HARRISBURG, Pa. – Rachel Burkhard's latest 'Olimpico' masterpiece stood as the first half of her critical brace – both as the result of corners – as the No. 24 TCNJ women's soccer team downed host Penn State Harrisburg, 2-0, in a Saturday night showdown.
 
Burkhard added to her expanding collection Olimpicos – goals scored directly off corner kicks – just four minutes into the second half, sending her high-arcing, left-footed in-swinger over the head of the Harrisburg keeper. The ball nestled into the top left corner of the net, leaving the home crowd stunned and giving TCNJ a third straight win away from home.
 
The visitors grabbed some breathing room with just over 10 minutes to play as Burkhard stabbed home a loose ball after a scrum in front of the net following Alyssa Alfano's corner.
 
The Lions were in firm control from the outset, registering the game's first eight shots. Victoria D'Imperio came close in the 12^th minute, turning and firing a right-footed shot inches wide of the left post after a feed from Allie O'Keefe.
 
Despite not allowing a shot until the final two minutes of the first half, TCNJ was unable to dent the Nittany Lions' defense from the run of play. That didn't change after intermission, but thanks to Burkhard it never mattered.
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• TCNJ owned a 16-5 advantage in shots and had seven corners to just one for the hosts
• Ella Van Dine and Ava Curtis paced the Lion with three shots, with the former matching Burkhard with two on target
• Ellen Williams made two saves for her second clean sheet of the season

NOTES

• Burkhard recorded the first two-goal game of her career
• Alfano posted an assist for the second straight contest
• TCNJ has shut out the Nittany Lions two years in a row, defeating them 1-0 last season in Ewing

UP NEXT

• The Lions take on Arcadia in the home opener on Tuesday, September 10