WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Goals by Payton Linnehan and Ally Schlegel led the Nittany Lions to a 2-1 win over Purdue on Sunday afternoon.
Just six minutes into the match, Penn State grabbed an early 1-0 lead. Junior Sam Coffey sent a long pass forward from beyond midfield. Coffey's perfectly placed pass found Payton Linnehan in stride. Linnehan beat the goalkeeper to the bottom left corner of the goal to give Penn State a 1-0.
Crisp passing allowed of the Nittany Lions to control the majority of the first half. The Nittany Lions tallied six shots in the first half with four shots on goal.
In the 41st minute, Purdue tied the match on a goal by Mia Roth. A cross found Roth in the box as she tied the match at 1-1.
Penn State and Purdue went into the half tied at one goal each.
Following the goal by Purdue, the Nittany Lions increased the offensive intensity and nearly retook the lead in the 53rd minute. Sam Coffey sent a low shot on goal that got behind the Purdue goalkeeper but rolled just wide of the net.
Just a minute later, the Nittany Lions offense found their mark. Frankie Tagliaferri displayed some strong ball handling as she made a long run into the Boilermakers third of the field. Tagliaferri sent a pass forward to the Nittany Lions leading goal scorer Ally Schlegel. Schlegel tapped a shot past the Purdue goalkeeper for her 10th goal of the season.
The one goal lead was all the Nittany Lions needed during the final 36 minutes of the match with Purdue. Penn State held the Boilermakers to just two shots in the second half as Penn State won its third straight road game.
The Nittany Lions improved to 9-6-1 and 5-3-0 in the Big Ten. Penn State returns home for the final regular season home games of 2019. The Nittany Lions host Illinois on Thursday, October 17 at 7:00 p.m. ET. Following Illinois, Penn State hosts Northwestern on Sunday, October 20 at 12:00 p.m. ET.
NOTES
- Ally Schlegel leads the Big Ten with 10 goals and 22 points.
- Frankie Tagliaferri leads the Big Ten with nine assists.