STANFORD, Calif. - The Penn State women's soccer team fell 2-0 to the Stanford Cardinal on Sunday, November 24 in the third round of the NCAA Tournament. The Nittany Lions finish the season with an overall record of 17-7-1.
Stanford netted a goal in the 30th minute to take a 1-0 lead. A shot from Catarina Macario settled into the top corner of the goal from 20-yards out to give the Cardinal the early edge.
The Cardinal defense limited the Nittany Lions on the offensive end in the first half and took a 1-0 lead into the half.
Stanford scored a second goal in the 65th minute. An unlucky deflection off of a Nittany Lion defender redirected the shot into the net and gave the Cardinal a 2-0 lead.
Senior goalkeeper Amande Dennis made a career-best 12 saves in the match. Dennis made several spectacular saves to keep the Nittany Lions in striking distance. Dennis 12 saves are tied for fifth all-time in a single game in Penn State history. The last Nittany Lion goalkeeper to make 12 saves in a single game was Alyssa Naeher in 2009 against Minnesota.
In the 83rd minute, the Nittany Lions were awarded a free kick just outside of the Cardinal penalty box. The Nittany Lions free kick was off the mark as they attempted to cut into the Stanford lead.
The Cardinal held on for a 2-0 win and advanced to the NCAA quarterfinals.
SEASON IN REVIEW
- The Nittany Lions finished the season 17-7-1 and 8-3-0 in the Big Ten.
- Penn State won its eighth Big Ten Tournament title and fourth under head coach Erica Dambach.
- Penn State has advanced to the Sweet 16 in seven of the last nine seasons.
- The Nittany Lions advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the 25th-straight season.
- Penn State placed eight members on All-Big Ten teams. The four first team All-Big Ten honorees (Riehl, Schlegel, Coffey and Abello) are the most since 2011.
- Head coach Erica Dambach collected her 250th career win in a 1-0 victory over the Indiana Hoosiers.
- Penn State's 11-game winning streak was the longest since 2015.
SENIOR CLASS (2015-2019)
- Redshirt seniors Kaleigh Riehl and Ellie Jean both appeared in 100 or more games in their careers. Kaleigh Riehl finished her career tied for third in Penn State history with 101 starts and appearances. Ellie Jean became the 10th Nittany Lion to appear in 100 or more games with her 100 appearances.
- Kaleigh Riehl finished her career as the NCAA all-time leader in minutes played by a position player. Riehl finished her career with 8,847 minutes played. Penn State alum Emily Oleksiuk holds the NCAA record for minutes played by a goalkeeper with 8,853 minutes played.
- Since 2015 the Nittany Lions won 84 games, three Big Ten regular season championships and three Big Ten Tournament championships. The Nittany Lions won the 2015 national championship and appeared in the NCAA quarterfinals in 2015, 2017 and 2018.
- Amanda Dennis finished fourth all-time in Penn State history with a .778 goals against average. Dennis won 44 games as the Nittany Lions goalkeeper and recorded 24 shutouts in her Penn State career. She is also fourth all-time with her 44 wins, 6,129:16 minutes played and 202 saves in Penn State history.