Penn State Wins Big Ten Women’s Soccer Tournament Championship
Nittany Lions earn their eighth title on Payton Linnehan’s overtime goal
PISCATAWAY, N.J. – No. 4 seed Penn State earned its conference-record eighth Big Ten Women’s Soccer Tournament title, and second in three years, with a dramatic 2-1 overtime victory over third-seeded Michigan in the championship game on Sunday at Yurcak Field in Piscataway, N.J. With Sunday’s win, Penn State will be the Big Ten’s automatic qualifier into the 2019 NCAA Championship.
It was the sixth Big Ten final decided in overtime and the second in as many seasons, after last year’s title game was won by Minnesota on penalties. Freshman forward Payton Linnehan scored the winning goal for Penn State (15-6-1) on Sunday, running on to a long lead pass from Frankie Tagliaferri and chipping a shot over onrushing Michigan goalkeeper Hillary Beall and into the net at 92:42.
The Wolverines (15-5-1) had taken a 1-0 lead with 8:05 left in regulation on a PSU own goal, but the Nittany Lions drew even 42 seconds later on Sam Coffey’s penalty kick. That set the stage for Sunday’s overtime dramatics.
Linnehan was selected as the Offensive Player of the Tournament, while her senior teammate, goalkeeper Amanda Dennis, was named the Defensive Player of the Tournament after allowing just one goal in three tournament games and recording six saves in Sunday’s championship game.
The announcement of the 64-team field for the 2019 NCAA Women’s Soccer Championship will be made at 4:30 p.m. (ET) Monday live on NCAA.com.
2019 Big Ten Women’s Soccer All-Tournament Team
Megan Wampler, Indiana
Riley Whitaker, Iowa
Malikae Dayes, Maryland
Sarah Stratigakis, Michigan
Sydney Shepherd, Michigan
Amanda Dennis, Penn State
Payton Linnehan, Penn State
Frankie Tagliaferri, Penn State
Skylurr Patrick, Purdue
Tiernny Wiltshire, Rutgers
Cameron Murtha, Wisconsin
Individual Awards
Offensive Player of the Tournament: Payton Linnehan, Penn State
Defensive Player of the Tournament: Amanda Dennis, Penn State