CARY, N.C. – A four-goal first half propelled the Penn State women's soccer team (11-2-1 , 9-1-1) to a 5-0 win over the Alabama State (9-3-1, 6-0-1) in the first round of the NCAA Tournament Wednesday night.
The Nittany Lions were led by senior captain Frankie Tagliaferri who netted two goals in the win. Payton Linnehan scored once and added two assists and Olivia Damico netted the first goal of her Nittany Lion career in the win.
How it Happened
A furious Nittany Lion attack pressured the Hornets back line from the opening kick. Ally Schlegel redirected a corner from Sam Coffey that clanged off the crossbar and nearly gave Penn State a 1-0 lead in the first two minutes of the match.
Penn State recorded five shots in the first 10 minutes of the match. The Nittany Lions offensive pressure continued to control the possession and keep pressure on the Hornets defense. After 10 shots against Alabama State, the constant attack paid off in the 18th minute.
Payton Linnehan sent a cross in front of the net and found Tagliaferri. Tagliaferri buried her right-footed blast into the back of the net to give Penn State a 1-0 lead.
Just eight minutes later, Tagliaferri scored again to make it 2-0. It was Tagliaferri's ninth of the season and sixth goal in her last five games.
In the 28th minute, Sam Coffey sent a ball forward from midfield to a streaking Linnehan. Linnehan got behind the Hornets defense and slotted her shot out of the reach of the Hornets keeper and gave Penn State a 3-0 lead.
Four minutes after Linnehan's goal, Damico made a run into the Hornets box. Elle Kershner played a perfect ball to Damico who bested the keeper and gave Penn State a 4-0 advantage.
Penn State controlled the possession for the remainder of the half and took their four-goal lead into halftime.
The Hornets came out of the half, sending three shots towards the net in the first eight minutes of the second half but the Penn State backline and Katherine Asman kept Alabama State off the scoreboard.
Penn State got another goal on an own goal by Alabama State in the 73rd minute to make the score 5-0 and this would be the final goal of the match.
The Nittany Lions outshot the Hornets 35-4 in the match and Penn State allowed just one shot on goal.
NOTES
Penn State improved to 20-3 in first-round matches in program history (PSU received byes in the first round in 1998, 1999 and 2000). The Nittany Lions are in the midst of an 11-match first round winning streak.
The Nittany Lions are 56-23-2 all-time in the NCAA Tournament and 30-12-1 all-time under Erica Dambach.
Sam Coffey increased her NCAA active lead with her 44th career assist in Wednesday's win. Coffey's assist was the 10th of the season and is the fourth-straight season she has recorded at least 10 assists.
Frankie Tagliaferri has netted six goals in her last five games and continues to improve upon her career season. She has new career highs with nine goals and 27 points.
The 35 shots by Penn State was the most by a Penn State team since the Nittany Lions attempted 33 against Duquesne on August 19, 2018.
UP NEXT
Penn State will meet Vanderbilt in the second round of the NCAA Tournament on May 1 at 3 p.m. ET.