Penn State forward Kaitlyn MacBean was silenced Thursday night.

But despite blanking the nation’s sixth-leading scorer and firing off 20 shots, the Bruins and Nittany Lions remained scoreless through 90 minutes of play.

No. 10 UCLA women’s soccer (12-2-3, 7-0-2 Big Ten) faced off against No. 16 Penn State (11-3-3, 5-2-2) at Wallis Annenberg Stadium in a “game of inches,” with the Bruins seeing their third draw of the season.

The Bruins contained MacBean – the Nittany Lions’ leading returning scorer – to 72 soundless minutes on the field. UCLA’s defense held Penn State to just two shots on goal, both of which were taken care of by graduate goalkeeper Ryan Campbell’s heroics under the net.

Campbell’s pair of saves earned her her 12th shutout, setting a new personal best.

Meanwhile, UCLA unleashed an offensive rampage on its Big Ten foes, piling on 20 shots through the duel.

Senior defender Quincy McMahon recorded six shot attempts out of the Bruins’ 20, with a near miss in the 56th minute that just grazed the edge of the net by about an inch.

“Definitely disappointing that I couldn’t finish those today,” McMahon said. “Definitely a great performance for us to keep building on and keep going forward. And I think before, we weren’t creating those really good chances, and now we’re creating those chances. So, encouraging – but still definitely not done yet.”

On top of McMahon’s six attempts to find the back of the net, sophomore midfielder Val Vargas and junior midfielder Sofia Cook attempted four and five goals, respectively, showcasing UCLA’s weapons across the field.

The Bruins launched a relentless offensive, attempting shots from the very first minute to the final whistle, while the Nittany Lions managed only three shots in total— just one of which came in the second half, compared to the Bruins’ 15 in that span.

“First thing on my mind is trying to make it in,” Vargas said. “Having opportunities and creating space for my teammates.”

Throughout the game, the Bruins’ cheers echoed through Wallis Annenberg Stadium to rally behind Vargas each time the midfielder lined up a shot.

“I we don’t talk to each other, then we’re just going to be lost in the field,” Vargas said.

The defining moment of the game came in the 90th minute when junior forward America Frias made a valiant attempt at a goal.

Under the assumption that Frias had clinched the affair for the home team, the Bruin faithful erupted – but it was for naught. After referees consulted the video assistant referee, it was revealed that the shot had been saved by Penn State defender Bella Ayscue.

Although the score ended in neither team’s favor, coach Margueritte Aozasa said she was only uplifted by Thursday’s performance.

“One of our better performances of the year,” Aozasa said. “We didn’t score, and that’s where we need to be better. And it felt like a game of inches – I thought we limited them to really one dangerous chance. This is a very good Penn State team. They’ve done well through the year, so I think we are choosing to be very encouraged by this performance.”

Thursday’s match carried special significance for the Bruins, as it marked their annual Breast Cancer Awareness Night for which both the team and the crowd were decked out in pink.

“We’re always playing for something a little more than our program,” Aozasa said. “Anytime you step on the field, it’s an honor, but today especially.”

And from the coaching staff to the players, a scoreless game paled in comparison to the cause it supported.

“We have a couple teammates, and also really good friends, that have been affected by breast cancer,” McMahon said. “For us, it means playing for the opportunity to do what not everyone can do and that gratitude to use our bodies to our full advantage and to be active.”