Sept. 25, 2011
IOWA CITY, Iowa - Behind stellar goalkeeping from redshirt junior Ayla Halus (Hershey, Pa.), the Penn State field hockey team picked up a big 3-0 victory over the Iowa Hawkeyes on Sunday afternoon. The Hawkeyes, who defeated Michigan State on Friday, came into the game atop the Big Ten in scoring.
Halus made seven saves in the winning effort. Sophomore Lauren Purvis (Maple Glen, Pa.), junior Hannah Allison (Mifflinburg, Pa.) and sophomore Whitney Reddig (Lititz, Pa.) each scored goals for the Nittany Lions. Iowa was shutout for the first time all season. With the first seven-plus minutes of the game being silent, Iowa applied pressure first at the 7:59 mark as Aubrey Campbell fired a shot that was saved by Halus. Nearly two minutes later, Marike Stribos put another one on goal that was stopped by Halus. Another minute would pass by until the Hawkeyes had two shots blocked and saved to keep the score even at zero.
The Nittany Lions did not get their first shot until the 16:37 mark when sophomore Brittany Grzywacz (Collegeville, Pa.) had one saved by Iowa's Kathleen McGraw. Reddig later in the half had back-to-back shots that were saved. Iowa and Penn State were tied up at zero at the halftime.
Just two minutes into the second half, Halus made a big save on a shot by the Big Ten's leading scorer Kim Scraper. Penn State transitioned down to the other end, where Purvis banged home a goal at 40:12 in. She chipped it in after receiving a nice pass from junior Kelsey Amy (Sweet Valley, Pa.).
Nearly nine minutes later, Penn State was rewarded a penalty corner. Reddig slotted a ball into the circle, where Allison knocked it in for her sixth goal of the season. Halus remained flawless for the remainder of the game, as she went on to make two more saves.
Reddig earned an insurance goal with 15 seconds remaining to give Penn State a 3-0 lead. Amy earned her first assist of the season on the goal.
Penn State returns to Happy Valley this Saturday to take on the Northwestern Wildcats. Game time is slated for noon and will be tape delayed on the Big Ten network.
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.
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