Penn State’s women’s soccer squad opened its season with a 2‑1 defeat at Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium in Morgantown, West Virginia, where the Mountaineers struck first after an offside forced a scramble.
A Test of Early Momentum
Sophomore forward Sophia Nickel capitalized on the chaos, tapping in a rebound to give West Virginia a 2‑1 edge in the 67th minute, while freshman Anna Babcock and teammate Paige Kalal had already tested the defense with early shots.
The Nittany Lions responded swiftly when Olivia Shertzer, who would finish the match with three attempts, struck from 30 yards out to level the score at 1‑1, showcasing a precise strike that briefly shifted momentum.
Coach Erica Dambach, who is pursuing her 300th career victory, praised the team’s resilience but emphasized the need to tighten defensive organization before Thursday’s contest with Bucknell at Jeffrey Field, a game that will be streamed on Big Ten Plus at 7:30 p.m.
Despite a flurry of first‑half chances, including a missed wide shot by Ava Arnold and a series of saves by goalkeeper Mackenzie Gress on a penalty‑induced effort from Anna Hauer, Penn State could not prevent Nickel’s decisive goal.