SANTA CLARA, Calif. — An own goal made the difference as No. 8 Penn State won 1-0 at Santa Clara on Sunday night.
The Nittany Lions struggled offensively, as they were out-shot 18 to four by the Broncos. SCU also had ten corner opportunities to PSU's one. The referees charged Penn State with 18 fouls to Santa Clara's five.
The Broncos could not take advantage though as they were shutout for their fourth consecutive match.
Redshirt senior goalkeeper Katherine Asman tallied four saves on the way to her third clean sheet of the season.
With the win, PSU is now 4-1-1 while SCU drops to 1-4 on the year.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Penn State got on the board first in the 14th minute as senior Payton Linnehan sent a cross to fellow senior Kate Wiesner that was knocked in by the Broncos for an own goal.
Asman got her first save of the match in the 36th minute as a corner kick was headed into the box but grabbed by the PSU keeper.
Freshman Amelia White had a last chance shot at the top of the box in the 45th minute, but the shot went right of the goal.
At the half, PSU and SCU were even with four shots apiece, and the Broncos could not convert two corner opportunities.
The Nittany Lions' offense went cold in the second half as they were held to one shot while the Broncos took 14.
Redshirt senior Ally Schlegel got the only good look of the half, but the shot was saved at te bottom right of the box.
In the 81st minute, a through ball to junior Kaitlyn MacBean allowed her to dribble beyond midfield and force a ball of the Bronco's for the first PSU corner kick of the match.
The Broncos got off one last shot in the 88th minute that went off target as time expired for the PSU win.
NEXT UP
The Nittany Lions return from a three-match road trip to host Liberty at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 8.
