No. 13 Penn State women’s soccer (4-1-0) dominated over Michigan State (1-3-1) at Holuba Hall Sunday with a 3-1 win over the Spartans.

This is the Nittany Lions’ fourth win of the season, as they’ve clearly bounced back from their season opening loss against Rutgers.

The Nittany Lions outplayed the Spartans with aggressive play on the offensive end. We saw a total of 16 shots during the game for Penn State and only three for Michigan State.

How It Happened

The Nittany Lions started off the match by playing possessively and using their backline to recover when necessary.

Ally Schlegel had a shot on goal in the fourth minute and missed, but came back with a goal in the eighth minute assisted by Rachel Wasserman. Schlegel landed the shot in the lower right of the goal of Michigan State’s keeper, Lauren Kozal.

8': GOAL PENN STATE!

Ally Schlegel pounces on a defensive mistake and the Nittany Lions lead!

— Onward Sports (@OnwardStSports) March 7, 2021

In the 21st minute, Penn State’s Payton Linnehan had a nice chip on a nearly empty goal, but Kozal saved the shot, keeping the score 1-0 Penn State.

The Spartans received a foul in the 24th minute, giving Penn State a free-kick just outside the 18 and an opportunity for a shot, but the ball was quickly settled and saved by Kozal.

The Spartans found a break in the Nittany Lions’ defensive line and ran the ball to the goal in the 26th minute. Katie Evans moved far out to save the ball that Gia Wahlberg shot, but it got past her and gave Michigan State its first goal of the match.

Frankie Tagliaferri put the Nittany Lions back in the lead with a goal assisted by Sam Coffey in the 36th minute. Tagliaferri saw an easy opening and was able to tap the ball in past the Spartans’ keeper.

Penn State began the second half with less pressure on Michigan State’s goal, and when the Nittany Lions did take some shots, they either went too wide or directly to the keeper.

Schlegel nearly won a header for the Nittany Lions in the 66th minute, but the ball landed right in Kozal’s hands. Eva Alsonso nearly did the same thing off a free kick in the 71st minute.

Elle Kershner’s first-ever goal as a Nittany Lion put Penn State up 3-1 in the 74th minute with an assist by Wasserman after her first attempt for a goal didn’t quite make it.

Another look at Kershner's first goal of her career! pic.twitter.com/LpnDLQwhL7

— Penn State Women’s Soccer (@PennStateWSOC) March 7, 2021

The game ended with Michigan State desperately trying to come back, but to no avail.

Player of the Match

Elle Kershner | Freshman | Forward

Kershner scored a goal for the first time as a Nittany Lion in the second half of the match. The freshman played aggressively and shot at every opportunity she could to help extend Penn State’s lead.

What’s Next?

The Nittany Lions will next take on Ohio State on Saturday, March 13 at 3 p.m. in Columbus.