Mackenzie Gress helped Penn State earn a 1-1 tie with Virginia Tech in women’s soccer

Penn State and Virginia Tech had to settle for a 1-1 draw in Happy Valley. Photo: Penn State Athletics

Penn State and Virginia Tech battled to a 1-1 draw last Thursday at Jeffrey Field. 

The Nittany Lions took an early lead but couldn’t hold off the Hokies late in the second half. Penn State finished its three-match homestand and nonconference schedule with a 2-1-2 record, while Virginia Tech moved to 4-0-3. 

Goalkeeper Mackenzie Gress kept Penn State in the game throughout the night. The redshirt senior recorded a career-high 10 saves, making several key stops against a Virginia Tech offense that consistently pressured the Nittany Lion defense. 

“She was outstanding,” Penn State Head Coach Erica Dambach told Female Athlete News. “I thought she was the key to that game. She made plays tonight, and that’s what we ask out of these guys.” 

Virginia Tech entered the match unbeaten and averaged 21 shots per game through its first six matches. The Hokies continued to test Penn State’s defense, but Gress kept them off the scoreboard for most of the night. 

The matchup also marked just the second meeting between the two programs. Penn State won the first meeting 2-1 in the third round of the 2014 NCAA Tournament.

The latest contest marked the first regular-season meeting between the Nittany Lions and Hokies. 

Penn State now turns its attention to Big Ten play with a trip to Ohio State. 

Highlights

Virginia Tech came out attacking early and put pressure on Penn State’s back line. 

Gress made an early save to keep the Hokies off the scoreboard. Virginia Tech appeared to take the lead when Anna Weir sent a shot into the bottom-left corner, but a video review overturned the goal for a handball. 

Penn State began to settle in and found more opportunities on the attack. 

In the 15th minute, Peyton May fouled Aubrey Kulpa inside the box, giving Penn State a penalty kick. 

Paige Kalal stepped up and sent the ball into the bottom-right corner to give the Nittany Lions a 1-0 lead. 

Penn State scored on a penalty kick in their latest home contest against Virginia Tech. Photo: Penn State Athletics

Penn State’s defense continued to handle Virginia Tech’s pressure through the rest of the half. Both teams traded chances, but neither could add to the score. 

The Nittany Lions came out attacking to start the second half and created more chances around the Virginia Tech goal. 

Gress kept the lead intact in the 56th minute with another big save. 

Virginia Tech continued to push forward, but Gress remained composed in goal and helped Penn State manage the pressure. 

In the 68th minute, Gress made one of her biggest saves of the night. Anna Garrow sent a shot toward the bottom-right corner, but Gress got a foot on the ball to keep it out. 

Penn State continued to battle through Virginia Tech's pressure, but the Hokies eventually broke through. 

Gabby Ciocca scored in the 85th minute, sending a right-footed shot into the bottom center of the net to tie the game at 1-1. 

Virginia Tech kept attacking in the final minutes, but Penn State held on to secure the draw. 

Dambach said Penn State showed flashes of its attack but struggled to consistently break Virginia Tech’s pressure. 

“We had some ideas to break pressure, but not often enough,” Dambach said. “There were some sequences I thought, ‘Oh, that looks like us,’ and then too often it didn’t. But that team’s capable of breaking that type of pressure as the season goes on if we stay in the right place.” 

Penn State is now on the road to face Ohio State on Thursday, Sept. 10, at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium. Virginia Tech lost 0-1 at their latest home game on Sunday, Sept. 6 to Illinois.  

*Luci Palacios is a student-intern at Penn State University.

Thank you for reading Female Athlete News. Reach us at femaleathletenews@gmail.comwith a tip or story idea. Follow us on our social media pages for the latest news.