UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Cori Dyke's first career goal became one to remember as the senior midfielder scored the game-winner against Liberty, lifting No. 11 Penn State to a 2-1 victory on Thursday night at Jeffrey Field.
Dyke scored in the 82nd minute off a corner kick by senior+ Penelope Hocking to seal the match for the Nittany Lions.
"That's exactly how I dreamed it would go," Dyke said. "It's so special to be able to do that tonight and get the win for the team and be able to go celebrate with everybody."
With the win, Penn State is now 5-1-1 on the season and takes a much-deserved break before beginning conference play.
"I think it was important to get the win," Hocking said. "We all came together and said, 'This is the last game we have before 10 days, so let's make it game'".
Next, Penn State will kick off Big Ten Conference action on Sunday, Sept. 18 at Indiana.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Penn State got on the board first with their earliest goal this season in the third minute as senior Kate Wiesner sent a corner kick into the box finding the head of sophomore Mieke Schiemann who directed it into the net for the 1-0 advantage.
The Nittany Lion defense held the Flames to just two shots in the first half, none of which were on goal. Liberty did their part to adjust, forcing PSU to take four more shots that were each off-target.
Just four minutes after the halftime break, Liberty would score the equalizer with a long-range boot that sailed over redshirt senior keeper Katherine Asman's leaping save attempt.
The match remained locked until just over eight minutes to go when junior Kaitlyn MacBean earned the Nittany Lions a corner kick by battling a defender on the back-line and forcing the ball off the Flames.
Hocking took the corner and passed it to Dyke who shot from just outside the penalty box, drilling the ball up into the net away from the outstretched gloves of the Flames' keeper.
The 86th minute saw a corner opportunity from Liberty, but the Lions successfully cleared it away.
Liberty drops to 4-2-1 on the season, halting a three-game win streak.
PSU now sets its sights on conference play.
The Penn State women's soccer season is presented by the Smeal College of Business.
