MIDDLETOWN, Pa. - The Penn State Harrisburg women's soccer team started off slow and even fell behind early against Morrisville State on Sunday, Oct. 14.  Fortunately, the Lions would pick things up in a big way and eventually found the net eight times on their way to a dominant 8-1 win.

The ladies came out of the gate slow and allowed one of the four total shots that the Mustangs had on the day to put them down early in the match.  

Kara Hoy (Camp Hill, Pa. / Camp Hill) would tie the game with a direct free kick from distance ten minutes later.  After things were even it was all blue and white.  Danell Engle (Halifax, Pa. / Halifax) and Mae Lynn Gonzalez (Blakeslee, Pa. / Pocono Mt West) scored a goal a iece to put Harrisburg up 3-1 going into the half.

Click here to view Mackenzie Gates' halftime comments.

After a fiery talk from Penn State Head Coach Adam Clay at halftime, the ladies came out with some intensity that was lacking in the first half.  Lyndsay Naughton (Reading, Pa. / Reading Central Catholic), Morgan Gates (Harrisburg, Pa. / Central Dauphin) and Fatoumata Camara (Riverdale, Md. / Northwestern) each scored a goal in the second half.  Fay Ansary (Hummelstown, Pa. / Hershey) was the big scorer of the day getting two goals in the second half.

"Despite being up 3-1 at half, the girls did not play to their potential and I was emphatic that we needed to increase the tempo in the second half," said Clay after the game.  "The difference in the second half made me happy overall for the day but when we play next Saturday against Penn State Abington, we have to play our game for a full 90 minutes."

To view Morgan Gates' postgame comments, click here.

The Penn State Harrisburg women travel this week when they head to Valley Forge Christian on Tuesday, Oct. 16 before taking on conference rival Penn State Abington on Saturday, Oct. 20.