No. 6 Penn State women’s soccer (9-1-1) scored a touchdown against Maryland (0-9-2) on Saturday afternoon for a perfect Senior Day celebration.

Frankie Tagliaferri and Ally Schlegel both ended the 6-0 victory with a brace, while Payton Linnehan and Rachel Wasserman added a goal apiece. The Nittany Lions struck early and often in both halves, never giving the Terrapins a chance.

How It Happened

Penn State got Senior Day off to the perfect start. Frankie Tagliaferri found a streaking Payton Linnehan on the right side, who found Terrapin goalkeeper Kennedy Tolson off her line.

The sophomore capitalized on an opportune chip, beautifully arcing her shot beyond Tolson’s reach for the 1-0 lead in just the third minute of the match.

What a start for the Nittany Lions on Senior Day!

Penn State leads 3-0 just 17 minutes into the first half. pic.twitter.com/kga7HJhP04

— Onward State (@OnwardState) April 3, 2021

In the first 180 seconds, Maryland only touched the ball twice — a deflection out of bounds — before falling behind.

In the first three minutes:

Maryland touches: 2
Penn State goals: 1

— Onward Sports (@OnwardStSports) April 3, 2021

Maryland looked out of its depth right off the bat, and it got uglier for the visitors at the 10th minute mark. The Terrapins’ defense collapsed, letting Tagliaferri in on goal against Tolson.

Tagliaferri got her second and third points of the afternoon, clipping it into the net to double the lead.

Frankie T finds the back of the net for number 5 on the year pic.twitter.com/Rxqcv9zsP5

— Penn State Women’s Soccer (@PennStateWSOC) April 3, 2021

Once the second goal hit the back of the net, the Nittany Lions smelled blood in the water.

Next up was Rachel Wasserman. The Texas native received a cut back from Linnehan from about 15 yards out, and rolled it back towards the far post. The shot didn’t have too much power, but was placed tantalizingly out of Tolson’s reach.

Second-straight game with a goal by @rachelwassey00! pic.twitter.com/yfX8mF8ZNz

— Penn State Women’s Soccer (@PennStateWSOC) April 3, 2021

Injury was added insult for Tolson, who went down on tough contact from Schlegel moments later. The Maryland starter was replaced by Krista Varrichione for the remainder of the game.

Penn State largely dominated the possession throughout the rest of the half. The Nittany Lions went to the break with their three goal cushion before starting the second period just like the game began.

Ally Schlegel got in on the fun with an inch-perfect chip to the right corner, before Tagliaferri added her second goal just 2:47 later to expand the rout to 5-0.

Ally Schlegel makes it 4-0 in the 48th minute! pic.twitter.com/WCBMNtWR6i

— Penn State Women’s Soccer (@PennStateWSOC) April 3, 2021

Frankie T with her second of the game to make it 5-0 Nittany Lions! pic.twitter.com/6ZaqXyyXbz

— Penn State Women’s Soccer (@PennStateWSOC) April 3, 2021

Schlegel then completed the touchdown on an impossible angle. After scoring three goals in the first 18 minutes, the Nittany Lions one-upped themselves to begin the second half, bagging another triple within just 9:07 from the restart.

Number two for #34. Schlegel makes it 6-0 in the 55th! pic.twitter.com/lwDxzygsjL

— Penn State Women’s Soccer (@PennStateWSOC) April 3, 2021

Dambach elected to clear the bench following Schlegel’s second goal, stripping both her and Tagliaferri of a chance to bag a hat-trick.

Just like in the first half, Penn State dominated the rest of the match without its killer instinct seen in the beginning of each period. The Nittany Lions were content to finish the regular season off on a high, securing the 6-0 win.

Woman Of The Match

Frankie Tagliaferri| Senior |Midfielder

She may be returning next season, but senior Frankie Tagliaferri had a game to remember on Saturday for Senior Day.

Tagliaferri had a direct hand in four of Penn State’s goals, scoring two and assisting two before exiting the game early in the second half. The ace from New Jersey has been a headache for every team defending her this year, and she capped off the regular season with perhaps her best performance yet.

What’s Next

After becoming regular-season champions, Penn State will head to postseason play, which is expected to begin next week.