Nittany Lions, Spartans Battle for B1G Tournament TitleNittany Lions, Spartans Battle for B1G Tournament Title
Mark Selders

Nittany Lions, Spartans Battle for B1G Tournament Title

Opens in a new window Tournament Central Opens in a new window Game Notes Opens in a new window Watch Opens in a new window Live Stats Opens in a new window Tickets

COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Penn State women's soccer program will face Michigan State in the B1G Tournament Championship at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 6 at Lower.com Field in Columbus, Ohio.
 
The Nittany Lions have eight B1G tournament titles, the most in conference history and will be looking for their ninth total and fifth under head coach Erica Dambach on Sunday.
 
MSU has not won a Big Ten Tournament title in its history as a program but clinched the Big Ten regular season title and earned the top seed in the tournament.
 
MSU has defeated eighth seed Minnesota (2-1) and fourth seed Nebraska (2-1) to arrive at the final, while sixth seed Penn State defeated third seed Wisconsin (1-0) and second seed Northwestern (2-0) to advance to the tournament championship.

GAME INFORMATION 
Michigan State (16-1-3)

  • Date: Sunday, Nov. 5, 2022 | Time: 2 p.m. EST
  • Location: Columbus, Ohio | Venue: Lower.com Field
  • Live Stats | Watch: BTN
  • Tickets 

PENN STATE BREAKDOWN

  • Record: 12-4-3
  • Top Goal Scorers: Ally Schlegel (11 Goals), Penelope Hocking (5 Goals)
  • Top Assists: Kate Wiesner (8 Assists), Penelope Hocking (8 Assists)
  • Top Saves: Katherine Asman (69 Saves, .812 Save Percentage) 

LAST TIME OUT 

  • PSU defeated Northwestern 2-0 in the B1G Semifinals on Thursday.
  • It was the Nittany Lions and Wildcats' first meeting of the season.
  • Wiesner scored the game winner in the third minute, and Payton Linnehan followed up with an insurance goal in the 19th minute.
  • Hocking assisted on both goals and Linnehan assisted on the first goal.
  • Asman tied her season high nine saves which she made earlier this season at Stanford.
  • Asman also earned her ninth clean sheet of the season.
  • The Nittany Lions withstood NU's offensive attack, as they were out-shot 14 to five.
  • PSU is ranked No. 21 in the United Soccer Coaches poll and No. 7 in RPI.

PENN STATE IN THE B1G TOURNAMENT

  • Penn State is 38-13-6 overall in the B1G Tournament.
  • Penn State has won the B1G Tournament title eight times: '98, '00, '01, '06, '08, '15, '17, '19.
  • The Nittany Lions last won the tournament championship in 2019. Linnehan scored the game-winner against Michigan.
  • Under Dambach, PSU has only played MSU once in the B1G Tournament, defeating the Spartans 1-0 in the 2008 semifinals.

SCOUTING MICHIGAN STATE

  • Michigan State clinched the regular season Big Ten Championship by going 9-0-1 in the league.
  • Historically, the Spartans are 4-13-2 in the Big Ten Tournament.
  • Lauren DeBeau was selected as B1G Forward of the Year and leads her squad with 23 points on ten goals and three assists.
  • Ruby Diodati collected Defender of the Year honors and leads the Spartans with eight assists.
  • Lauren Kozal was chosen as Goalkeeper of the Year. She has a .866 save percentage and ten shutouts.
  • In his second season leading the Spartans, Jeff Hosler was voted B1G Coach of the Year.
  • The Spartans are No. 6 in the United Soccer Coaches poll and No. 12 in RPI.

PENN STATE AGAINST MICHIGAN STATE

  • Penn State leads the all-time series against Michigan State 24-6-0.
  • PSU fell to MSU 2-1 on Jeffrey Field earlier this season.
  • Schlegel scored the Nittany Lions' lone goal of the match.
  • The loss snapped a five-match streak against the Spartans.
  • As head coach of PSU, Dambach is 12-4 versus MSU. 

OTHER NOTES

  • Under the direction of Dambach, the Nittany Lions have won 11 Big Ten regular season championships and four Big Ten Tournament championships.
  • Wiesner and Hocking lead the league in assists per game at .44 per contest.
  • Schlegel leads the Big Ten in goals with 11.
  • Hocking is tied with Arizona State's Nicole Douglas as the active career leader in NCAA Division I in points with 148.
  • Schlegel achieved her 100th career point on Oct. 16 with a brace against Michigan.
  • Dambach is approaching her 300th career win. She has 295.
  • The program is approaching 500 total wins. It is at 497 wins.
  • The Blue & White has shut out 11 opponents this season.
  • PSU is 11-0-1 when scoring the first goal.
  • 13 different Nittany Lions have scored goals this season.
  • Penn State has had six B1G Players of the Week this season.
  • The Nittany Lions have faced five ranked opponents having defeated No. 21 West Virginia, 2-0, No. 4 Rutgers, 2-0 and No. 12 Northwestern, 2-0, lost to No. 12 Stanford, 2-0 and tied No. 19 Georgetown 2-2.

The Penn State women's soccer season is presented by the Smeal College of Business.