UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – No. 6 Penn State women's soccer prepares for the final match of its 2023 non-conference schedule, as the Nittany Lions host the Princeton Tigers in a 7:30 p.m. fixture on Jeffrey Field. Streaming is available to a worldwide audience of authenticated subscribers via B1G+.
MATCH INFORMATION
PRINCETON at #6 PENN STATE
Thursday, September 7, 2023 | 7:30 p.m. (ET)
Jeffrey Field | University Park, Pa.
Watch Live: B1G+
Live Stats: StatBroadcast
PARKING
Parking for all Penn State women's soccer matches will require a valid permit or payment of the applicable parking fee for campus lots. Fans with valid Penn State University parking permits will be permitted to park at women's soccer matches for free, following Transportation Services parking policies and access. For women's soccer matches, fans are asked to park in the Jordan East, Stadium West or Porter North lots. Fans without a permit are encouraged to prepay for event parking at a discounted rate of $5.50 through the ParkMobile app, or by clicking here. Prepayment is available through 11:59 p.m. the day before each event. Event day parking will be $10 per vehicle.
FOLLOW THE ACTION
For fans unable to attend in person, Penn State's Sunday afternoon battle against the Hawks will be streamed live to a worldwide audience via B1G+. Authenticated subscribers are invited to click here and sign in to B1G+ on their mobile phones, computers, smart TVs and other connected devices to follow along. Mac Young will provide play-by-play commentary, while Juan Mendez will serve as the broadcast's analyst. Tyler Millin will serve as Thursday night's sideline reporter. Live stats provided by Penn State and StatBroadcast are available by clicking here.
KICKIN' IT
Penn State returns to action after securing a dominant 4-1 result over the Monmouth Hawks last Sunday, Sept. 3. Payton Linnehan led the way with a pair of assists on goals scored in the run of play, while four different Nittany Lions published a goal in the contest. Riley Gleason got credit for the match-winner in the fifth minute of play. PSU's dominance inside the friendly confines of Jeffrey Field continues, with the Blue & White boasting a 4-0-1 ledger at home after the result against Monmouth. The Nittany Lions have conceded just one goal in the 2023 season at home, coming in the final ten minutes against Monmouth. Penn State is unbeaten at home through its first five matches for the second year in a row.
UNBEATEN.
The 2023 edition of Nittany Lion women's soccer joined elite company in Penn State history after earning its sixth unbeaten decision of the year, climbing to 5-0-1 overall after tallying a win over the Monmouth Hawks last week. PSU's 30th varsity squad becomes just the fourth Penn State team to open a season unbeaten through its first six contests all-time, joining the 1996, 1998 and 2005 teams. In Penn State program history, only the 2005 squad managed to complete the entirety of its non-conference slate without a loss, a feat the 2023 Nittany Lions will look to accomplish against Princeton. Penn State's 2005 roster went on to become the second Women's College Cup participant in program history and remains the only team in PSU annals to go a full season without a loss, publishing a 23-0-2 record.
GETTING DEFENSIVE
The Nittany Lions boast one of the most effective defensive units in the nation through the first six matches of the season, tied for the third spot in the Big Ten and 25th nationally in terms of goals-against average with a 0.333 mark. PSU's shutout percentage is tied for second in the Big Ten and ranks 21st in Division I, boasting a 0.667 mark overall. The Nittany Lions have shut out four opponents and have surrendered just one goal on Jeffrey Field, outscoring opponents by a 14-1 margin at home. Between the posts, Penn State goalkeepers have published a dominant season through the first six matches of the year, stopping 89.5% of opponent shots on target. PSU's save percentage is third in the Big Ten Conference and ranks 25th nationally.
PREPPING FOR PRINCETON
Eighth-year head coach Sean Driscoll leads Princeton into Thursday night's contest boasting an undefeated record through four matches for the second time in three years. The Tigers rank sixth in the nation in shots per match with 22 and stand 14th nationally in points per match with 10. Sophomore striker Pietra Tordin has dominated for the Tigers through the early going, mustering seven goals with 16 total points so far in 2023. Princeton opened the season with a dominant 3-0 home victory over the Monmouth Hawks, Penn State's most recent opponent, and followed that effort with a 5-0 win over La Salle. The signature result of the season for the Tigers came in a scoreless draw with Rutgers on Aug. 31.
STORY OF THE SERIES
A pair of storied programs in women's college soccer history, the Nittany Lions and Tigers prepare to take the pitch for just the second time in school history. Penn State seized a victory over Princeton in the opening round of the 2002 NCAA Tournament on the road in College Park, Maryland. The Nittany Lions toppled the Tigers in a 2-0 match to open postseason competition and followed that performance with a 2-1 win over host-Maryland to advance to the tournament's third round. Penn State went on to appear in the Women's College Cup that season, ultimately falling to Portland in the National Semifinal by a 2-0 score.
FOLLOW THE NITTANY LIONS
Visit GoPSUSports.com for more information on Penn State women's soccer. Fans can keep up to date with the Nittany Lion women's soccer team on X and Instagram @PennStateWSOC, in addition to the team's Facebook page at /PSUWomensSoccer.
The 30th Season of Penn State women's soccer is presented by the Smeal College of Business.
