Oct. 9, 2015
By Jack Dougherty, GoPSUsports.com Student Staff Writer
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. ââ'¬" The No. 11 Penn State women's soccer team (9-2-2) turned in a dominant performance against the Maryland Terrapins on Thursday night. The final score line, however, could not be less reflective of what really happened on Jeffrey Field under the lights.
The Nittany Lions defeated the Terps, 1-0, for their second straight Big Ten shutout despite a stellar night from the opposing keeper Rachelle Beanlands. The contest could've easily gotten out of hand if not for her 11 saves.
While Beanlands had to deal with 11 PSU shots on goal, keeper Britt Eckerstrom had a quiet night. Maryland totaled just one shot during the 90 minutes of action. Late in the second half, a U-M forward found some room and launched a hopeful shot from outside the box that sailed wide.
On the other side, the Nittany Lions took a season high 30 shots. Somehow, only one found the back of the net. The 29 shot differential is the highest for Penn State this season. It had the feel of a wide margin of victory, but every win counts the same.
"That's soccer," head coach Erica Walsh said. "They have enough dangerous pieces to put one in the back of the net and you lose that game so the halftime message was go chase it. You're going to have to go after this game and go get it. I don't think we took our foot off the gas that whole game."
After countless attacks, seemingly impossible saves, and a few post-kissing shots, the Blue and White finally broke through in the 77th minute. A cross from the right half found Mallory Weber all alone in the center of the box, but Beanlands sprinted out and slid to take out Weber in front of the net. Luckily, the ball squirted out and found Megan Schafer who finished beautifully to the top corner while the keeper could only watch from the ground.
"We knew going into halftime that the goal wasn't going to be pretty," said Schafer. "Anything can happen. Mal [Weber] almost had it so you never know what's going to happen so I was just there to back her up."
The goal marked her sixth on the season, which ties her for the team lead with Weber and Frannie Crouse. Penn State's offense continues to show its versatility and multitude of weapons.
As for its defense, there may not be a team in the country playing better than the back line. After a 3-0 shutout of Northwestern in which they only allowed three shots, the defense miraculously outdid their performance on Thursday night. The entire game seemed like it was being played solely on Maryland's half. Every time the Terps tried to move the ball up, they were quickly stopped and pushed back.
"Our possession was good," Walsh said. "Our flank play could be a little better, and I think we created a ton of chances but credit to the goalkeeper. I thought their game plan was spectacular and they stuck to it so credit to Maryland."
The biggest key to stopping Maryland is slowing down Alex Anthony in the middle. Her physical style of play challenges defenses, but Elizabeth Ball and the back line were up for the challenge.
"I kind of like it better like that because my physicality and their physicality really mesh well," Ball said. "When the game is being played like that I feel like I can come out with every tackle."
"She's a heck of a player," said Walsh. "She gave us everything we could handle back there and I thought we did a great job on her, but she's a very special player."
The Nittany Lions return home on Sunday to meet Indiana at Jeffery Field on Sunday at 1 p.m.