A History of Dominance
Since winning its first and only national championship in 2015, Penn State’s been waiting for another breakthrough to the College Cup. It’s not as if Erica Dambach’s program has fallen to the scrap heap by any means. Penn State’s been dominant as always in the Big Ten, and it’s been a fixture in the NCAA tournament season after season.
But the Nittany Lions have underscored just how difficult it is to make it back to the promised land. Penn State’s made two Elite Eights and four Sweet 16s, but they haven’t made it over that hurdle yet.
However, Penn State’s looking like it might be on the way back to the College Cup this season. The Nittany Lions are one of just four teams that has never trailed this season, and they’ve only allowed three goals going into their match with Michigan State. There’s still plenty that has to go right for Penn State to qualify for the last four, but so far, the Nittany Lions are on the right track. Here’s why.
The Foundations of a Stellar Defense
We’re now in our third fall post the COVID year, which means we won’t have senior-plus athletes around college sports for much longer. But while we do, teams have been able to take advantage of that extra experience together to build cohesion and strength, which can make a big difference over the course of several years.
Penn State’s defense is as experienced as it gets. On the back line, junior Mieke Schiemann is the only regular Nittany Lion starter who’s not a senior of some kind. Kate Wiesner, Ellie Wheeler and Eva Alonso are all in their last year in Happy Valley, and all have a wealth of experience playing in front of goalkeeper Katherine Asman.
That plays a big role in why Penn State’s only allowed three goals on the season. Asman, who’s also a senior, is so familiar with her defenders that they’re all going to be on the same page. When the Nittany Lions have a team on the attack in their area, they already know where they need to be and can trust that each player has their spot covered well before the attackers arrive.
That matters, because Penn State’s opponents consistently have to take shots they really don’t want. When there’s not space available, attackers can get frustrated and try to force the issue. That almost never works, because it leads to them forcing shots from bad angles that won’t trouble Asman. There’s a reason that only 35 shots all season have gone on frame, and it’s because the Nittany Lions have made sure they’ve been a step ahead of the attack. Penn State managed to hold Nebraska without a goal, and that’s the only time the Huskers have gone scoreless all season. This defense will be tough to beat.
Playing Ahead of the Attack
Having a solid back line makes a big difference, but championship teams are usually built around the midfield. When you have midfielders who can boss a game, it makes it that much more difficult for an opponent to develop a coherent attack. Penn State’s opponents already know what’s waiting for them in the final third, but before they even get there, they’ve got to deal with the likes of Cori Dyke and Natalie Wilson.
Like the defense, Dyke and Wilson are experienced seniors who have seen it all before. They also bring different skills to the table, as Dyke offers defense and a scoring touch and Wilson handles both defensive responsibilities and the ability to unlock defenses and set up a teammate for the score. Again, Penn State’s opponents have to adjust to them, not the other way around. The Nittany Lions’ mids mean the other team is constantly adjusting their strategies as the Nittany Lions stick with what they know.
In soccer, one of the fastest-flowing sports there is, that matters. Every second that you don’t have to spend thinking and can just react makes a world of difference. Thanks to its defenders and its mids, Penn State starts every game a few thoughts ahead of its opponent, meaning its decision-making process happens much quicker than the average team can make those choices. When you’re trying to get quality shots on target, those extra seconds add up.
Strong Discipline
For the season, the Nittany Lions have just six yellow cards and one red card. Penn State’s opponents have 19, which says that the Nittany Lions are doing a fabulous job staying composed in tough situations. When Penn State gets to the NCAA tournament, that’s going to be all they see from beginning to end. The Nittany Lions are going to have to get through six games, and they’ll have to survive at least one game that could go 50/50 before they can lift the title.
To get through a situation like that, it takes rock-solid discipline on and off the field. Coaches of experienced teams talk regularly about knowing that their players are doing the right things on and off the field, which means they can focus their time together on fine-tuning and introducing a few advanced wrinkles to their play style.
Obviously, it’s going to take some luck for Penn State to reach the College Cup, because it always does to make it to the last four in any sport. But the Nittany Lions have taken several steps in the right direction compared to previous years. If they can stay healthy and avoid bad luck, they’ve got a genuine chance to make it back to the College Cup and end their eight-year drought.