Aug. 31, 2012
MORGANTOWN, W.V. - In the 108th minute, M.A.C. Hermann Trophy Watch List member Christine Nairn (Arnold, Pa.) capitalized with the game-winning goal on a free-kick to give the Nittany Lions women's soccer team (4-1-0) a 2-1 overtime victory over West Virginia, late Friday night.
With 82 seconds remaining in the second period of overtime, senior Tani Costa (Honolulu, Hawaii) was fouled 20 yards out and Penn State was rewarded an indirect kick. Nairn gave the ball to junior Emily Hurd (Sammamish, Wash.), who stopped and placed it back for Nairn. The senior laced it home with her left foot into the lower left corner to give the Nittany Lions a 2-1 victory.
Costa scored Penn State's first goal in the 54th minute of the contest, her second of the season. Senior Erin McNulty made five saves in goal, as West Virginia recorded 17 total shots with six coming on net.
Penn State now evens up the series with West Virginia at five a piece. The Mountaineers were coming off a huge 1-0 upset win over No. 1 Stanford last week at Jeffrey Field. Penn State tallied 18 shots on the night, 10 of which came on goal. After a quiet first half and a game with no score in the 50th minute, Penn State had an excellent opportunity to take the lead. Junior Erin Kehoe (Crystal Lake, Ill.) had the ball at the top corner of the 18 and played a beautiful ball in to Nairn on the far post. Nairn got a head on it and West Virginia's Sara Keane made a nice save to keep the game tied up at zero.
In the 54th minute, Costa scored on an assist from sophomore Kori Chapic (Novelty, Ohio) to give No. 8 Penn State a 1-0 advantage over the Mountaineers. Costa was able to beat West Virginia goalkeeper Sara Keane from about six yards out to the left side to put the Nittany Lions up.
The Nittany Lions would control the majority of possession following Costa's goal. However, the Mountaineers capitalized on a rare opportunity to tie the game up at one. Jess Crowder played a long ball up the right side to Kate Schwindel, who chipped the ball over McNulty's head with a little over five minutes to go to tie the game up at one.
Despite allowing four shots in the overtime period, Penn State's one shot would be costly for West Virginia, as Nairn won it with just moments remaining in the contest.
Penn State now turns to Pittsburgh on Sunday at 2:30 p.m. in Morgantown. The Nittany Lions hold an 8-0 all-time advantage on the Panthers.
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