It may only be September, but the Penn State Harrisburg women’s soccer team is already four games into the season and the players have begun eyeing a postseason berth.
The Lady Lions kicked off the 2023 soccer season on September 1, and the team has compiled an even 2-2 record over the first couple of weeks, alternating between wins and losses to start the year. The team has made the United East championship game in each of the past two years, winning in 2021 and falling just short in double overtime in 2022, and according to forward Kylee Altland, the 2022 loss has sparked a renewed dedication in 2023.
“Everybody was a little heartbroken about the result last year,” said Altland. “That was motivation to put the work in over the summer, come in this year, and hopefully win it back.”
Accordiong to PSH Athletics, the team began this season with back-to-back games in Virginia, first knocking off Roanoke 1-0 and subsequently falling to Lynchburg 3-0. They defeated Bryn Mawr by a score of 2-0 in their home opener. However, the team hasn’t faced a conference opponent yet, and those are the games that truly matter for playoff seeding, so they remain tied with the rest of the schools in the United East Conference.
While the team has dropped a couple of close matches to start the season, Altland noted that they’ve held their own against difficult opponents like TCNJ, a team that is often nationally ranked. Those games lead to major growth.
“There’s always room to grow. We pursue excellence in our program, and whether we win a game or lose a game, there’s always room for improvement. With this team, I’m confident, and I think we can go pretty far.”
When asked about the difference between this team and past squads, Altland responded that it’s difficult to compare rosters, but she also identified some key strengths with which the team will seek to build on in 2023.
“Coming into this year, we’re much more fit, which will help us go a long way. We’re playing in a new formation, which will also help us. We returned everyone from last year’s team and brought in two incoming freshman and two transfers. I think this team is something special.”
Penn State Harrisburg travels to play Goucher on Wednesday and returns home to take on Shenandoah on Friday. The squad’s first conference match is scheduled to take place at home on September 23 against rival Gallaudet, a team they have not lost to once in program history.
For the upcoming Penn State Harrisburg women’s soccer schedule, visit www.athletics.hbg.psu.edu and follow @pshbgwsoc on Instagram. To keep up with the latest women’s soccer news, visit www.pshblueandwhitejournal.com
