Sept. 4, 2011
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Despite being up 1-0 in the first half, the Penn State field hockey team had a tough 2-1 overtime setback to the No. 4 Connecticut Huskies on Sunday afternoon in front of one of the biggest crowds ever at a Penn State field hockey game.
In the two and a half minute mark of overtime, UConn's Kim Krzyk scored the game winner which allowed the Huskies to escape Happy Valley with a 2-1 victory. "It's a disappointing loss, but I thought our girls fought hard," said Penn State head coach Charlene Morett. "The fans were great here today. We had a great crowd and a great student turnout."
The Nittany Lions came out controlling the game from the beginning, as junior Kelsey Amy (Sweet Valley, Pa.) rocketed a backhand shot that was blocked at the 30:39 mark. Penn State would have another opportunity eight and a half minutes in, as sophomore Brittany Grzywacz (Collegeville, Pa.) fired a shot off a penalty corner that the UConn goalie made a nice save on.
Penn State would keep up the pressure later on, as junior Hannah Allison (Mifflinburg, Pa.) had a shot on goal off a penalty corner, which was again saved. The Lions would finally be rewarded though, when Amy scored a goal in her second straight game to give PSU a 1-0 lead. Freshman Laura Gebhart (Mount Joy, Pa.) set up the goal when she played the ball up the middle to Amy, who then struck it to the left corner of the cage.
From that point on in the first half, UConn would begin to apply pressure. The Huskies had a pair of shots within 12 seconds, one of which was saved by junior goalkeeper Ayla Halus (Hershey, Pa.). Halus made two stops on the day. The Huskies would then put together another three shots within a three-minute time frame. One of those unsuccessful shots was off a penalty corner, which went wide of the net. The Huskies would eventually get on the board with just under four minutes remaining in the first half. Marie Elena Bolles scored her first goal of the season to tie the game up at one.
Penn State had many close opportunities in the second half as well. Amy struck a ball off a penalty corner that went wide of the cage in the beginning of the stanza. At the 48:49 mark, Allison had an opportunity, but her shot was saved by Sarah Mansfield, who had three saves on the day.
With both teams battling hard, Penn State's prime opportunity came with 1:36 remaining in regulation. A penalty corner was given to Nittany Lions. Amy received the ball and fired a shot that was deflected and made it in. However, the goal was called off because the ball was not inside the circle when she shot it. In overtime, UConn was issued a corner 2:15 in. After the ball was knocked around a bit inside the circle, Krzyk managed to squeeze a ball by Halus in the right corner to give the Huskies a victory.
Penn State will be back in action on Thursday, when it travels to No. 7 Princeton for a 6 p.m. matchup. The Nittany Lions will be back home at noon on Sunday, when they hose Quinnipiac.
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