Nov. 10, 2012
Box Score | Quotes | Photo Gallery | Postgame Presser
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.; November 10, 2012 - The top-seeded Penn State women's soccer team (18-3-1) earned a 4-0 shutout victory over the LIU Brooklyn Blackbirds at Jeffrey Field in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Saturday night. With the victory, the Nittany Lions will face Boston College next Friday at Jeffrey Field.
Penn State's four goals were scored by four different players. Junior Maya Hayes (West Orange, N.J.) led the Nittany Lions with three points coming on an assist and goal in the second half. Senior Christine Nairn (Arnold, Md.) tallied her 14thgoal of the season, while Big Ten Freshman of the Year Raquel Rodriguez (San Jose, Costa Rica) and junior Tani Costa (Honolulu, Hawaii) tallied goals as well.
Penn State improves to 9-2-0 in home first round games at Jeffrey Filed and 26-6-0 all-time in the NCAA Tournament at its home venue. The Nittany Lions are eligible to host all the way up to the College Cup with the No. 1 seed. The last time Penn State had a No. 1 seed was the 2007 season.
With the game scoreless in the 24th minute, freshman Mallory Weber (Novi, Mich.) fed a beautiful ball on the ground into the middle of the box. Nairn was open and easily found the back of the net to give the Nittany Lions a 1-0 advantage. With the goal, the senior moved into a tie for 10th place on the Penn State list for career goals scored.
With under five minutes remaining in the first half, Penn State would gain a 2-0 edge on Rodriguez's goal. Freshman Mallory Peterson(Clinton Corners, N.Y.) fed a ball to Rodriguez in the middle of the box. An LIU Brooklyn defender met Rodriguez in the box and attempted a sliding tackle, but the Costa Rica native beat her to the ball and drilled it by the keeper.
Despite scoring two goals in the first half, the Nittany Lions put together a much cleaner second half. Penn State nearly doubled its shot total in the second half and held the Blackbirds to just one second half shot and three for the game. With just under 14 minutes remaining, Costa would tally her sixth score of the season on a cross inside the 18 from Hayes. Penn State had a 3-0 advantage.
Hayes would join the scoring party in the 80th minute. She took a shot that was initially saved by the LIU Brooklyn keeper. But the junior forward garnered the rebound off her own shot to secure the victory for the Nittany Lions.
Tickets prices for next weekend are $8 for adults, $5 for students/youth and $3 for groups with 15 or more in their party. Tickets can be purchased at the Bryce Jordan Center ticket office or by calling 1-800-NITTANY. Additionally, fans can purchase tickets at the gate.
For complete coverage of Penn State women's soccer, please visit http://www.GoPSUsports.com/sports/w-soccer.
Follow Penn State women's soccer on Twitter: @PennStateWSOC.
Follow Penn State women's soccer on Facebook: www.facebook.com/PSUWomensSoccer.
-NITTANY LIONS-