Oct. 1, 2011
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Despite losing a two- goal lead in the second half, seventh-ranked Penn State field hockey picked up a thrilling 4-3 overtime win over No. 16 Northwestern on Saturday afternoon. Freshman Taylor Herold (Fredericksburg, Va.) netted the game winning goal on an assist from sophomore Lauren Purvis (Maple Glen, Pa.) on Penn State Field Hockey Alumni Weekend.
Along with Herold, freshman Laura Gebhart (Mount Joy, Pa.), junior Kelsey Amy (Sweet Valley, Pa.) and sophomore Brittany Grzywacz (Collegeville, Pa.) each scored goals for the Nittany Lions. Redshirt junior goalkeeper Ayla Halus (Hershey, Pa.) had a phenomenal game in goal, making seven saves, including two big ones in overtime that kept the Wildcats in check.
Northwestern was the first team to immediately apply pressure, as Claire Thompson put one on goal just 21 seconds in. Halus made a nice kick save to keep the score even at zero. Things were then silent until the 7:08 mark, when Penn State was rewarded a penalty corner. Sophomore Whitney Reddig (Lititz, Pa.) played a ball in to Amy, where she knocked it in to give Penn State a 1-0 lead.
It did not take Northwestern much time to respond, as Maria Kovalchuk scored her fifth goal of the season nearly six minutes later to tie the game up at one. The Nittany Lions would go on a roll to close out the first half. With a little under 16 minutes remaining, Northwestern's penalty corner attempt was denied by the Penn State defense. Amy received the ball in PSU's offensive half of the field and took it down the right sideline. She brought the ball to the corner and fed a beautiful pass into the middle to Gebhart, where she put it away to give the Lions a 2-1 lead.
Penn State would then continue its effectiveness on the penalty corners, as Purvis fed a ball in to Gebhart, who then set up an opportunity for Grzywacz. The sophomore put it in the cage to give the Nittany Lions a 3-1 advantage at halftime. Six minutes into the second half, Northwestern earned a penalty corner and the Big Ten's leading scorer, Chelsea Armstrong, scored to cut the lead to 3-2. Then at the 60:35 mark, Armstrong scored her second of the game and 19th of the season to tie the game up at three.
The Nittany Lions had a great scoring opportunity at the end of regulation, but Grzywacz's shot went just high of the goal.
In an exciting overtime frame, Northwestern had the first opportunity on a penalty corner. Halus made a huge save on Armstrong's shot. Regan Mooney then fired another shot about two minutes later, but Halus came out and made a phenomenal save to keep the Lions alive.
In the 76th minute, Herold entered the game as Penn State was looking to apply more pressure. Down in Northwestern's end, Amy fired a shot that just went wide. However, as the Wildcats played the ball back in, Purvis gained control in the corner. She dribbled the ball along the baseline and played a beautiful ball to Herold who was right in front of the cage. She banged it right by the keeper to give the Lions a 4-3 victory.
Penn State will next be in action this Tuesday as it hosts Villanova at 4 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.
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