by McKenzie Quirin

WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. – The Penn State Altoona women's soccer team faced non-conference opponent Penn College on Wednesday night, and the Lions suffered a 4-1 loss at UPMC Field.

Penn College (4-0-4) got two goals apiece from Sara Darlington and Kaelynn Sheetz. Three out of the Wildcats' four goals went unassisted, with Piper Minier contributing the home team's only assist of the game.

Mallorie Smith (Bellefonte, PA/Bellefonte) scored her second goal of the 2023 season, which was the lone goal for Penn State Altoona (0-6-1). Schenley Farrell (Philipsburg, PA/Philipsburg-Osceola) assisted on Smith's goal.

Smith led the team in shots with three, while Camryn Kurilla (Mount Wolf, PA/Northeastern) contributed one for the Lions.

Nicole Schwartz (Clifton, NJ/Passaic County Technical Institute) started at goalkeeper for the Lions and finished the game with five saves on nine shots on goal.

Penn State Altoona grabbed an early lead on Smith's goal at 19:30. Farrell sent a long free kick into the box, where Smith worked past the Wildcats' defense to deflect the ball into the net and give Penn State Altoona a 1-0 lead.

The Lions were able to hold off the Wildcats until 26:07, when Penn College got on the board courtesy of a goal by Darlington. The teams took the 1-1 tie to the half.

Starting the second half, the Wildcats kicked things off with a goal from Sheetz at 47:45 to give Penn College its first lead of the night. The Wildcats extended their lead to 3-1 when Darlington scored at 55:47, exactly eight minutes and two seconds after their previous goal.

Sheetz struck again and secured the win for the Wildcats, as she scored their fourth goal at 69:00. It was Sheetz's 11th goal of the season and gave Penn College a 4-1 advantage.

Next, Penn State Altoona women's soccer is back at Spring Run Stadium, where they host Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference opponent Wells College this Saturday, September 23 at 2 p.m.