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| Jeffrey Field | University Park, Pa. | |
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| FINAL STATISTICS |
University Park, Pa.; Nov. 14, 2014 - A dominant performance by Raquel Rodriguez (San Jose, Costa Rica) and a pair of goals in under two minutes sealed Penn State's advance to the second round of the NCAA Tournament after a 4-1 win over Buffalo on Friday.
The Nittany Lions (18-3) took the lead they wouldn't relinquish in the 14th minute. Salina Williford (Wayne, Pa.) collected a stray corner kick and passed it in to Rodriguez. Rodriguez skirted around three defenders in the box and crossed the ball to Mallory Weber (Novi, Mich.), who found the back of the net for Penn State's 1-0 goal.
After displaying solid defense for the remainder of the first half, the Blue and White returned from halftime looking to strike. Six minutes into the second half, Rodriguez settled a stray corner from Emily Ogle (Strongsville, Ohio) and took a shot that was blocked. She then collected her own rebound and finessed a shot into the bottom corner to give the Nittany Lions a 2-0 lead.
Penn State didn't let up and the pressure paid off less than two minutes later. Williford dribbled a few yards and delivered on an airborne through ball that led Schafer behind the Buffalo (16-3-3) backline. The Bulls' goalkeeper rushed out in an attempt to clear the ball, but Schafer drove past the defense and rolled it in for the 3-0 score.
At the 80-minute mark, the Nittany Lions' bid for a shutout was spoiled by a penalty kick from Katie Roberts, making the count 3-1.
But five minutes later, Penn State's reserves regained its three-goal lead. Haleigh Echard (Lebanon, Pa.) passed the ball up the sideline towards Anna Witte (Morrisville, N.C.), who dribbled forward and curled the ball into the box with her left foot towards Mallory Peterson (Clinton Corners, N.Y.). Peterson, sitting at the far post, poached in a goal from a couple yards out for the final 4-1 tally.
Britt Eckerstrom (Germantown, Md.) made two saves for her 18th win of the year. In 20 minutes on the pitch, Meghan Kaminski (Doylestown, Pa.) stopped one shot.
In the second round of the NCAA Tournament, the Nittany Lions will face the winner of tomorrow's first round match between New Hampshire and Connecticut. The second round match will be played at Jeffrey Field on Fri., Nov. 21.