Friday, September 26

University Park, Pa.

6:00 PM

Northwestern

4-5-2, 0-4-1Big Ten

No. 8 Penn State

9-1, 4-0Big Ten

Team	1	2	Final F
Northwestern	0	1	1
Penn State	2	2	4

Rachel Zampa scored for Northwestern in a 4-1 defeat at No. 8 Penn State.

Wildcats Overcome by Eighth-Ranked Nittany Lions, 4-1

9/26/2014 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer

Box Score

Sept. 26, 2014


(4-5-2, 0-4-1 Big Ten)	No. 8 Penn State 4, Northwestern 1 Jeffrey Field • University Park, Pa. • Attendance: 1,741 Box Score \| Box Score	(9-1-0, 4-0 Big Ten)

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- Northwestern sophomore Rachel Zampa netted her second goal of the season but the Wildcats fell in a road matchup with the 15-time Big Ten champions and eighth-ranked Penn State Friday at Jeffrey Field in State College.

Northwestern's goal came late in the second half on a beautifully curled shot by Zampa. The sophomore took a pass from Katie Landgrebe and unleashed her effort from just outside the penalty box and to the right of goal, bending it over the goalkeeper's head to put the Wildcats on the board.

Penn State, whose only loss this season came on the road against perennial power North Carolina, opened the scoring just over six minutes into the contest. PSU's Raquel Rodriguez scored her first goal of the season off assists from Emily Hurd and Salina Williford.

The Nittany Lions kept the pressure on and managed their second score after Emily Ogle fought for possession on the touchline left of the Northwestern goal, eventually winning the ball and lofting a cross to the far post. On the other end of the cross was Kori Chapic, who fought through two Wildcats defenders to tap the ball across the goal line with her head and provide the hosts a two-goal lead.

Sophomore striker Addie Steiner was again a hard-working target at the top of the Wildcats formation, and with 10 minutes remaining in the first half earned her best chance of the opening stanza. Steiner fired a low line drive shot from just outside the top of the box, but PSU goalkeeper Britt Eckstrom smothered it to keep the 'Cats at bay.

Northwestern gained a larger share of the possession in the second half and kept it a two-goal game for the first 27 minutes of the period before Megan Schafer scored unassisted in the 73rd minute. Eight minutes later, PSU's Salina Williford won possession just outside the midfield circle and raced down the middle of the field into the box, where she fired a left-footed shot to increase the Nittany Lions' lead to 4-0.

Zampa then put Northwestern on the board with her shot from distance in the 86th minute.

Northwestern's Big Ten road trip continues Sunday when the 'Cats head west to Ohio State. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. CT in Columbus.

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