Penn State Pulls Away in Second Half, Downs Women's Soccer 5-0

Thursday, August 27

University Park, Pa.

7:30 p.m.

Bucknell University

3-2-0, 0-0-0

Penn State

1-1-1, 0-0-0

Team	1	2	Final F
Bucknell	0	0	0
Penn State	2	3	5

Photo by: Steven Schoenfelder

Penn State Pulls Away in Second Half, Downs Women's Soccer 5-0

8/27/2026 9:47:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The Bucknell women's soccer team played an outstanding first half at Penn State on Thursday night, but the game got away from the Bison in the second period as the Nittany Lions pulled away for a 5-0 win in their home opener at Jeffrey Field.

Penn State, which was ranked 23rd nationally last week before falling 2-1 to No. 22 West Virginia, had five different goal-scorers and gave coach Erica Dambach her 300th win with the Nittany Lions. Bucknell saw its two-game winning streak come to an end and fell to 3-2 on the season, while the Nittany Lions improved to 1-1-1. Their draw was 2-2 at No. 2 Notre Dame in the season opener.

The Bison went toe-to-toe with the Nittany Lions for most of the first half, but the hosts scored a pivotal second goal on a corner kick in the final minute of the period. After the halftime break was shortened due to the threat of thunderstorms in the area, Penn State controlled play throughout the second half and tacked on three more goals.

"I was extremely happy with the first half," said head coach Kelly Cook. "We executed very well and our press caused them some problems. I thought we generated some good chances and limited theirs, and then it was unfortunate to give up the goal on the corner kick. I love playing teams of this caliber because it forces us to play faster and defend high-level attacking players. Even though the score doesn't reflect it, I'm very happy with how we competed."

Bucknell attempted four of the game's first five shots and had the first quality scoring opportunity for either side. Just past the quarter-hour, Gaby Parker raced behind the Penn State back line and tried to stuff her breakaway attempt through charging keeper Mackenzie Gress. The ball leaked behind Gress, and Parker's second attempt was saved off the goal line by defender Kayleigh Herr.

Sarah McFarland made her first save of the night on a low shot from Aubrey Kulpa in the 19th minute, and then just over a minute later the Nittany Lions got on the board when Paige Pasinski found space in the right side of the area and tucked a shot inside the left post.

Bucknell generated a couple of quality looks later in the half. Dani Howard cut in from the right and fired a lefty shot at the keeper, and then Clare Nemsick's back-post header off a corner kick flashed wide.

The Bison appeared set to get to the locker room down by just a goal, but after McFarland made a sensational diving save on Ellie Kocher, Lilly Burger headed in the ensuing corner kick with only 39 seconds left in the half.

After the abbreviated halftime, Penn State was awarded a penalty kick just over a minute into the second stanza. McFarland dove to her right to deny Hannah Jordan's spot kick, but Jordan punched the rebound into the open net.

Kulpa added a fourth just past the hour mark. Anna Babcock was initially held up by a Bison defender, but she poked the ball forward into space for Kulpa, who slotted a shot in off the right post. Kaelyn Wolfe then got in alone on the right side and fired a shot through McFarland in the 69th minute.

Penn State outshot Bucknell 19-8 in the match, including a 10-1 edge in the second half. McFarland was credited with six saves, while Gress had three.

The Bison had conceded only two goals in the first four matches of the season, and now they will be back at home again on Sunday against Saint Joseph's at 2 p.m.