Sept. 12, 2010
PORTLAND, Ore. - The Penn State women's soccer team put together a gutsy performance at Merlo Field on Sunday, taking two leads over No. 4 Portland. Ultimately, it wasn't enough as the Pilots won their eighth straight game, 4-2, in front of 3,138.
Portland (8-0-0) opened the game strong with a flurry of shots and corner kicks, taking an 11-0 edge in shots accompanying eight corner kicks through the first 37 minutes. Despite the pressure and possession by the Pilots, Penn State (1-5-1) would have the most dangerous opportunities in the half as Hayes had a breakaway opportunity snuffed by Pilot goalkeeper Hailee DeYoung in the 38th minute. Hayes would get avenge the save when she took a Taylor Schram (Canonsburg, Pa.) through ball in the 40th minute and slid the ball underneath the diving `keeper for a 1-0 Penn State lead.
Portland would get the benefit of the referee's whistle in the closing seconds of the half when a penalty kick was awarded to the Pilots with just 19 seconds remaining. Danielle Foxhoven stepped up and put the spot kick away, knotting the game at one apiece heading into the intermission.
The Nittany Lions took the adversity well and immediately attacked in the second half. Penn State had a gorgeous build up that saw Christine Nairn (Arnold, Md.) send a through ball to Hayes in the 48th minute. She was taken down a few steps into the penalty area, drawing the second penalty kick of the game in three minutes of game time. Nairn stepped up to take the spot kick and knocked it home into the left side of the net for Penn State's second lead of the match.
Portland wasted little time in responding as Sophie Schmidt sent a rocket that was saved by Krissy Tribbett (Centennial, Colo.; game-high four saves) to her left. The ensuing rebound came to Michelle Cruz who headed home the shot to tie things up at two apiece in the 53rd minute. Just two minutes later, Michaela Capelle scored her sixth goal of the season when PSU couldn't clear the ball and Capelle went in on net uncontested.
Penn State attempted its own equalizer chances including a Danielle Toney (Northville, Mich.) close range tap in that went off the crossbar after a pinpoint feed from Hayley Brock (Acton, Mass.) in the 61st minute. Moments later, Nairn was fouled about 25 yards out on the left wing and her free kick attempt at net caught DeYoung flat-footed, but the shot skimmed just high, keeping the game a one-goal advantage for Portland.
The Pilots capitalized on a corner kick when Cruz sent a lofting kick to the center of the penalty area, finding Keelin Winters who headed home the insurance tally in the 66th minute, capping the four goal haul for Portland.
Penn State suffered a significant loss late in the game when central defender and Canadian National Team member Lexi Marton (Aurora, Ontario) collided with a Portland attacker, injuring her knee. Her status is unknown at press time.
Portland held a heavy edge in shots (22-6), shots on goal (8-3) and corner kicks (11-4). The two-goal defeat was the first by PSU after four straight one-goal losses.
Penn State returns home for a Wednesday night matchup with local rival Bucknell. Game time at Jeffrey Field is slated for 7:00 p.m. as Penn State athletics will celebrate Heroes Night honoring military personnel as well as police forces and firefighters.
BOX SCORE
| Team | 1st | 2nd | OT1 | OT2 | Total | Record |
| Penn State | 1 | 1 | - | - | 2 | (1-5-1) |
| Portland | 1 | 3 | - | - | 4 | (8-0-0) |
Scoring Summary
PSU (39:56) - Maya Hayes (2, Taylor Schram)
POR (44:42) - Danielle Foxhoven (2, penalty kick)
PSU (47:23) - Christine Nairn (2, penalty kick)
POR (52:22) - Michelle Cruz (1, Sophie Schmidt)
POR (54:40) - Michaela Capelle (6, unassisted)
POR (65:04) - Keelin Winters (2, Michelle Cruz)
Stat Summary
Shots: PSU 6, POR 22
Corners: PSU 4, POR 10
Saves: PSU 4, POR 1
Fouls: PSU 9, POR 10
Offsides: PSU 0, POR 4
Booking Summary
Yellow Card: PSU (69:53) - Christine Nairn
Attendance: 3,138
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--NITTANY LIONS--