MANHEIM, Pa.; The Penn State Nittany Lion field hockey team (0-7, 0-1 B1G) dropped an overtime thriller to California (2-5) in a non-conference game on Thursday night in Lancaster, Pa. Penn State had a two-goal lead earlier in the game, but Cal got the final goal in extra time for the 4-3 victory in a game played at Spooky Nook.
The Nittany Lions and Bears battled through an even first period, with Penn State keeping the ball on the Cal side of the field for the first part of the opening stanza. Cal gained possession and moved the ball down to the Lion circle. The Bears forced a penalty corner and then took advantage of a scramble in front of the cage, with Bear Fionna Jensen scoring at the 8:12 mark for the first period's lone goal.
Penn State keeper Brie Barraco (Allentown, Pa.) notched an early save in the second period, keeping the game close. The Nittany Lions then tied the game when Grace Wallis (Blue Bell, Pa.) scored off a rebound from Cal keeper Natalie Dalton to tie the game at 1-1 with 6:50 on the clock. Penn State kept the pressure on the Bears defense and nearly took a lead with less than a minute left. The Lions had a penalty stroke opportunity, but Bear keeper Dalton was able to knock the shot aside and the game moved to intermission tied 1-1.
Penn State outshot Cal 10-2 in the first half. The Bears rode a strong seven save performance from keeper Dalton to stay tied. Penn State had three corners to one for Cal. Barraco had three saves for the Nittany Lions.
The Nittany Lions opened up the second half by opening up a two goal lead. Jemma Punch (McDowall, Australia) scored off a nice long assist from Madison Morano (Hammonton, N.J.) to give the Lions a 2-1 lead at the 7:55 mark. Penn State scored less than four minutes later when Anna Simon (Hanau, Germany) scored off a penalty corner from Alexis Horst (Port Trevorton, Pa.) to give Penn State a 3-1 lead. Cal responded, however, with Gabi Jimenez scoring with just under three minutes left in the period after a Penn State green card. The goal gave Penn State a 3-2 lead after three periods.
California tied the game up off a penalty corner four minutes into the final period. Katrina Carter took a touch from Femke Delissen off a Lindsay Mathison corner to tie the game 3-3. The teams then battled for evenly for the remainder of the period. Cal had a shot late in the game go off the left post to keep the Bears from taking a late lead.
The Bears got the win in overtime when Brynn Zorilla took an assist from Delissen, tapping in the hard Delissen pass to give Cal the 4-3 victory.
"We had a very strong first half, but we have to be able to take care of the ball better in the circle," said head coach Char Morett-Curtiss. "This was one of our stronger performances this year, but not being able to convert on offense cost us."
Penn State outshot California 17-12 but Cal had the only two shots in overtime. The Lions had seven corners to five for Cal. Barraco had five saves for Penn State while Dalton had eight for the Bears.
The Nittany Lions are now 0-7, 0-1 B1G, while Cal improves to 2-5. The Lions' return to action on Sunday, Sept. 29, when they host Villanova 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 3 4 1OT FINAL
PENN STATE 0 1 2 0 0 3
California 1 0 1 1 1 4
STATS: PSU CAL
Shots 17 12
Corners 7 5
SCORING SUMMARY (goal/assist) – TIME
1st: CAL – Fiona Jensen (Femke Delissen), 8:12
2nd: PSU – Grace Wallis (unassisted), 23:16
3rd: PSU – Jemma Punch (Madison Morano), 37:55
3rd: PSU – Anna Simon (Alexis Horst), 41:24
3rd: CAL – Gabi Jimenez (unassisted), 42:04
4th: CAL – Katrina Carter (Lindsay Mathison, Femke Delissen), 49:16
OT: CAL – Brynn Zorilla (Femke Delissen), 63:36
GOALKEEPERS: MIN GA S
PSU: Brie Barraco 63:36 4 5
CAL: Natalie Dalton 63:36 3 8
