Sept. 12, 2017
| 5 | 1 |
| Graham Field | Lewisburg, Pa. | 301 | |
| POST GAME LINKS |
| Box Score (HTML) | Box Score (PDF) |
| FINAL STATISTICS |
LEWISBURG, Pa. - On a day that saw Penn State move to No. 2 in the NFHCA poll, the Nittany Lions backed up the ranking with a 5-1 win over in-state rival Bucknell Tuesday night at Graham Field to remain undefeated in 2017.
It was a slow start to the night for No. 2 Penn State (6-0) who held a 1-0 lead after 35-minutes of play, but it wouldn't take long for the offense to heat up when they returned from halftime.
Maddie Morano finds the cage from close range to give #PSUFH a one goal lead! #WeAre pic.twitter.com/m4Ta2gZtfD
— PSU Field Hockey (@PennStateFH) September 12, 2017
"I think we had the opportunities in the first half, we just weren't focused to finish," said head coach Charlene Morett-Curtiss.
"We opened the game up much more in the second-half. It was a great game, so many people scoring and just a great team effort, from the backfield to the forward line I felt they were really impressive in the second-half. It was fun! It was a great night, I felt everyone gave great effort."
Out of the break, Penn State scored three goals in the first seven minutes of the half to run out to a 4-0 lead forcing a Bucknell timeout following the final of the aforementioned goals.
One-minute and 48-seconds was all Moira Putsch needed after halftime to find the cage scoring on a backhand from the left side, assisted by Gini Bramley, to make it 2-0 Penn State.
Moira Putsch making it look easy! #WeAre pic.twitter.com/AedYRHwCqP
— PSU Field Hockey (@PennStateFH) September 13, 2017
A short 2:40 would roll off the clock before Aurelia Meijer made it a 3-0 lead, scoring from the left side around the defense for the unassisted goal.
Aurelia Meijer scores her fourth goal of the season to make it a three goal lead for the Nittany Lions #WeAre pic.twitter.com/X6a6kIbCQr
— PSU Field Hockey (@PennStateFH) September 13, 2017
Even shorter than the last, 2:11 would run off the clock before Penn State put another goal on the board, this time by Bramley who scored off the rebound of Putsch's shot that was blocked back into play before Bramley swung home to make it 4-0.
Gini Bramley makes it three goals in the first seven minutes of the second half as this Penn State offense is 🔥🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/deAKbIrQhp
— PSU Field Hockey (@PennStateFH) September 13, 2017
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The fifth and final goal of the night came on a penalty stroke that was scored by Morano who tucked it in the left corner of the cage squeezing it by Bucknell's Emily Finn to make it a 5-1 Nittany Lion lead that would hold for the remaining 11-minutes of play.
"Penalty Stroke? No Problem!"
- Maddie Morano *probably*#WeAre pic.twitter.com/aCzCgvcv0T— PSU Field Hockey (@PennStateFH) September 13, 2017
Penn State will be back in action Friday, Sept. 15 at 5 p.m. when the Nittany Lions host Iowa in their first Big Ten home contest of the season at Field Hockey Complex.
For more on Nittany Lion Field Hockey, log onto www.GoPSUsports.com or follow the team on Twitter and Instagram at @PennStateFH, and on Facebook at PennStateFieldHockey.