EUGENE, Ore. - Penn State women’s soccer opened its Pacific Northwest road trip with a 1-0 victory over Oregon at Papé Field on Thursday night. The Nittany Lions improved to 6-2-4 (4-1-2 B1G) while the Ducks fell to 6-5-2 (1-5-1 B1G).
Redshirt senior goalkeeper Mackenzie Gress tallied her fourth complete shutout of the season, all in Big Ten play, between the pipes. She made three saves in the win to bring her season total to 40.
Penn State’s goal was credited as an own goal for Oregon after freshman midfielder Paige Pasinski’s shot went off the post and off the back of the Ducks’ keeper. Senior forward Paige Kalal finished with a team-high three shots.
The Blue & White finished the match with nine corners compared to just one for Oregon. It was the 10th time this season Penn State took more corner kicks than its opponent.
FIRST HALF
Penn State owned much of the possession of the first half and applied the pressure early. The Nittany Lions had three shots blocked in a minute-long span from the 11:57 to 12:58 mark of the frame with tries by Pasinski, Emma Johnson and Ellie Kocher getting stuffed by Duck defenders.
Shortly after the flurry, the Blue & White earned four corner kicks in a short period. PSU finished the first frame with eight corners.
At the 34:36 mark of the first half, freshman midfielder Layla Tomezak came on as a substitute. After suffering an injury setback to start her career, he recorded her first appearance in a Penn State uniform since the Notre Dame match in the season opener.
Gress collected her second save in the half in the 37th minute on Oregon’s first real chance of the match. Neither side would have another shot on goal as the half would conclude with a 0-0 score.
SECOND HALF
Oregon found an early chance just over two minutes into the half. A shot for the Ducks went high from inside the box. Oregon challenged for a penalty but to no avail as Penn State went on for the goal kick.
Penn State’s first chance of the half came in the 52nd as a shot by Kalal would go wide.
The lone goal of the night for the Nittany Lions was at the 58:23 mark of the match. Pasinski received the ball in the box before sending a shot off the post that ricocheted off the back of the Oregon keeper and into the net. It was officially scored as an own goal.
Senior forward Aubrey Kulpa nearly made the match 2-0 with a shot in the 76th minute that went just left of the post.
Oregon earned its first corner of the night at the 80:49 mark of the match. Following the service, the play went to review for a penalty. The call of no penalty stood as Penn State would drain the remainder of the clock to finish with a 1-0 victory.
SCORING SUMMARY
59’ - PSU 1, ORE 0: Own goal.
UP NEXT
Penn state continues its Pacific Northwest trip to Seattle to take on No. 13 Washington on Sunday. Kickoff is scheduled for 4 p.m. (ET) at Husky Soccer Stadium with a live stream on B1G.
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.