielder Jordan Fusco comes over after three seasons at the University of Tennessee, where she scored 38 points and started 53 games for the Volunteers. She had a breakout 2023 campaign, earning First Team All-SEC honors while notching six goals and four assists. Fusco was involved early in this one as well, setting up MacBean in the tenth minute to take an early lead.

The Nittany Lions brought the heat in the first half, with Rowan Lapi adding another goal off of a penalty shot in the 26th minute, and Aubrey Kulpa scoring a third tally just before the first period came to a close. The freshman had two goals today, and now has three scores in the first three games of her young career, as she has made a huge all-around impact for Penn State’s attack.

“I think coming in and just putting my head down and working, but also the culture and dynamic here, allows us to make mistakes but we can learn,” Kulpa said postgame. “Every day is an opportunity, I think, to get better. That mentality has been huge for me to have the success that I’ve had so far.”

Penn State outshot Westchester in the first half by a staggering mark of 21-0, and had eight shots on goal. The Golden Rams were unable to muster a single opportunity in the Lions box, with stout play by the entire back line.

The blue and white came out firing out of the break just as they had closed the first period, as Natalie Wilson connected with Aubrey Kulpa for another goal 33 seconds into the second half.

Penn State finished off the Golden Rams in the 88th minute with another goal, scored by substitute Elle Kershner. The Nittany Lions finished the game outshooting Westchester 42-0, while also notching 16 shots on goal.

After splitting the early season test against ranked opponents, this win will help the blue and white get firmly on track for the rest of the season. The Nittany Lions defended their home field well, crushing the Rams in dominating fashion.

“We were eventually able to, I think, wear them down. I thought the group that came off the bench in the first half, that was probably our best 20 minutes. But the energy was really good. I thought they really came in and changed the game for us, and we’re going to take a lot from [the game].”

All in all, a resounding win for Penn State puts them in a firm position in the national polls early into the year. Their next match will come Thursday, August 29 at Jeffrey Field as they’ll host the West Virginia Mountaineers.

Parker Silverman is a third-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, please email pws5405@psu.edu.