UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The Penn State women's soccer program secured an at-large selection in the 2023 NCAA Division I Women's Soccer Championships on Monday afternoon, the 29th consecutive selection for the Nittany Lions since their first appearance in 1995. Following the remainder of the selection show on Monday, Penn State's 29th straight selection officially became the second-longest active streak among all Division I women's soccer teams.
The Nittany Lions were selected as the No. 2 seed in the Clemson regional, the 17th seeded selection in program history. Penn State (13-2-4) welcomes the Northeast Conference Champion Central Connecticut State Blue Devils (10-4-5) to Jeffrey Field on Friday, Nov. 10, with kickoff set for 6 p.m. (ET). Ticketing information will be released as it becomes available. PSU will host its 12th opening-round match in the past 13 seasons, with the only exception coming during the COVID-altered 2020-21 campaign that was played solely at neutral sites.
The Blue & White published one of the most impressive regular seasons in recent memory in 2023, going undefeated through the non-conference portion of the schedule for just the second time in program history. Penn State went 6-0-1 in non-conference competition, highlighted by a 3-0-1 ledger against RPI top-50 opposition at the time of the match. PSU went on to publish a 6-1-3 record against Big Ten Conference foes through the conclusion of the regular season and advanced to the semifinals of the Big Ten Tournament before ultimately dropping a 1-0 overtime decision to eventual league champion Iowa.
PSU is led by Big Ten Defender of the Year and senior+ team captain Cori Dyke, who additionally hauled in the first All-Big Ten First Team laurels of her storied collegiate career. The Nittany Lions also feature All-B1G Second Team honorees in senior defender Eva Alonso and graduate goalkeeper Katherine Asman, in addition to All-B1G Third Team choices in redshirt junior forward Kaitlyn MacBean and senior+ defender Kate Wiesner. Penn State is under the direction of veteran head coach Erica Dambach, who collected her 17th-consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance and 19th selection to the big dance overall.
Penn State stands as the highest-seeded representative from the Big Ten Conference and joins Wisconsin (No. 4 – Tallahassee), Big Ten Tournament champion and automatic qualifier Iowa (No. 5 – Clemson), Michigan State (No. 5 – Provo), Nebraska (No. 5 – Los Angeles), Rutgers (No. 9 – Clemson), Michigan (No. 10 – Provo), Ohio State (No. 10 – Tallahassee) and Indiana (No. 11 – Clemson) in the field of 64. The Big Ten booked the most representatives in the 2023 tournament field with nine, leading the second-place SEC that picked up eight selections.
In addition to the nine B1G programs making the tournament, a pair of Nittany Lion non-conference challengers also joined the field of 64. North Carolina picked up a No. 3 seed while Princeton earned the No. 7 seed, both in the Provo regional. Defending national champion UCLA garnered a No. 1 seed, while Florida State, BYU and Clemson rounded out the remaining top seeds in their respective regions. Each of the four No. 1 seeds will have the opportunity to host in every round pending advancement until the Women's College Cup, which will be played at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary, North Carolina, beginning on Dec. 1 and concluding on Dec. 4.
NCAA WOMEN'S SOCCER CHAMPIONSHIPS
FIRST ROUND
Jeffrey Field – University Park, Pa.
Friday, November 10, 2023
Central Connecticut State (10-4-5) at No. 2 Penn State (13-2-4) | 6 p.m. (ET)
PENN STATE AT THE NCAA TOURNAMENT
TEAM APPEARANCES…………..29
ALL-TIME TEAM RECORD……..60-26-3
BEST FINISH…………………………NATIONAL CHAMPIONS (2015)
HIGHEST SEED……………………..No. 1 (2005, 2007, 2012, 2015)
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.
