UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.; September 21, 2018 – The Penn State Nittany field hockey team (5-3, 1-1 B1G), ranked No. 6 in the latest NFHCA Coaches Poll, fell victim to a last minute penalty stroke in a home loss to No. 8 Michigan (6-3, 2-0 B1G) in a rematch of last year's Big Ten tournament title game. The Wolverines were awarded the stroke with just 1:53 left in the game and connected to post a hard-fought 1-0 win under the lights at Penn State.
Penn State had a quick early opportunity when a solid shot by Aurelia Meijer (Hattam, Netherlands) sailed just wide less than a minute into the game. The Nittany Lion defense pushed a brief Wolverine effort back shortly after that before regaining possession on the Michigan side of the field. Michigan's Meg Dowthwaite nearly put Michigan on top at the 28:30 mark but freshman back Anna Simon (Hanau, Germany) notched a defensive save to keep the game scoreless. Michigan was able to grab momentum with a series of possessions, taking advantage of a couple Penn State turnovers to control the ball. The clock worked its way down to the 23:00 mark with Michigan and Penn State trading possession in the middle of the field.
The Lions took advantage of a Michigan turnover to push the ball downfield, with Moira Putsch (Media, Pa.) forcing the ball into the circle, leading to the first penalty corner of the game at the 20:35 mark. The Lions did not convert on the effort. Penn State's offense found its footing, however, and Putsch worked the ball inside again, forcing a second corner with under 19:00 in the half. Putsch took the corner, feeding senior Madison Morano (Hammontown, N.J.), who set up Simon for what appeared to be the game's first goal at the 18:28 mark. But Michigan challenged the goal, calling for a review, and the goal was disallowed, keeping the game scoreless. Michigan responded to the call by taking the ball all the way downfield and picking up its first penalty corner at the 17:00 mark. A Wolverine shot went wide but Michigan was able to keep possession.
Penn State's defense, led by senior Lauren McNally (Marmora, N.J.), regained possession and the Lions moved the ball down the field. Sophomore Alexis Horst (Port Trevorton, Pa.) had a point blank shot blocked by Michigan goalie Ann Spieker with 14:30 on the clock. Back Cori Conley (Oak Park, Ill.) forced a Michigan turnover with 12:00 to play in the opening half but Penn State was unable to capitalize and Michigan set up on offense in front of the Penn State cage. The two teams traded possessions as the clock moved below 9:00 before Penn State pressed Michigan into a penalty corner. Meijer's strong shot was saved by Spieker. Michigan answered with a solid offensive effort that led to a Marleise Emrhein shot that went wide with 6:00 on the clock. Rizzo notched a save shortly after that and Penn State took the ball back down to the Michigan side of the field. Michigan picked up a corner with 3:10 left, a second, and then a third with 1:45 on the clock. Rizzo notched two saves on the third effort and Penn State moved the ball downfield, picking up a penalty corner as the half expired. The Nittany Lions did not convert and the game moved to intermission tied 0-0.
Michigan outshot Penn State 9-6 and both teams took four penalty corners. Nittany Lion goalie Rizzo had three saves and Penn State had one defensive save. Michigan keeper Spieker had three as well.
Penn State had an early chance to take a lead but a close Morano shot was blocked by Spieker at the 33:00 mark. Penn State kept possession for the next five minutes plus, but Michigan's defense was equal to the task, keeping Penn State from any serious threat as time moved below 29:00. Michigan was unable to mount any offense, turned the ball over and Penn State turned a fast break into a corner after a Horst shot at the 27:30 mark. Penn State did not convert the corner but kept possession and pressure on the Michigan defense until the 25:00 mark.
Michigan took advantage of a Penn State turnover with 21:00 left in the game and had a brief push on the Lion defense. But Penn State's Meijer was able regain possession and Michigan got called for a green card with 19:30 on the clock, giving Penn State a player advantage. Michigan's defense held Penn State off for the full two minutes and action resumed even-up at the 17:30 mark. Michigan was able to push the ball down to the Penn State circle, but Conley grabbed the ball at the 15:20 mark, fed Meijer who moved the ball to Gini Bramley (Elizabethtown, Pa.) on the top of the circle, leading to a Penn State corner with 14:50 left to play. Meijer was blocked on a shot off the first corner and Katie Dembrowski (Palmyra, Pa.) was just wide on a second, keeping the game scoreless as the clock moved below the 13:00 mark. Penn State's offense kept the ball in front of the Michigan cage and Michigan got hit with another green card at the 12:51 mark and then another at the 11:50 mark, giving Penn State a two person advantage for a minute.
Penn State had two quick corners after the green card, effectively killing the two person edge. The Lions did not connect on the corners, Michigan moved the ball downfield and Penn State got called for a 5:00 yellow card with 10:30 on the clock. Penn State was able to work the bulk of the card off, keeping the ball down on the Michigan side of the field until the 6:30 mark. Michigan took possession and moved the ball downfield and Fay Keijer had a shot pushed aside on another outstanding Rizzo save, keeping the game knotted at 0-0 with 6:05 to play. Rizzo swatted away another Wolverine shot at the 4:40 mark and Penn State took over possession.
Michigan controlled the ball for the next two minutes and its pressure led to a penalty stroke with 1:53 to play. Penn State challenged the call but it stood, and Penn State was hit with a 10:00 yellow card as well. Michigan's Meg Dowthwaite connected on the penalty stroke at the 1:53 mark to put the Wolverines up 1-0. Michigan killed the final minute-plus and walked away with the hard-fought 1-0 victory.
"Both teams played a great game and both goalies were outstanding," said head coach Char Morett-Curtiss. "We missed some opportunities and that's hard to overcome in a tight game. We need to have better composure at times and make better decisions."
The Nittany Lions are now 5-3 overall, 1-1 in the conference. Michigan improves to 6-3, 2-0. Penn State hosts Michigan State on Sunday, Sept. 23, at 12 p.m. at the Penn State Field Hockey Complex.
Fans are encouraged to follow the Nittany Lion field hockey team online at www.GoPSUsports.com (click teams, click field hockey), on twitter @pennstateFH and on facebook at www.facebook.com/pennstatefieldhockey.
GAME BREAKDOWN
SCORING: 1 2 FINAL
#6 Penn State (5-3, 1-1 B1G) 0 0 0
#8 Michigan (6-3, 2-0 B1G) 0 1 1
STATS: PSU UM
Shots 14 13
Corners 9 4
SCORING SUMMARY (assist) -- TIME
2nd: MICH – Meg Dowthwaite (penalty stroke), 1:53
GOALKEEPERS: MIN GA S
PSU: Jenny Rizzo 70:00 1 6
Team (def) 1
UM: Anna Spieker 70:00 0 7
