UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The No. 21 Penn State women's soccer team rolled to a 4-0 victory over Ohio State in its 2018 Big Ten season opener Friday night at Jeffrey Field. Four Nittany Lions each found the back of the net in the contest.
"That was really fun," head coach Erica Dambach said. "A lot good pieces on Ohio State, but a real team performance for us and it's what we've been waiting for in terms of the response from our group. I think they've had some disappointing results and some disappointing performances and tonight they came out and it was all actions. They trained that way all week and now we see the result."
Heading into the final third of the opening first half knotted up at 0-0, the Nittany Lions (5-3-0, 1-0-0 B1G) rattled off three goals within a eight-minute span to take a 3-0 lead into halftime.
The offense got going for the Blue & White with freshman Kim Dubs (Zurich, Switzerland) netting her second goal of her career to put Penn State in front of Ohio State, 1-0, at 31:33. After Frankie Tagliaferri (Colts Neck, N.J.) played the ball into the box, Dubs picked up the loose ball and beat Ohio State (3-4-0, 0-1-0 B1G) goalkeeper Devon Kerr.
The Blue & White then added to its lead on a header from Charlotte Williams (Rochester, N.Y.) in the 38th minute. Shea Moyer (Wyomissing, Pa.) played the ball down the right side of the field to Dubs who crossed the ball to Williams, who in turn headed the ball into the back of the net.
The final goal of the opening frame came off a set piece in the 40th minute. After a foul near midfield, Alina Ortega Jurado (Waldgirmes, Germany) quick played the ball to Tagliaferri and then she got past the Ohio State defense for her third goal of the season at 39:21.
Heading into halftime, Penn State led Ohio State, 3-0, and outshot the Buckeyes, 9-1.
Kerry Abello (Batavia, Ill.) capped off the scoring for the Nittany Lions with her fourth goal of the season at 49:39. After making a move on an OSU defender inside the box, Abello put the ball over Kerr to make it a 4-0 contest.
In net for Penn State, juniors Amanda Dennis (San Diego, Calif.) and Sarafina Valenti (Bechtelsville, Pa.) combined for the fifth shutout victory of the season. On the night for Penn State, Dennis made two saves in 73:22 of play, while Valenti made one save over the final 16:38.
No. 21 Penn State now heads to No. 12 Northwestern on Thursday, Sept. 20, at 8 p.m. (EDT) before traveling to Illinois on Saturday, Sept. 22, at 8 p.m. (EDT). The match at Northwestern will be aired live on the Big Ten Network.
NOTES: Penn State leads the all-time series against Ohio State, 23-7-1…Penn State outshot Ohio State, 12-4…Abello extended her career-best point streak to three games (2g, 2a)…Penn State improves to 431-116-37 all-time at Jeffrey Field…Penn State improves to 21-2-2 in Big Ten regular season openers…Penn State is now 107-6-6 in Big Ten regular season matches at Jeffrey Field…The Nittany Lions are now 194-29-16 all-time in Big Ten regular season matches...Williams moved into 15th all-time in shots attempted at Penn State with 176…Williams also moved into sole possession of 24th all-time in goals scored at Penn State with 14.