UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The No. 24 Penn State women's soccer team netted a pair of second-half goals in a 2-0 victory over the Iowa Hawkeyes in a Big Ten conference match Sunday afternoon at Jeffrey Field. Kristin Schnurr (Bristow, Va.) and Charlotte Williams (Rochester, N.Y.) each tallied a goal and an assist in the victory.
"Two goals and a shutout on Jeffrey Field," head coach Erica Dambach said. "I would say it wasn't pretty, but we don't need pretty at this point in the season, we need gritty and I thought it was a gritty performance. The players found an extra gear. There was some obvious fatigue on both teams part, but it's about what's inside of you and I think our team pulled through in that area today."
After a scoreless first half, the Nittany Lions (7-5-0, 3-2-0 Big Ten) found the back of the net in the 66th minute on Williams' third goal of the season, and the 15th tally of her career.
On the goal, Shea Moyer (Wyomissing, Pa.) and Schnurr brought the ball up the field on a give-and-go, then Schnurr played the ball to Williams inside the box. With the ball, Williams took a few steps and then fired a left-footed shot into the upper-left corner of the net from seven yards out.
The Blue & White then added to its lead in the 75th minute on Schnurr's fourth goal of the season. After Williams brought the ball up the left side of the field, she played the ball into Schnurr who in turn flicked the ball past Iowa goalkeeper Claire Graves and into the bottom-right corner of the net from close range.
The Hawkeyes (5-6-2, 1-4-1 Big Ten) did not tally a shot attempt following the Schnurr goal, which secured the 2-0 victory for Penn State.
In net for the Nittany Lions, Amanda Dennis (San Diego, Calif.) recorded her lone save of the afternoon in the 35th minute.
The No. 24 Nittany Lions will head to the state of Michigan to take on Michigan State on Friday, Oct. 5, at 7 p.m. and Michigan on Sunday, Oct. 7, at noon.
NOTES: Penn State leads the all-time series against Iowa, 24-2-0…Penn State outshot Iowa, 18-5…Emily Ogle started her 87th career match…Penn State recorded its sixth shutout of the season…Penn State is now 6-0-0 when scoring first this season…Penn State is now 6-0-0 when scoring at least two goals…Penn State is now 108-7-6 in Big Ten regular season matches at Jeffrey Field…Williams is now tied for 15th all-time in assists at Penn State with 21 (Maya Hayes – 2010-13)…Williams also moved into 24th all-time in points at Penn State with 51...Schnurr recorded a career-best three points on her first career one-goal, one-assist game...Penn State is now 77-9-7 at Jeffrey Field since the start of the 2011 season...Penn State recorded its sixth shutout of the season.