Setting the Scene
The Youngstown State women's soccer team (2-8-4, 2-2-3 HL) returns to action on Thursday with a 7 p.m. contest at Purdue Fort Wayne at the Hefner Soccer Complex. The Penguins and Mastodons (4-6-4, 3-4-0) are tied for fifth in the HL standings with nine points while Wright State sits in seventh place just one point back. The top six teams advance to the HL Championships which are slated for later this month.

Last Time Out
On Sunday, the Penguins picked up their second win of the season and first-ever triumph over Northern Kentucky. Gianna Weigel scored the first goal of her career in the first half and Brooklynn Kirkpatrick posted her second shutout in the last three games for the Penguin victory

Picking Up the Points
YSU has nine points in the league standings for the first time since 2014. During the 2014 season the Penguins had three wins and a tie for a total of 10 points. YSU also had nine points in 2012 on the strength of three victories.

Series vs. Fort Wayne
The 'Dons and Penguins have met 11 times. The 'Dons hold a 6-5 series advantage over the Penguins. The last time these teams met, PFW defeated the Guins 2-1 in OT in Fort Wayne thanks to a goal in the 95th minute. The 'Dons are 5-1 against the Penguins when they play at home. YSU's lone win in Fort Wayne was in 2008 (1-0).

Kirkpatrick Stepping Up in Net
Sophomore Goalkeeper Brooklynn Kirkpatrick has started four of the past five games in net for Penguins. Kirkpatrick picked up her first career shutout in a 0-0 tie against UIC on Oct. 2. She garnered her second shutout of the campaign in YSU's 1-0 win over Northern Keutucky. In the last 293 minutes played, she had surrendered just one goal. Against Wright State on Sept. 19, she turned in an impressive performance in the net against Wright State on Sept. 19 with a career-high 10 saves. 

Sizer Now in Top 10
With her second goal this season, junior Marcella Sizer has posted 10 goals during her career. She now ranks tied for 10th in career goals and ranks 10th with 23 career points. Sizer is now tied for the team lead with Regan LaVigna and Abriana Rondin with two goals.

Four First Career Goal Scorers
The Penguins have had four players notch their first career goals this season. Chloe Casello scored on a header against Kent State on Aug. 26. Maddie Root guided a shot off the post into the net against Marshall on Sept. 2. Erika Maliska gave the Guins a 1-0 lead over Detroit Mercy in the second half of the contest on Sept. 23. Most recently, Gianna Weigel chipped in the eventual game-winner in the first half last Sunday against NKU at Farmers National Bank Field.

2021  Captains
Senior Jordan Evans, junior Abriana Rondin and sophomore Brooklynn Kirkpatrick were named team captains after a vote by their teammates prior to the season.

Favorable Schedule
YSU's final three games following Thursday night's contest are against teams behind the Penguins in the Horizon League standings. Cleveland State (Oct. 20) has six points, IUPUI (Oct. 23) has six points and Robert Morris (Oct. 27) has two points.

Up Next
Youngstown State plays its final home game of the regular season on Sunday at 1 p.m. The Penguins take on Cleveland State at Farmers National Bank Field.

Sunday's Promotion
The Penguins will honor five seniors prior to Sunday's contest. Penguins to be honored ahead of the contest are Zeeyana Jivraj, Lauren Snow, Bethany Rasile, Erica Barney and Jordan Evans.