UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – No. 12 Penn State women’s soccer closes out its four-match season-opening home stand this Thursday night, August 29, as the Nittany Lions play host to the border-rival West Virginia Mountaineers on Military Appreciation Night. Kickoff from Jeffrey Field is slated for 7:30 p.m. (ET), with the match set to stream to a worldwide audience of authenticated subscribers via B1G+ and the B1G+ app.

FAN INFORMATION, PARKING & PROMOTIONS

With the start of construction projects benefitting all 800+ student-athletes at Penn State, notably the construction of the Jeffrey Field Soccer Complex at the south end of the facility, elements of the Jeffrey Field match day experience have changed. Due to construction, the grass area behind the south goal will not be accessible to spectators. Spectator entrances are located on either end of Jeffrey Field near the corner flags on the south side of the facility. For more spectator information, as well as a diagram of the facility, click here.

Spectator parking is located in the Stadium West lot, with entrance to the lot located at the intersection of Park Avenue and Stadium West Drive. ADA accessibility is still available on either side of the facility. Spectators wishing to access the University Drive seating area should park in the Stadium West lot closest to the Bryce Jordan Center and walk down the sidewalk to the main entrance on the University Drive side of the facility. To prepay for parking at a discounted rate, click here. Event day parking will be $10 at the main entrance to the lot.

Throughout Thursday night’s match against the Mountaineers, Penn State women’s soccer will show its appreciation and respect for members of the United States Armed Forces as a part of Military Appreciation Night. The Nittany Lion women’s soccer family is grateful to all of our service members, active or retired, who have sacrificed so much in the pursuit of freedom. Service members in attendance will be recognized prior to the playing of Thursday night’s National Anthem.

KICKIN’ IT

Highlighted by a marquee performance from freshman forward Aubrey Kulpa that included her first collegiate brace, then-No. 3 Penn State worked for a solid 5-0 win over the West Chester Golden Rams Sunday afternoon, August 25, in Happy Valley. The Nittany Lions were dominant in every facet of the competition, with PSU racking up a historic 42-0 differential in shot attempts. Penn State held its opponent without a single shot attempt in a match for just the second time in program history, with the Blue & White last accomplishing that feat against Ohio State on October 20, 2000. Penn State also recorded their second-most shots in a single match in school history, falling just behind last year’s 45-shot effort against the Golden Rams.

In the latest United Soccer Coaches Poll, published on Tuesday, August 27, Penn State moved to the No. 12 position nationally. The Nittany Lions are one of six Big Ten Conference member institutions ranked or receiving votes in the poll, as well as one of just three B1G programs ranked inside the top 15. Penn State joins UCLA (#3), Michigan State (#4), Ohio State (#16), Wisconsin (RV) and Iowa (RV) in this week’s poll. Freshman forward Aubrey Kulpa has been one of the most impressive and consistent standout performers for the Nittany Lions over her first three matches in Happy Valley. The highly touted attacking prospect scored her first collegiate goal in the 4-0 opening-night thrashing of then-No. 8 Texas Tech, following that performance with her first collegiate brace against West Chester last Sunday, August 25. Kulpa ranks tied for first on the roster alongside Kaitlyn MacBean in goals scored with three in 2024.

ON THE OFFENSIVE

Penn State has established itself as one of the most dominant offensive units in the nation through the first two weeks of competition, with the Nittany Lions boasting the top scoring offense in the Big Ten and the 15th-ranked unit nationally with 3.33 goals per match. The Blue & White lead the Big Ten Conference and rank inside the top 20 nationally in both shots per match and shots on goal per match. PSU stands in the No. 5 spot nationally with 26.00 shot attempts per contest, while simultaneously booking 10.33 shots on goal per match, the 18th-best mark among Division I programs. Through the first three matches of 2024, Penn State is currently sporting a +8 goal differential, the second-best goal scoring margin in the Big Ten and the 21st-best differential in the nation.