No. 5 Penn State women’s soccer dropped its second match of the season on Sunday in a 3-2 loss to No. 8 Virginia at Klöckner Stadium in Charlottesville.
Erica Dambach’s Nittany Lions finished a tough non-conference slate 2-2 in games against top 10 opponents.
How It Happened
Sophomore Courtney Petersen gave the Cavaliers an early 1-0 lead in the third minute, and Virginia goalie Laurel Ivory came up clutch on a barrage of shots from Marissa Sheva and Frannie Crouse. With the clock ticking down close to halftime, senior midfielder Haleigh Echard delivered the equalizer for the Nittany Lions in the 44th.
Betsy Brandon made it 2-1 Virginia on a free-kick header in the 50th minute before Emily Ogle quickly tied things up three minutes later. Following a Cavaliers handball in the penalty area, the redshirt junior midfielder beat Ivory for her third goal of the season.
Virginia’s Phoebe McClernon scored on a free kick in the 62nd, but Penn State couldn’t muster a comeback despite a handful of substitutions to keep legs fresh. Megan Schafer’s shot from outside the 18-yard box sailed high with two minutes left in regulation.
Player Of The Match
Phoebe McClernon | Sophomore | Defender
The West Chester, Pa., native gets the nod for her game-winning goal. She played in the same Penn Fusion club system as Sheva, Echard, and Charlotte Williams.
What’s Next?
The Nittany Lions (4-2) will open Big Ten play at 7 p.m. Thursday at Jeffrey Field against Northwestern.
