University Park, Pa.—No. 16 Penn State defeated Patriot League champion Colgate, 5-0, in the first round of the NCAA Women’s Soccer Tournament on Friday. Penn State’s five goals were the most allowed by the Raiders all season. The game marked just the sixth time all season that Colgate surrendered more than one goal.
Katie Schoepfer scored on a 35-yard blast to give Penn State a 1-0 lead in the 18th minute. After taking a pass from Melissa Hayes, Schoepfer rifled a shot past Patriot League Rookie of the Year Ashley Walsh into the upper left corner of the goal. Schoepfer missed a penalty kick three minutes later, but added another goal in the 40th minute on a shot from 25 yards out that hit the crossbar and bounced into the goal. Schoepfer recorded the hat trick with a goal in the 58th minute. It was Schoepfer’s second hat trick of the season. Penn State added goals in the 61st and 73rd minutes.
“I’m really quite proud of our team and how the players turned things around this season,” said Colgate head coach Kathy Brawn. “We ran into a really good Penn State team who was finishing very well tonight.”
Leaving the game early were Colgate seniors Jillian Arnault and Anna Baldwin, both of whom were injured.
“Losing those two for the better part of the game obviously took us out of a rhythm and really put our backs against the wall. That obviously hurt, but this loss does not detract from our season.”
Penn State controlled the flow of the game, out-shooting the Raiders by a 34-5 margin. The Nittany Lions owned a 20-0 shot advantage in the second half. Walsh made four saves, while senior reserve Carrie Glass added five saves in 10 minutes of action.
Colgate finished the season with its 11th Patriot League Championship and an overall record of 11-7-3. The loss snapped the Raiders’ seven-game winning streak. Penn State improved to 13-5-2. The Nittany Lions advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament, where they will meet Virginia.