Sept. 18, 2011
HARRISONBURG, Va. - Seventh-ranked Penn State field hockey (5-3) picked up its third-straight win on Sunday afternoon in a 6-1 triumph over Virginia Commonwealth. The Nittany Lions cap off the weekend road trip with a 2-0 record after recording wins over the Rams and No. 6 Duke.
Sophomore Brittany Grzywacz (Collegeville, Pa.) had a big day for the Nittany Lions as she tallied five points on two goals and an assist. Freshman Laura Gebhart (Mount Joy, Pa.) scored her first career-goal and also tallied two assists.
Junior Kelsey Amy (Sweet Valley, Pa.) scored a goal in her sixth consecutive game and freshman Taylor Herold (Fredericksburg, Pa.) scored her first career goal. Freshman Jenna Chrismer (Mountain Top, Pa.) also contributed to the freshman attack, scoring her fourth goal of the season.
Penn State applied pressure early as Gebhart and junior Hannah Allison (Mifflinburg, Pa.) each got shots off that were blocked. A shot by sophomore Whitney Reddig (Lititz, Pa.) was saved at the 12:31 mark and another shot by Amy was blocked 16:36 into the game. The Rams would not get a shot off until approximately 19 minutes into the game, as junior Ayla Halus (Hershey, Pa.) made the save.
The Nittany Lions, who have been successful on penalty corners all season, successfully executed another one 21:32 into the game. Grzywacz netted her second goal of the season on a ball that was inserted from the end line by Reddig and set up by Gebhart. With Penn State leading 1-0, Herold scored her first career goal as a Nittany Lion as she intercepted a pass and had an open shot from the left side. The Nittany Lions went into halftime up 2-0 on the Rams.
The first four minutes of the second half were quiet, but the Lions were rewarded a penalty corner 4:32 in. The corner set up a score for Penn State, as Gebhart garnered her first career goal on an assist from Grzywacz. Gebhart received the ball from Grzywacz in the center of the circle, where she finished it from there. Amy would start to get involved in the action 41:50 into the game, as she fired a shot that was saved by VCU's Erin Jablonski. Immediately after, she took another attempt that went wide of the net. Nearly two minutes later, she finally found the back of the cage, winning a loose ball that was in front of the goal. Penn State had a 4-0 lead.
With a little over 30 minutes remaining in the game, the Rams finally snuck one in to cut the lead to 4-1. However, Grzywacz would answer with her second goal and fifth point of the game to give the Nittany Lions a 5-1 advantage. Chrismer would add a goal for Penn State with three minutes remaining in the game, to make the final score 6-1.
Penn State will host Temple this Thursday at the Penn State Field Hockey Complex. Game time is set for 6 p.m.
Penn State hosts the 2011 Big Ten Field Hockey Tournament from Nov. 3-6. Tickets for the Big Ten Tournament can be purchased by contacting the Bryce Jordan Center ticket office at 814-865-5555. All session passes are $18 for adults and $12 for students/senior citizens. Single session tickets will run at $8 for adults and $5 for students/senior citizens. Groups of 15 people or more may also purchase tickets at $12 for all session passes and $5 for a single session.
Check back to GoPSUsports.com for continued updates throughout the 2011 season. Follow Penn State field hockey on Twitter: www.twitter.com/PennStateFH or www.twitter.com/GoPSUGreg.