No. 12 Nittany Lions Open 31st B1G Campaign with Michigan
Penn State welcomes Wolverines to Jeffrey Field for Thursday night primetime matchup
Michigan at #12 Penn State
1-5-1 | 0-0-0 B1G
5-1-1 | 0-0-0 B1G
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – No. 12 Penn State women's soccer kicks off its 31st varsity season as a member of the Big Ten Conference on Thursday, September 12, as the Nittany Lions welcome the Michigan Wolverines to Jeffrey Field for a 7:30 p.m. (ET) kickoff. The match will stream live 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.
Penn State women’s soccer will celebrate the program’s annual Pride Night on Thursday against the Wolverines, with the Nittany Lions set to feature items and information provided by the Penn State University Center for Sexual and Gender Diversity. Fans are encouraged to attend Thursday night’s contest against Michigan and learn more about local initiatives benefitting LGBTQ+ students, student-athletes, and members of our Central Pennsylvania Community.
Follow the Action
For fans of the Nittany Lions unable to attend Thursday night’s contest in person, the Nittany Lions’ Big Ten Conference home opener will be streamed to a worldwide audience of authenticated subscribers via B1G+ and the B1G+ app. Ben Hoyt and Owen Cameros will be on the call in the Jeffrey Field press box, with Cailey Thalman reporting live from the sideline. Click the link here to be redirected to the live stream of the broadcast and sign in with credentials for access. Live stats provided by the Pennsylvania State University and StatBroadcast are available here.
KICKIN’ IT
In the team's most recent outing, the Blue & White closed out their three-match road trip against opponents that were ranked or receiving votes in the United Soccer Coaches poll, battling to a scoreless draw against the No. 23 Georgetown Hoyas in the nation's capital. Penn State narrowly edged out the Hoyas in total shot attempts by a 13-12 tally, but Georgetown booked a slim 3-2 win in shots on goal. PSU extended its unbeaten streak to five consecutive matches and went unbeaten against ranked or receiving votes opponents over a three-match road span for the first time since the 2021 team did so at No. 13 West Virginia, No. 18 UCF and No. 3 Virginia from September 2 through 9 of that year.
Penn State gears up for its 31st Big Ten opener this week in Happy Valley, with the Nittany Lions seeking victories in consecutive conference opening matchups for the first time since PSU won back-to-back league openers in the 2017 and 2018 campaigns. The Blue & White are an impressive 22-5-3 overall in their conference opening tests dating to the program's inaugural season in 1994. The Nittany Lions were tabbed as the No. 2 team in the Big Ten Conference in a preseason poll of the league's coaches, with newcomer UCLA taking the top spot in the conference back in August. Through Penn State's first seven matches of the year, the Blue & White amassed a 5-1-1 overall record with an impressive 3-1-1 tally against opponents that were either ranked or receiving votes on the day of the match, building one of the strongest non-conference ledgers in the nation.
B1G THINGS COMING
Penn State enters its 31st season as a participating women's soccer Big Ten Conference member institution this week with Thursday's test against Michigan. The Nittany Lions are the most dominant program in B1G history by every statistical measure, hauling in a league-best nine B1G Tournament titles in addition to 20 B1G regular season crowns, more than all other schools combined. The Blue & White are 22-5-3 overall through their first 30 B1G regular season openers, in addition to boasting a 27-2-1 record on Jeffrey Field in the team's first Big Ten match of the year. PSU is seeking consecutive B1G-opening wins for the first time since 2017-18 and looks to extend a two-match winning streak in Big Ten home openers dating to the 2022 season.
Next Up: Michigan
WATCHING THE WOLVERINES
Head Coach Jennifer Klein continues her ninth campaign as a head coach and seventh at the helm in Ann Arbor. The Wolverines are off to a 1-5-1 start in the 2024 campaign and are fresh off their first win of the campaign over a nationally ranked opponent in then-No. 24 Alabama, downing the Crimson Tide by a 1-0 tally at home. Michigan called on Elle Ervin to provide her first collegiate goal in what eventually became the match-winner against Alabama. On the pitch, Michigan is paced by B1G Player to Watch and junior midfielder Jenna Lang, who leads the squad with a trio of goals for six points on the year. Six different student-athletes are tied for the team lead in assists with three, while graduate goalkeeper Stephanie Sparkowski leads the way with 21 saves this year.
STORY OF THE SERIES
Penn State and Michigan get set for their 42nd all-time meeting in a series that dates back to PSU's inaugural varsity season in 1994. The Nittany Lions boast a dominant 26-7-8 lead in the series, with the Blue & White last bringing home a victory in 2022. PSU is unbeaten through the last two matchups against the Wolverines, with the Nittany Lions booking a 3-0 win in 2022 followed by a 1-1 draw last year. Despite Penn State's dominant lead in the all-time series, the Wolverines have moved closer to the Blue & White through the last seven contests, playing to an even 3-3-1 record in those opportunities. In the most recent matchup between the two programs on September 28 of last year, the Nittany Lions and Wolverines played to a 1-1 draw highlighted by an early score from then-senior+ forward Payton Linnehan. Michigan evened the match on a right-footed effort from Wolverine midfielder Jenna Lang to force the draw that ended PSU's nine-match win streak in 2023.
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.