In women's soccer, the road to the College Cup always runs through the ACC. Last night, the No. 3 Penn State women's soccer team showed the nation it can compete with teams in the toughest conference in the land.

The Nittany Lions (15-1-1) took it to No. 19 Maryland (7-5-3), defeating the Terrapins 6-0. The win brings the Lions' unbeaten streak to 16 and shutout streak to eight.

"[Maryland] has had good results this year beating Duke and UCLA, tying Virginia, and taking North Carolina to the brink," Penn State forward Tiffany Weimer said. "This just shows we can play with the big dogs and that we deserve to be No. 3, if not No. 1."

Fresh off their undefeated Big Ten season, the Lions came out fired up against ACC opponent Maryland. For the second straight game, Penn State came out with two first half goals, both by midfielder Ali Krieger, her third and fourth of the year.

The Lions took control from the start, pressuring the Terrapins, and 8:32 into the game, Krieger volleyed a Weimer cross past diving Maryland goalkeeper Nikki Resnick. Fifty-eight seconds later, Krieger buried another one past Resnick off a free kick from midfielder Carmelina Moscato. After the two quick goals, the Lions grew a little complacent but went into the half with the 2-0 lead.

"After the opening minutes of the game, our players saw it was going to be a battle and they decided they were scared," Maryland coach Shannon Higgins-Cirovski said. "I don't think we won a second ball all game, and [Penn State] pounced all over it."

The second half can be summed up with one name: Tiffany Weimer. After a slight lull for the Lions, Weimer sparked the offense again. The Terrapins were focusing their attention on her, and Weimer responded by setting up her teammates. Weimer first found Brooke Mertz in front of the net, who buried her second goal of the season.

Then, in a span of 24 seconds, Weimer really exploded. In the 84th minute she found Holly Lincoln for her second goal of the year. Three seconds later, Weimer got behind the Maryland defense and Jean Rettig put a perfect ball to Weimer. She buried her 20th goal of the year, and her 21st came 24 seconds later from Krieger.

"[Maryland] had to worry about everyone else, not just me," Weimer said. "Then I was able to break through because other people were scoring goals. The passes were perfect balls by Jean and Ali, and I had the goalie one on one. All I had to do was beat the goalie."

The goal extends Weimer's scoring streak to ten games, and she tied Heidi Drummond for third all-time in goals for Penn State.

With the offense and defense shutting down the Terrapins, the Lions proved they are a team to be reckoned with.

"[The Lions] played a style we haven't seen all season," Higgins-Cirovski said.

"They are up there with the top teams in the nation."