Oct. 31, 2008
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The No. 21 Nittany Lions fell 1-0 to Ohio State Friday afternoon. Penn State is now 13-7 overall and 8-2 in Big Ten play while OSU improves to 8-9-2 overall and 5-5 in conference match ups. This is the first time Penn State has lost a Big Ten conference game at Jeffrey Field since 1995. Despite the outcome, Penn State still has at least a share of their 11th consecutive Big Ten championship.
The first half began with a lot of back and forth play and good shot opportunities for each team. It was Ohio State that got the only score as Ashley Bowyer got a header shot from a corner kick. Alyssa Naeher (Seymour, Conn.) was there for the save, but as the ball deflected off her hands Lisa Collison fired a shot at point blank range which found the top of the net in the 22nd minute. Penn State controlled the latter part of the first half scattering six shots on goal as Buckeye keeper Lauren Robertson came away with huge saves.
The Nittany Lions came out in the second stanza determined to score. They maintained control for the entire half and put a lot of pressure on the OSU net. But the Buckeyes weren't going to make it easy as there were 10 red jerseys behind the ball at all times. Danielle Toney (Northville, Mich.) got a huge shot that deflected off the cross bar and landed right on the goal line as Robertson pounced on it preventing the score. Frustration was apparent in the remainder of the half as Penn State struggled to find the back of the net and the Buckeyes clamped down on defense.
Throughout the match Penn State outshot Ohio State 30-4 getting 11 shots on goal to OSU's 2. The Nittany Lions also had the advantage in corner kicks at 6-4. Naeher scooped up one save while Robertson collected 11.
The Nittany Lions will now prepare for post-season play as the Big Ten Tournament begins Thursday, Nov. 6 at the University of Iowa. Tournament seeds will be announced shortly and fans can follow the action as the Big Ten Network will be broadcasting the semifinals and championship game.