UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The No. 8 Penn State women's soccer team dropped a tightly contested matchup to the unbeaten Oklahoma State Cowgirls 2-1 on Thursday, September 12. The Cowgirls scored the game-winning goal in the second minute of the second overtime to best the Nittany Lions.
RECAP
The Nittany Lions and Cowgirls were forced to deal with a wet playing surface due to strong rains prior to kickoff which made footing and passing difficult in the early minutes of the non-conference matchup.
Despite the conditions, the Nittany Lions were able to put a pair of shots on goal in the first 22 minutes of the contest. Junior Frankie Tagliaferri's shot at the 21:01 mark was saved, but the rebound ended up rolling over the end line for a corner kick for the Nittany Lions.
Sam Coffey played a nearly perfect ball into the box that found redshirt freshman Ally Schlegel. Schlegel outjumped the Oklahoma State defender and gave the Nittany Lions a 1-0 lead. It was Schlegel's fifth-straight game with a goal.
The Nittany Lions continued to press the Oklahoma State defense and goalkeeper over the next 10 minutes.
Oklahoma State withstood the offensive pressure and turned the momentum in the 34th minute of play. After a Nittany Lion foul, the Cowgirls were awarded a free kick 25 yards from goal.
The free kick was sent into a large amount of traffic in front of the Nittany Lion goal. A late deflection by Jaci Jones found the back of the net and tied the game a 1-1.
The teams would head into the locker room tied at 1-1 after 45 minutes of action. The Nittany Lions tallied 12 shots in the first half compared to four for the Cowgirls.
A stalemate ensued for the second half between the two teams.
All three of Oklahoma State's second-half shots came in the first five minutes of play out of the break. The Cowgirls' best opportunity came in the 50th minute. Julia Lenhardt's shot was turned away by Kat Asman.
The Nittany Lions continued to pressure Oklahoma State, but were unsuccessful in netting the game-winning goal.
As the horn sounded after 90 minutes, the teams remained tied at 1-1.
From the start of the first overtime, Penn State dominated the possession. The Nittany Lions attempted four shots and held the ball in Oklahoma State's territory for the majority of the period. However, Penn State still couldn't score the game-winner.
The teams would head to a second overtime period. Thirty seconds into the second overtime the Cowgirls earned a corner kick. Jaci Jones sent a curving ball into the box that found Kim Rodriguez. Rodriguez won the headball and sent a shot into the net to give Oklahoma State the 2-1 win.
NOTES
The Nittany Lions and Cowgirls are now 1-1 in the all-time series.
Ally Schlegel has scored in five-straight games for Penn State.
Penn State battles No. 4 Virginia at 1p.m. on Sunday, September 15, at Jeffrey Field.
