Sept. 10, 2016
By: Jeff Sattora, GoPSUsports.com
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.- The winningest coach in Penn State women's soccer history hit another milestone Friday night, as Erica Dambach notched her 200th career win, and 160th with the Blue and White, in a 3-0 victory over the San Diego State Aztecs at Jeffrey Field.
Despite the milestone, it was her team's performance that made this 200th victory so sweet for Dambach.
"It's special because the performance overall was special," she said on the victory.
"I'm really proud of the team tonight, one through 26 the entire roster," she added. "The players that came off the bench I thought were fantastic tonight and obviously to get three goals and a shutout is really rewarding for all the work these guys have put in."
That hard work showed up early as the Nittany Lions came out firing in this one, dominating possession much of the first half to set the tone. In the first 45 minutes the home team out-shot San Diego State 16-2 in total shots, and 6-0 in shots on goal. Those 16 first half shots were above Penn State's average season total per game of 14.8.
"We talked before the game to press really hard and get our feet moving," said junior Frannie Crouse. "We knew we would have opportunities to get shots off and every single person was just trying to get that goal."
After some early attempts were held off, Crouse was the first Nittany Lion to get that goal Friday night, as she slipped a ball into the bottom right corner from six yards out to give Penn State a 1-0 lead in the 29th minute of action.
While that was the only mark on the scoreboard in the first half, the Lions kept pressing after the break, and that effort was rewarded.
Megan Schafer scored from 18 yards out off a pass from Alina Ortega-Jurado to give PSU a 2-0 lead in the 52nd minute, and Crouse put the finishing touches on the win less than five minutes later with her second goal of the night to secure the 3-0 score.
The two goals Friday night were Crouse's fourth and fifth of the season, and the win was her second-straight multi-goal game.
"Frannie Crouse is playing as well as I've seen here play in a Penn State jersey," Dambach said on her junior forward. "She's quietly having a really good season which is no surprise to us. She always gets the job done."
For Crouse, that job was all about working with her teammates Friday night.
"It's basically just cutting from my teammates," she said on what it took to find the back of the net. "When you have teammates that can make those plays you have to finish them off."
While 29 total shots and 13 shots on goal in the offensive end stands out when looking at the box score, it was a quiet defense that helped secure the shutout win.
"It was all about the way we imposed ourselves (on the defensive end)," Dambach said. "It was about making sure from the opening whistle we were on top of them."
That imposing defense showed, as the Nittany Lions held the Aztecs to five shots total and just one shot on goal the entire night.
A dominating night on the field both offensively and defensively was the perfect way for this group of Nittany Lions to reward their coach on this special night. While Dambach might have downplayed the 200th victory, for Crouse, the impact Dambach has made coaching is undeniable.
"She's the best coach I've ever had and probably will ever had," she said. "Our team really wanted to get this win for her and we know that there will be plenty more wins for her to come. Playing for her there is nothing like it."
Dambach and the Nittany Lions will look to add to that win total Sunday afternoon as they take on La Salle at 1:00 p.m. at Jeffrey Field.