UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The Penn State Nittany Lions women's soccer team pitched its first shutout of the 2019 season with a 6-0 win over Hofstra on Sunday. Frankie Tagliaferri led the scoring with two goals in the win.
RECAP
The Nittany Lions got out of the gates quickly by scoring in the first six minutes of the non-conference matchup. Shea Moyer played a beautiful pass into the box that found a senior Ellie Jean in stride. Jean drove her shot underneath the outstretched hands of the Hofstra goalkeeper and gave the Nittany Lions an early 1-0 lead. It was Jean's first goal of her Nittany Lion career.
Junior Sam Coffey didn't wait long to add to the scoring for the Nittany Lions. Coffey displayed tremendous ball handling as she dribbled around a Hofstra defender and found herself on a breakaway. The junior midfielder curved her shot around the goalkeeper and gave the Nittany Lions a 2-0 lead nine minutes into the match. It was Coffey's first goal as a Nittany Lion after scoring 17 goals for Boston College in her two years as an Eagle.
Penn State firmly held possession of the ball throughout much of the first half, giving themselves numerous chances to extend the 2-0 lead. Ally Schlegel and Kerry Abello connected in the 22nd minute to push the Nittany Lions lead to 3-0. Schlegel sent a pass from beyond midfield to a streaking Abello who took advantage of a defender misplaying the ball. Abello collected the pass and sidestepped the goalkeeper. Abello buried her shot into an empty net to extend the lead to three.
The Nittany Lions took a 3-0 lead into the half.
Frankie Tagliaferri kept the offensive outburst going in the second half. Tagliaferri scored a pair of goals in the 47th and 59th minute to give the Nittany Lions a 5-0 lead.
Tagliaferri, recently named to the MAC Hermann watch list, scored seven goals for the Nittany Lions in 2018.
Casey Ballow capped the scoring in the 64th minute. Ballow collected a long rebound on a save by the Hofstra goalkeeper and scored the final goal of game to give the Nittany Lions a 6-0 lead.
Seniors Amanda Dennis and Sarafina Valenti combined for the shutout in goal for Penn State.
The Nittany Lions travel to Long Beach State and Loyola Marymount on August 30 and September 1 for the first road trip of the season.
NOTES
The last time the Nittany Lions scored six goals in a game was 8/19/2018 in a 6-0 victory over Duquesne.
Senior defender Ellie Jean scored the first goal of her Penn State career in her 77th appearance for Penn State.
The Nittany Lions are a 7-0 all-time against the Hofstra Pride. The series between the two teams began in 2007.
