UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – No. 6 Penn State women's soccer celebrates its graduating senior class and opens the Big Ten Conference portion of its 2023 schedule on Friday evening, as the Nittany Lions play host to the Maryland Terrapins in a 6 p.m. fixture on Jeffrey Field. Streaming is available to a worldwide audience of authenticated subscribers via B1G+.
MATCH INFORMATION
MARYLAND at #6 PENN STATE
Senior Night presented by the Penn State Alumni Association
Friday, September 15, 2023 | 6 p.m. (ET)
Jeffrey Field | University Park, Pa.
Watch Live: B1G+
Live Stats: StatBroadcast
PARKING & PROMOTIONS
Penn State's Friday night test and Big Ten Conference opener against Maryland will serve as the program's Senior Night presented by the Penn State Alumni Association. The Nittany Lions will honor undergraduate assistant coach Angela Aguero, student manager Grace Poorbaugh, as well as student-athletes Michela Agresti, Eva Alonso, Katherine Asman, Cori Dyke, Payton Linnehan, Devon Olive and Kate Wiesner in a ceremony before the start of the match. Fans are encouraged to arrive early to show their support.
Parking for all Penn State women's soccer matches will require a valid permit or payment of the applicable parking fee for campus lots. Fans with valid Penn State University parking permits will be permitted to park at women's soccer matches for free, following Transportation Services parking policies and access. For women's soccer matches, fans are asked to park in the Jordan East, Stadium West or Porter North lots. Fans without a permit are encouraged to prepay for event parking at a discounted rate of $5.50 through the ParkMobile app, or by clicking here. Prepayment is available through 11:59 p.m. the day before each event. Event day parking will be $10 per vehicle.
FOLLOW THE ACTION
For fans unable to attend in person, Penn State's Big Ten Conference opener and 2023 Senior Night will be streamed live to a worldwide audience via B1G+. The broadcast is slated to begin at approximately 5:40 p.m. (ET) with live coverage of PSU's senior recognition. Authenticated subscribers are invited to click here and sign in to B1G+ on their mobile phones, computers, smart TVs and other connected devices to follow along. Juan Mendez will provide play-by-play commentary, while Ben Palillo will serve as the broadcast's analyst. Cailey Thalman will serve as Friday night's sideline reporter. Live stats provided by Penn State and StatBroadcast are available by clicking here.
KICKIN' IT
Penn State opens the league ledger after finalizing its unbeaten run through the non-conference campaign in a 3-0 result against the Princeton Tigers last Thursday, Sept. 7. The Nittany Lions relied on a pair of set piece scores from junior defender Mieke Schiemann, with an extra goal scored by sophomore midfielder Olivia Borgen. Penn State's defense remains one of the strongest units across all of Division I soccer, with the Blue & White surrendering just two total goals in seven matches, with Penn State managing to outscore its opponent by a 19-2 margin in 2023.
UNBEATEN.
The 30th varsity team in Penn State women's soccer history etched its name in the Nittany Lion record book following its most recent win over Princeton, becoming just the second squad in program annals to go undefeated through the non-conference portion of its regular season schedule. PSU last accomplished that feat in 2005, a team that went on to publish a 23-0-2 record, book a perfect 10-0-0 ledger in Big Ten play and reach the Women's College Cup for the third time in school history. Overall, the Blue & White's impressive 6-0-1 overall record on the 2023 campaign includes victories in each of the squad's last six matches dating to an August 20 win over West Chester. The streak marks the longest stretch of consecutive Nittany Lion victories since the 2020-21 team logged six straight in the COVID-maligned all-Big Ten spring campaign.
MIEKE MAGIC
Junior defender Mieke Schiemann is in the midst of a breakout 2023 season, with the Berlin, Germany, native currently tied for the program's lead in total goals scored with three. Schiemann has booked all three goals in the past two weeks on just five shots on goal. Schiemann's defensive ability is bolstered by an elite offensive skillset, especially in regard to set piece opportunities. Two of her three goals in 2023 have come on set piece chances, with both of those goals coming in Penn State's eventual 3-0 win over Princeton. Schiemann landed TopDrawerSoccer National Team of the Week honors following the result.
MATCHING UP WITH MARYLAND
Under the direction of second-year head coach Meghan Ryan Nemzer, the Terrapins enter Friday evening's contest maintaining a 3-1-4 overall record highlighted by a three-match win streak. Maryland opened the season with a quartet of draws against American, Navy, James Madison and VCU in addition to a loss at Florida before rattling off wins over Towson, George Mason and Binghamton to conclude non-conference play. On the pitch, midfielder Ava Morales leads the way with a trio of goals scored this season, with all three scores coming in each of the last three matches. Transfer keeper Liz Beardsley owns five shutouts so far in the 2023 campaign, notching 17 saves in the process.
STORY OF THE SERIES
One of Penn State's longest-played series, the Nittany Lions and Terrapins square off for the 20th time in an affair dating to the 1996 campaign. Penn State maintains a dominant 15-4 edge over its regional foe, highlighted by wins in each of the last nine meetings. PSU has never dropped a match to Maryland since the program joined the B1G. PSU's last loss to Maryland came on Jeffrey Field in the 2004 NCAA Tournament, with the Terrapins logging a 1-0 result over the Nittany Lions in the second round. Last year's fixture in College Park saw the Blue & White pick up a 2-0 victory over the Terrapins bolstered by a goal apiece from Natalie Wilson and Cori Dyke.
FOLLOW THE NITTANY LIONS
Visit GoPSUSports.com for more information on Penn State women's soccer. Fans can keep up to date with the Nittany Lion women's soccer team on X and Instagram @PennStateWSOC, in addition to the team's Facebook page at /PSUWomensSoccer.
The 30th Season of Penn State women's soccer is presented by the Smeal College of Business.
