March 21, 2010
RICHMOND, Va. -- The Penn State women's soccer team fell behind early but regained its composure to post a 3-1 win over ACC foe Virginia Tech on Saturday afternoon at the Jefferson Cup. Penn State is now 2-0 in its Spring schedule.
The Hokies got on the board early, scoring a goal midway through the first half for a 1-0 lead. Penn State wasted no time in responding as Danielle Toney (Northville, Mich.) slotted a ball across the goal mouth to Tani Costa (Honolulu, Hawaii), who got a touch onto the ball and sent it towards the back of the net. In the scramble of the moment, a Virginia Tech defender eventually knocked the it in for a tie game.
The game would head to halftime tied at one apiece, but Toney would be there again to change the score when she caught up to a through ball by Christine Nairn (Arnold, Md.) and sent it home for a 2-1 Nittany Lion lead.
For the remainder of the game, Virginia Tech pressured and had several opportunities to equalize the game. After a series of chances, in which Emma Thomson (Nottinghamshire, England) was able to keep the ball out of the PSU net, Krissy Tribbett (Centennial, Colo.) made a spectacular save just nine minutes from full time.
With the game almost salted away, Penn State made one last attack as Toney took the ball into the penalty area and a desperate Virginia Tech defense took her down, giving Penn State a penalty kick with less than a minute to play. Nairn successfully converted the spot kick and Penn State would leave Virginia with a 1-0 lead.
The Nittany Lions are in action again on Thursday, April 1, when they travel to Downingtown, Pa. for a matchup against Women's Professional Soccer club Philadelphia Independence.
--NITTANY LIONS--