Michigan
1-6-1, 0-1-0
Penn State
6-1-1, 1-0-0
Wolverines Fall at No. 12 Penn State to Begin B1G Play
9/12/2024 10:29:00 PM | Women's Soccer
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. -- The University of Michigan women's soccer team dropped a 6-0 contest to No. 12-ranked Penn State to open Big Ten action on Thursday night (Sept. 12) at Jeffrey Field.
 Penn State (5-1-1, 1-0-0 Big Ten) scored three goals in each half to record the victory. Michigan totaled 18 shots in the contest, putting four on goal, with Penn State putting 16 of its 27 shots on goal. Jenna Lang had five shots, putting a pair on goal. Stephanie Sparkowski recorded the first double-digit save performance of her career in goal, stopping 10 PSU shots.
The Wolverines (1-6-1, 0-1-0 Big Ten) were pressuring early, resulting in a free kick just outside the box on the left side and a corner kick in the opening minutes of the contest, but U-M could not find the back of the net.
Sparkowski made a spectacular save in the 10th minute of the contest, extending to her left to make the diving save to keep PSU off the board. The Nittany Lions continued to pressure over the next several minutes, with Sparkowski coming off her line to block a shot and another PSU shot ricocheting off the post.
Penn State broke through in the 13th minute, firing a shot off a rebound at the top of the box that deflected off a Michigan defender to give the home team a 1-0 lead.
The Nittany Lions extended their lead to 2-0 in the 30th minute, scoring a second goal in similar fashion to its first. Sparkowski made her sixth save of the game but the rebound landed at the foot of a Penn State player, who made good with a shot from the top of the box to extend the lead.
PSU tacked on another goal for a 3-0 lead in the 34th minute, chipping a ball over the top and finding the head of a Nittany Lion who headed the ball into the back of the net.
After Penn State took a 3-0 halftime lead, Michigan came out on the offensive to start the second half. U-M totaled five shots in a three-minute span, putting two on goal with another blocked by a defender, but could still not find the back of the net.
The Nittany Lions scored three times in the middle stages of the second half en route to a 6-0 win.
Michigan is back in action next Thursday (Sept. 19) at Minnesota for a 7 p.m. CDT start.
Team Stats
Devon Olive (1)
GOAL by PSU Olive, Devon.
12:43
Jordan Fusco (2)
Assisted By: Katie Scott
GOAL by PSU Fusco, Jordan Assist by Scott, Katie.
29:21
Julia Raich (1)
Assisted By: Bella Ayscue , Keegan Schmeiser
GOAL by PSU Raich, Julia Assist by Ayscue, Bella and Schmeiser, Keegan.
33:09
Kaitlyn MacBean (9)
Assisted By: Amelia White , Kayleigh Herr
GOAL by PSU MacBean, Kaitlyn Assist by White, Amelia and Herr, Kayleigh.
56:53
Elle Kershner (2)
Assisted By: Aubrey Kulpa , Katie Scott
GOAL by PSU Kershner, Elle Assist by Kulpa, Aubrey and Scott, Katie.
69:18
Mieke Schiemann
PSU Mieke Schiemann PENALTY KICK GOAL.
71:00
