CLEMSON, S.C. – In a tension-filled back-and-forth affair, fifth-ranked and second-seeded Penn State dropped a 2-1 decision to the seventh-ranked and top-seeded Clemson Tigers on the road at Riggs Field in national quarterfinal action of the 2023 NCAA Division I Women's Soccer Championship Saturday afternoon.
The Nittany Lions concluded their 30th varsity season with a 16-3-4 overall record and the deepest NCAA Tournament run by any PSU squad in the last five years. One of the most storied programs across all of Division I, the Blue & White recorded their 29th consecutive NCAA Tournament bid in the 2023 season, marking the second-longest active streak in the nation. Penn State played in its 14th national quarterfinal Saturday afternoon, the most Elite Eight appearances by any Big Ten Conference member institution. For Clemson, the Tigers improved to 18-3-4 overall and will participate in their first NCAA Women's College Cup as a program next weekend against undefeated Florida State in Cary, North Carolina.
Penn State and Clemson battled in a dramatic back-and-forth contest, with the Tigers coming away with a 20-12 overall margin on the shot chart. Both teams produced quality chances in the match, with each goalkeeper forced to make multiple heart-stopping saves. PSU mustered six shots on goal split between four different student-athletes, while Clemson tallied seven shots on target from five players. Corner kick chances were largely insignificant in the match, but the Tigers managed a 4-2 win in the category. Physicality was a key element over the 90 minutes, with both squads cautioned late in the second half as tensions began to rise.
For the Nittany Lions, redshirt junior forward Kaitlyn MacBean moved into a tie for the top spot on Penn State's 30th varsity roster with her 10th goal of the season in the second half. The Excelsior, Minnesota, native booked an unassisted score in the 73rd minute, pouring in four total shots with a pair of on-target attempts in the match. Senior+ forward Payton Linnehan attempted four shots with two on frame, while senior+ defender Kate Wiesner, sophomore midfielder Olivia Borgen, junior midfielder Olivia Damico and senior forward Rebecca Cooke logged one shot apiece. Linnehan, Wiesner, Senior+ midfielder Cori Dyke, senior+ defender Michela Agresti and graduate goalkeeper Katherine Asman completed their careers in the Blue & White, with each player contributing significantly to Penn State's continued prominence as one of the top programs in college soccer.
Asman's final collegiate match featured a multitude of astounding saves, with the Roswell, Georgia, native logging five total stops in the match. Penn State's stalwart net minder allowed just two goals in the match, finalizing her collegiate career goals-against average with a 1.00 mark. Asman finished as the fourth-winningest goalkeeper in Penn State program history, booking a 55-21-10 overall record. She ranked inside the top-three at PSU all-time in saves, shutouts and minutes played by a keeper. For Clemson, Halle Mackiewicz played all 90 minutes, recording five saves with one goal allowed.
Penn State looked strong out of the gates, with the Nittany Lions tallying the first three shots of the match in addition to the first on-target attempt in the contest. Linnehan's shot toward the low center portion of the goal was corralled by the Tiger keeper, and play rolled on from historic Riggs Field. Both teams exchanged impressive runs through the midway portion of the period, but stellar goalkeeping and resilient defensive efforts kept PSU and Clemson off the board. As the half continued to wind down, Penn State looked like the stronger attacking team, creating more potent chances despite not being able to find the back of the net.
After the brief halftime intermission, each team returned to the pitch hungry for the opening goal of the contest. Clemson would strike first in the 70th minute, with Tiger star Makenna Morris taking possession of the ball around midfield. The attacking player never looked to pass, dribbling 50-plus yards down the field through multiple lines of Nittany Lion defenders. She wound up outside the 18 and unleashed a shot into the bottom left corner to put the Tigers up by one with less than 20 minutes to play. It wasn't long before the Nittany Lions found their response, as a failed Clemson clearance spelled trouble for the hometown team. A short volley by a Tiger defender barely escaped the penalty area, where MacBean collected the ball and sent a far-post shot to her left in the hopes of tying the match. Her attempt grazed the left post, bouncing up and into the goal to equalize.
With time winding down in the match, Clemson took possession of the ball on the left side of their attacking half, where Harper White delivered a high-arching service towards the penalty area. A well-timed run from Caroline Conti resulted in the match-winning goal for the Tigers, as Conti's right-footed attempt barely snuck past the Nittany Lion keeper into the back of the net. Despite a valiant final five minutes from the Blue & White highlighted by a nearly perfect attempt from MacBean that grazed the right post in the final 60 seconds, PSU was unable to notch the equalizer and ultimately fell by a 2-1 margin on the road.
SCORING SUMMARY
70' – Morris dribbled 50-plus yards down the field through multiple lines of Nittany Lion defenders. She wound up outside the 18 and unleashed a shot into the bottom left corner to put the Tigers up by one. CLEM 1, PSU 0
73' – A short volley by a Tiger defender barely escaped the penalty area, where MacBean collected the ball and sent a far-post shot to her left in the hopes of tying the match. Her attempt grazed the left post, bouncing up and into the goal to equalize. PSU 1, CLEM 1
84' – Clemson took possession of the ball on the left side of their attacking half, where White delivered a high-arching service towards the penalty area. A well-timed run from Conti resulted in the match-winning goal for the Tigers, as Conti's right-footed attempt barely snuck past the Nittany Lion keeper into the back of the net. CLEM 2, PSU 1
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The 30th Season of Penn State women's soccer is presented by the Smeal College of Business.
