LONG BEACH, Calif. - The No. 7 Penn State women's soccer team won the first road game of the year 3-1 over Long Beach State on Friday night. Redshirt freshman Ally Schlegel, junior Kerry Abello and junior Sam Coffey each scored goals in the win.
RECAP
The Nittany Lions applied consistent pressure to Long Beach State from the opening whistle. In the fourth minute, Penn State had three outstanding chances to score off of a Sam Coffey corner kick. All three chances were unable to find the net.
Freshman Payton Linnehan tallied another shot on goal for Penn State in the eighth minute of action. Linnehan's drive from outside of the box was punched over the top of the net by the Long Beach goalkeeper.
The tenacity of the Nittany Lions attack came to fruition in the 10th minute. Following a pass into the box near the end line, Frankie Tagliaferri centered the ball to Payton Linnehan. Linnehan made the extra pass that found a wide open Ally Schlegel. Schlegel buried her shot into the back of the net to give the Nittany Lions the 1-0 lead.
The pressure continued throughout the first half as the Nittany Lions finished with seven shots and five corner kicks. Despite the continued attack, the Nittany Lions could not extend their lead and went into the half leading 1-0.
Immediately after halftime, Penn State pushed its lead to two goals. Sam Coffey found Kerry Abello in stride as she made a run into the box. Abello calmly took the pass and beat the keeper to the back corner of the net to give the Nittany Lions a 2-0 lead.
Just five minutes later, Sam Coffey got in on the scoring for the Nittany Lions. Payton Linnehan went one-on-one with the goalkeeper but had another shot saved. The rebound bounced out to Coffey, who volleyed the ball into the back of the net to extend the lead to 3-0 for Penn State.
The Nittany Lions pressure remained constant throughout the second half. The Nittany Lions outshot Long Beach 15-10 and had seven corner kicks in the match.
A late goal by Long Beach in the 86th minute cut the Nittany Lions lead to 3-1.
Despite the goal, Penn State comfortably held on for the 3-1 win and improved to 2-1 on the young season.
NOTES
Penn State is now 2-0 all-time against Long Beach State.
Sam Coffey and Kerry Abello are now tied with Frankie Tagliaferri for the team lead in goals (2).
Penn State completes its road trip on Sunday at 4 p.m. ET against Loyola Marymount.
