Sarah Dwyer was at a loss for words.

When asked what happened on her game-winning goal in yesterday's 2-0 win against Villanova in the second round of the NCAA National Tournament, the senior midfielder fumbled through her explanation before bursting into laughter and burying her face into her
coat.

"Did you block it? I think you blocked it," head coach Paula Wilkins said, trying her best to jog her player's memory.

Although Dwyer eventually remembered, it was the first and only time that the Penn State women's soccer team had difficulty finding the answer this weekend at Jeffrey Field.

After fending off a scrappy Niagara team, 3-1, in first-round action on Friday night, the No. 2 seed Nittany Lions stymied the Wildcats to advance to the Sweet 16 for the second consecutive season and the eighth time in the last nine years.

Penn State will face Boston College in the third round next weekend on Jeffrey Field.

"Obviously always happy to get another win to continue in the tournament," Wilkins said during the post-game press conference. "The team played very well today. I am happy with their performance, and we're excited to head to the Sweet 16."

It came as no surprise that Dwyer joined Wilkins in the makeshift tent behind the Jeffrey Field bleachers, where the press conference was held.

In the first half of yesterday's game, Dwyer provided all of the offense that Penn State needed when she blocked Villanova junior goalkeeper Jillian Loyden's clearing attempt and stuffed it in the back of the net.

The goal was the third game-winning tally of the season for Dwyer, who has five goals and five assists on the year.

What was somewhat surprising was who accompanied her.

Both sophomore defender Jessie Davis and redshirt-freshman goalkeeper Kate Milstead earned spots at the media table with their heroics in the victory.

Davis notched an important insurance goal just before halftime that ultimately sealed the win for the Lions. The goal was the second in the last three games for Davis, who had not scored in her first 33 games in a Penn State uniform.

"I love scoring; it's not something I used to doing," she said. "I scored maybe three goals in my high school career and
to have two in the past two weeks is just phenomenal. I hope I can keep it up."

Meanwhile, Milstead, who started in place of an injured Alyssa Naeher, recorded her second shutout in as many starts this season by stopping both shots she faced.

Despite having started only one game this year and playing the second half of Friday's game, Milstead looked solid as she only allowed one goal on 16 shots.

With Milstead expected to be Penn State's starting goalkeeper for the remainder of the year, concerns could be brewing for the Lions.

But, according to Dwyer, confidence is sky-high no matter what.

"We are on bit of an upswing right now," she said. "We had a really strong performance in the Big Ten Tournament and we're trying to carry that into the NCAAs.

"We're playing with confidence and that is really giving us a push forward."