UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The #13 Penn State women's soccer team improved to 3-1-0 on the season with a 2-1 win over #24 Indiana Thursday evening. Senior captains Frankie Tagliaferri and Sam Coffey both netted goals in the second half as the Nittany Lions overcame a 1-0 deficit for Penn State's third straight win.
After a goal in the 53rd minute by Indiana, the Nittany Lions tied the game just a minute later as Tagliaferri knotted the game at one. Tagliaferri sent her first shot on net but it was blocked by an Indiana defender. Following up her shot, Tagliaferri blasted the rebound on net for her second goal of the season.
Seven minutes later, Coffey curved a shot into the back of the net for her team leading third goal of the season. Coffey got behind the defense and Ally Schlegel played Coffey into the box and she bested the Indiana goalkeeper.
Penn State nearly added a third goal in the 64th minutes as Cori Dyke sent a shot on net that was destined for the upper 90. A leaping save by the Hoosiers' goalkeeper denied Dyke of her first goal of her career and a 3-1 lead for the Nittany Lions.
Indiana offensive intensity continued to increase as the Hoosiers attempted to score the equalizer in the game's remaining minutes.
Nittany Lions goalkeeper Katherine Asman made five saves in the second half to seal the win for Penn State. In the 87th minute a shot from outside the box was sent on frame and Asman made her final save of the game. On the rebound, the Nittany Lions were able to step in front of the shot and clear it from danger and secured the 2-1 win.
In the first half of Thursday's contest, the Nittany Lions did not allow a shot on goal for the Hoosiers and allowed only three shots in the first 45 minutes.
The Nittany Lions continue their homestand on Sunday against Michigan State.
NOTES
· Sam Coffey scored her third straight game-winning goal in Thursday's 2-1 win.
· Frankie Tagliaferri scored the 19th goal of her Penn State career and scored for the second straight game.
· Katherine Asman five saves Thursday was the second time this season she's had five saves in a game.