Sept. 12, 2012
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The No. 6 Penn State field hockey team defeated Lock Haven on Wednesday evening, recording a 5-0 victory to shut out the Lady Eagles. The Nittany Lions advance to a 6-2 record, while the Eagles move to 4-3. Sophomore Laura Gebhart (Mount Joy, Pa.) registered the game-winner, scoring at the 20:09 minute mark of the first period.
Gebhart's goal came late into the first half after a back-and-forth sequence for possession in the middle. Senior Kelsey Amy (Sweet Valley, Pa.) finally broke through Lock Haven's defense and found Gebhart waiting at the front and center of the net. With a pass from Amy, the sophomore was able to send the ball past goalkeeper Kelsey Moll to give the Lions a 1-0 lead.
"I think it was really important for us to get some goals from the field," said head coach Charlene Morett. "We talked about being in the right position and finding our players in front of the cage...so I thought that that was a lot better...The first goal was beautiful. I said to the team that it was in the top five of my coaching career, just the way that it was passed down the field and the way it was finished."
Penn State came out of the gate with an offensive mindset, recording 14 shots in the first half alone. Gebhart nearly put the squad on the board at the 17:17 mark, as the ball nearly popped up over Moll's shoulder on her shot. With gritty work from senior Hannah Allison (Mifflinburg, Pa.) in the midfield and smart defense from junior Abby Fuhrman (Bainbridge, Pa.), Gebhart would be able to score minutes later.
The Eagles refused to back down, however, with sophomore Nakira Downes taking every offensive chance she was given. Downes' speed helped her earn several breakaways down the field, pushing past several Penn State defenders to put herself in front of goalkeeper Ayla Halus (Hershey, Pa.). With 10 minutes to play in the first period, the sophomore was able to send the ball at Halus after a Lock Haven penalty corner, but Halus remained perfect in net.
Soon after, the Lions would earn a penalty corner of their own. With a beautiful pass from junior Whitney Reddig (Lititz, Pa.), Amy took a commanding shot from the top of the box and fired the ball past Moll for a 2-0 lead. Reddig earned her fifth assist of the season and the 25th of her career, while Amy reached the milestone of 60 career goals on her eighth goal of the season.
As the second period began, Lock Haven's defense continued to challenge the Lions in the offensive zone. Moll fended off two back-to-back penalty corners before Penn State's forwards prevailed. After a defensive save by sophomore Beverly Rhule, her first of two, junior Ashtin Klingler (Selinsgrove, Pa.) moved up to take advantage of the rebound. Klingler wound up and shot the ball past Moll for her third goal of the season. The Lions now led 3-0.
Minutes later, sophomore Taylor Herold (Fredericksburg, Va.) would extend Penn State's lead to 4-0. After an intense game of persistent offense from Herold, the forward's hard work would finally pay off with help from forward Lauren Alwine (Elizabethtown, Pa.). Alwine forced the ball deep into Lock Haven's zone in the right corner before sending a long pass up to Herold in front of the net. The sophomore took a quick shot past Moll to score before a single defender could reach her. It was her first goal of the season and Alwine's first career point.
Penn State's final goal would come after the squad's sixth of seven penalty corners. Reddig set up the play for the Lions, sending the ball to Gebhart at the top of the box. Gebhart stopped the ball for Allison, who snuck in from the back to send a shot flying past the Lock Haven netminder. The veteran's first goal of the season set the score at 5-0 in favor of Penn State.
With just over 20 minutes to play, Elaina White stepped in for Moll at goal, while redshirt sophomore Kylie Licata (Mountain Top, Pa.) took over the Lions' net for her first game of the season. Also seeing action for the first time this year, freshmen Haley Kerstetter (Selinsgrove, Pa.) and Bethany Mink (Allentown, Pa.) hurried onto the field for their first collegiate game. The remaining action was defined by offensive hustle and disciplined defense. Freshman Ally Lauth (State College, Pa.) played tremendous for Penn State, making several diving plays to maintain possession. Junior Jacqueline Kenney (State College, Pa.) fended off the Eagles' forwards in the closing minutes, staying resilient and sound at back.
After one final save from Licata on a Lock Haven penalty corner, sophomore Amanda Dinunzio (State College, Pa.) took the ball out of Penn State's zone as time expired. The Lions outshot the Eagles 22-7, with Moll recording four saves and White making one. Halus earned the win with two saves, while Licata finished the contest with three saves. Both share the second shutout of the season.
Penn State heads out on the road this upcoming weekend, facing Lehigh on Friday, Sept. 14, and Monmouth on Saturday, Sept. 15. Both contests will have Live Stats available, as well as Twitter updates throughout.
Check back to GoPSUSports.com for continued updates during the 2012 season. Follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/PennStateFH and find us on Facebook at facebook.com/pennstatefieldhockey.com.
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