West Lafayette, Ind. - UCLA overcame a first-half deficit to defeat Penn State, 2-1, in the quarterfinals of the Big Ten Women's Soccer Tournament. Second-half goals by Bella Winn and Jordan Geis gave the Bruins their first come-from-behind victory of the season.
The third-seeded and 20th-ranked Bruins advance to the Big Ten Tournament semifinals for the second consecutive year. They will face Michigan State on Thursday, Nov. 6 at 4:00 p.m. (PST) in St. Louis.
Penn State grabbed the early lead, scoring in the 26th minute on a goal by Kaitlyn MacBean, but the Bruins were relentless and equalized in the 62nd minute on Winn's team-leading seventh goal of the year. Great ball movement by the Bruins led to Winn's goal. Emma Egizii one-timed a Kara Croone pass to Oruha Hayashi in the box. Hayashi drew the goalkeeper out to the right post and then crossed to Winn for the goal.
Winn nearly scored another in the 77th minute when the Bruins were awarded a penalty kick. Her shot was saved by Mackenzie Gress, but Geis was unmarked on the rebound and rocketed a shot from the right side past Gress for the go-ahead goal. It was Geis' first goal of the season.
Armed with the lead, the Bruin defense locked in, allowing just two shots after Geis' goal, including a shot off a free kick just outside of the box that was sent over the goal line by Egizii.
UCLA outshot Penn State, 26-8. Bruin goalkeeper Daphne Nakfoor made three saves, while Gress had eight for Penn State. Just four minutes before Winn's tying goal, Nakfoor made two critical saves in the box, stopping a pair of shots by Amelia White and MacBean. The Nittany Lions also had a missed opportunity to score in the eighth minute when MacBean pounced on an errant pass in the back, but her shot towards an empty net hit the left post. Egizii also had a shot hit the left post in the 75th minute.
The victory was UCLA's first non-shutout win of the year and improves the Bruins' record to 11-4-3. Penn State drops to 9-7-3.
The third-seeded and 20th-ranked Bruins advance to the Big Ten Tournament semifinals for the second consecutive year. They will face Michigan State on Thursday, Nov. 6 at 4:00 p.m. (PST) in St. Louis.
Penn State grabbed the early lead, scoring in the 26th minute on a goal by Kaitlyn MacBean, but the Bruins were relentless and equalized in the 62nd minute on Winn's team-leading seventh goal of the year. Great ball movement by the Bruins led to Winn's goal. Emma Egizii one-timed a Kara Croone pass to Oruha Hayashi in the box. Hayashi drew the goalkeeper out to the right post and then crossed to Winn for the goal.
Bella Winn wants to win! UCLA has leveled the score ??#NCAASoccer x ?? B1G+ / @UCLAWSoccer
— NCAA Soccer (@NCAASoccer) November 2, 2025
pic.twitter.com/FPbKZLzUZp
Winn nearly scored another in the 77th minute when the Bruins were awarded a penalty kick. Her shot was saved by Mackenzie Gress, but Geis was unmarked on the rebound and rocketed a shot from the right side past Gress for the go-ahead goal. It was Geis' first goal of the season.
What a time to score your first goal of the season! Jordan Geis gets the rebound and the LEAD!
— UCLA Women's Soccer (@UCLAWSoccer) November 2, 2025
??: @BigTenPlus #GoBruins pic.twitter.com/wOBMKNMiAF
Armed with the lead, the Bruin defense locked in, allowing just two shots after Geis' goal, including a shot off a free kick just outside of the box that was sent over the goal line by Egizii.
UCLA outshot Penn State, 26-8. Bruin goalkeeper Daphne Nakfoor made three saves, while Gress had eight for Penn State. Just four minutes before Winn's tying goal, Nakfoor made two critical saves in the box, stopping a pair of shots by Amelia White and MacBean. The Nittany Lions also had a missed opportunity to score in the eighth minute when MacBean pounced on an errant pass in the back, but her shot towards an empty net hit the left post. Egizii also had a shot hit the left post in the 75th minute.
The victory was UCLA's first non-shutout win of the year and improves the Bruins' record to 11-4-3. Penn State drops to 9-7-3.