UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The No. 24 Penn State women's soccer team (6-4-0, 2-1-0 B1G) is set to host a pair of Big Ten matches this week at Jeffrey Field. The Nittany Lions will host the Nebraska Cornhuskers (7-3-2, 3-0-1 B1G) on Thursday, Sept. 27, at 6 p.m. and then close out the weekend against the Iowa Hawkeyes (5-4-2, 1-2-1 B1G) on Sunday, Sept. 30, at 1 p.m.
FOLLOW ALONG
Thursday's match will be aired live on the Big Ten Network with Dean Linke (play-by-play) and Jackie Manny (analyst) on the call. Fans can watch Sunday's match for free on GoPSUsports.com.
ATTENDING JEFFREY FIELD
Admission and parking for women's soccer regular season events are free. Fans are reminded that there is a no bag policy in place on stadium grounds. Parking on the grass lots will not be available, fans are asked to park in Stadium West.
LOOKING AT NEBRASKA
The Nebraska Cornhuskers enter the match against Penn State with an overall record of 7-3-2 and a Big Ten record of 3-0-1.
Last weekend, the Huskers recorded a pair of one-goal victories. After tallying a 4-3 win in overtime against Indiana (Sept. 20), Nebraska posted a 1-0 win against Purdue (Sept. 23).
Offensively, Savanah Uveges leads the team in points with 16 (6g, 4a), followed by Faith Carter with 15 (7g, 1a).
In net, Aubrei Corder has started all 12 matches in 2018. On the year, Corder has recorded two solo shutouts, made 26 saves, and has allowed 19 goals.
PENN STATE VS. NEBRASKA
Penn State and Nebraska have met seven teams prior to Thursday night with Penn State leading the all-time series, 4-1-2. The two teams played to a 1-1 tie last year at Nebraska.
LOOKING AT IOWA
Prior to visiting Happy Valley on Sunday, Sept. 30, the Iowa Hawkeyes will travel to Ohio State on Thursday, Sept. 27. Iowa enters the match at Ohio State with an overall record of 5-4-2 and a Big Ten record of 1-2-1.
Last weekend, Iowa recorded a 1-1 tie against Purdue (Sept. 20) and then tallied a 3-1 win against Indiana (Sept. 23).
Offensively, Natalie Winters leads the team in points (11) and goals (five). Along with Winters, six other Hawkeyes have found the back of the net this season.
Claire Graves and Cora Meyers have both seen time in net this season for the Hawkeyes.
On the year for Graves, she has a record of 4-1-1, played in 589:49, allowed four goals, has a save percentage of .852, and has a goals-against average of 0.61.
In 2018 for Meyers, she has a record of 1-3-1, played in 459:59, allowed eight goals, has a save percentage of .680, and has a goals-against average of 1.57.
PENN STATE VS. IOWA
Sunday's match marks the 26th meeting between the two programs with Penn State leading the all-time series, 23-2-0. The Nittany Lions have won four straight meetings in the series.
THE POLLS
Penn State is No. 24 in the United Soccer Coaches poll. In the RPI, Penn State is No. 46.
PROTECTING THE NET
Since the start of the 2014 season, Penn State goalkeepers have combined for 51 shutouts.
STRIKE FIRST
Penn State has been very successful when scoring the first goal over the past few seasons. When scoring first, Penn State is 100-3-5 since the start of the 2012 season.
TOP OFFENSE
The Nittany Lions boast one of the top offenses in the nation over the past few seasons.
Heading into the Nebraska match, Penn State has scored 427 goals since the start of the 2011 season, which ranks third in the nation.
Virginia leads the nation in goals scored since the start of 2011 with 476 followed by Stanford with 435 (Stats courtesy of the Virginia Sports Information Office).
WEEKLY HONORS
After helping the Nittany Lions to a pair of shutout victories to open the season, Kaleigh Riehl was named to the TopDrawerSoccer Team of the Week for the second time in her career.
Following a career-best three-point outing against Ohio State, Kim Dubs was tabbed the Big Ten Freshman of the Week and was named to the TopDrawerSoccer Team of the Week.
HOME SWEET HOME
The Nittany Lions boast an all-time record of 236-28-13 at Jeffrey Field and in Big Ten conference matches, Penn State is 107-6-6.
Since the start of the 2011 season, Penn State owns a record of 76-8-7 at Jeffrey Field.
Penn State opened the 2018 season with 3,126 fans against then-No. 9 West Virginia, which is the No. 8 crowd in program history at Jeffrey Field.
SECOND HALF TEAM
Ten matches into the 2018 season and halftime adjustments have paid dividends for the Nittany Lions.
Offensively, Penn State has scored 13 goals in the second half of regulation compared to eight goals in the first half.
Additionally, Penn State has recorded 83 shots in the final 45 minutes of regulation compared to 72 shots in the first 45 minutes.
Defensively, Penn State has allowed six goals during the first half of play, while it has allowed only one goal in the second half of regulation.
UP NEXT
No. 24 Penn State is back on the road next weekend with a trip to the state of Michigan.
The Nittany Lions head to Michigan State for a 7 p.m. match on Friday, Oct. 5, before closing out the weekend at Michigan on Sunday, Oct. 7, at noon.