Penn State Hosts Oregon in Down Syndrome Awareness Match

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Penn State women's soccer wraps up its two-match weekend against Big Ten Conference challengers from the Pacific Northwest this Sunday, October 12, as the Nittany LIons play host to the Oregon Ducks. Kickoff from Jeffrey Field is slated for 1 p.m. (ET), with streaming available to a worldwide audience of authenticated subscribers via B1G+ and the B1G+ app on connected devices.

FAN INFORMATION, PARKING & PROMOTIONS

With the continuation 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 its annual Down Syndrome Awareness match on Sunday against the Ducks, with the Nittany Lions set to host multiple organizations geared toward generating greater awareness and support for the down syndrome community in the Centre Region and beyond. PSU will welcome individuals representing the Centre Region Down Syndrome Society, Strawberry Fields and Good Day Café to Jeffrey Field for Sunday’s fixture against Oregon. Fans are encouraged to take part in the Rock Your Socks campaign as well, with individuals requested to wear unique pattered socks to participate. As always, Sunday’s match will serve as an additional Signature Sunday, with fans encouraged to line up behind the Nittany Lion team bench area to meet and greet members of the team after the match.

KICKIN’ IT

Sophomore forward Aubrey Kulpa is less than a week removed from being a midseason selection to the MAC Hermann Trophy Watch List, the highest award in all of college soccer dedicated to the national player of the year. Kulpa has been a breakout star in her second collegiate campaign, pouring in the second-most goals and total points among all B1G student-athletes. Kulpa continues to lead the Nittany Lions in total scoring with 21 points and eight goals, adding five assists on the campaign as well. Graduate forward Kaitlyn MacBean has been on an offensive tear in Big Ten competition of late, scoring six goals in five of Penn State's seven conference fixtures. In the passing game, Riley Gleason remains the Big Ten leader and inside the top 10 nationally with nine helpers. Redshirt junior goalkeeper Mackenzie Gress continues to man the net for PSU, registering 34 saves through this point in the season.

Penn State returns to action following a narrow 1-0 defeat at the hands of the Washington Huskies last Thursday, October 9, from Jeffrey Field. The Blue & White were relatively strong in the run of play, turning in a decisive 12-7 differential on the final shot chart while commanding an astounding 68 percent of the possession. Penn State mustered its 10th match on the 2025 season where they managed to outshoot their challengers, moving to 5-3-2 overall when doing so. The Nittany Lions also ran away with the victory in the corner kick competition, logging an 8-2 margin in that statistic to mark their fifth win in that category on the 2025 season. Penn State utilized a diversified attack on Thursday to attempt to generate an equalizing tally, with nine different student-athletes attempting at least one shot attempt. Three Nittany Lions recorded a pair of shot attempts each, with sophomore defender Bella Ayscue, sophomore forward Aubrey Kulpa and senior midfielder Olivia Borgen notching those chances. The trio of Nittany Lion shots on goal also came on the feet of Ayscue, Kulpa and Borgen, but all three chances were stopped by the Huskies between their goalkeeper and back line.

MACMAGICAL

Graduate forward Kaitlyn MacBean has returned to premier form for the Nittany Lions since the start of the Big Ten slate, registering six goals over the last seven conference matches. MacBean currently ranks as the No. 4 student-athlete in Division I in terms of career goals scored among active players with 36, while ranking sixth in DI in total points with 82. Over her graduate season in the Blue & White to date, MacBean has worked into the No. 2 spot on the roster in total scoring (16) and goals (seven) behind Kulpa, with the veteran leading the Big Ten in terms of goals in conference matches with six. The Excelsior, Minnesota, native ranks third in the B1G in total goals (seven), third in the conference in goals per match (0.50) and sixth in the league in total points (15). In the preseason, MacBean was tabbed as a member of the MAC Hermann Trophy Watch List and was named both a United Soccer Coaches Forward to Watch and TopDrawerSoccer Preseason Best XI Team member. Last year, she became the 22nd woman in Penn State program history to be named a United Soccer Coaches All-American. She also extended PSU’s streak of 31 consecutive seasons with at least one First Team All-Big Ten Conference selection, becoming Penn State's 82nd First Team choice all-time.