UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.; The Penn State Nittany Lion field hockey team (0-3, 0-0 B1G), ranked No. 9 in the initial NFHCA Coaches Poll, lost a tough game at No. 16 Delaware (4-0) in its third straight road game to open the 2019 season. Head coach Char Morett-Curtiss' squad scored first in the game but ended up on the wrong end of a 3-1 score in its third straight road game against a ranked foe.
The two teams traded possessions early in the first period with each team moving the ball deep into the other's territory to no avail. Delaware had a solid chance to score but the Lion defense held firm and Penn State moved the ball down to the UD side of the field. The Blue Hens were able to stop the Nittany Lion charge and the game continued tied 0-0. Penn State continued to pressure UD and freshman Paityn Wirth (Thompsontown, Pa.) scored on the game's first shot to give the Lions a 1-0 lead at the 9:37 mark. Penn State carried that lead into the second quarter.
Lion freshman goalie Brie Barraco (Allentown, Pa.) made a superb save early in the second period to keep the Hens of the scoreboard, but Delaware turned the effort into the game's first penalty corner. The Lion defense notched a defensive save on a solid Delaware corner and Penn State kept its 1-0 lead after a furious Delaware effort. Penn State picked up its first penalty corner at the 3:25 mark but the Delaware defense was solid, keeping Penn State from scoring. Delaware answered with a strong offensive push and moved the ball down for a corner with 2:30 on the clock but Barraco notched two saves on the corner. Delaware, however, forced another corner and Lotte de Koning tied the game with a goal with just 1:55 to go in the half to send the game into intermission tied 1-1.
Delaware outshot Penn State 5-2 in the opening half and connected on one of its three corners. Penn State had one corner. Barraco had three saves in the opening 30 minutes while Delaware's Sydney Rhodes had one.
The Blue Hens maintained possession for the start of the third period, forcing Barraco into a couple saves that kept the game tied 1-1 as the second half got rolling. Penn State then took control and moved the ball to the UD side of the field, picking up a corner five minutes into the period. The Hens held first, move the ball down to the Lion side of the field and forced their fifth penalty corner of the contest. Femke Strien scored at the 36:00 mark off the corner to give the Hens a 2-1 lead. Delaware was able to hold that lead for the entirety of the third period and Penn State trailed by one with 15:00 to play.
The Nittany Lions opened the fourth period in control of the ball in front of the Delaware cage, but the Blue Hens were able to hold off the effort and maintain their one goal lead. Delaware worked the ball down to the Penn State side midway through the final period, forcing a couple penalty corners. Barraco was strong, however, notching an important save to keep Penn State within striking distance. But the Hen offense was able to break through again as Ally Pollack scored during a scramble at the 52:47 mark to give UD a 3-1 lead. Delaware would hold that lead for the remainder of the game and notch a 3-1 win over the Nittany Lions.
"We did a lot of good early on, but we got away from our game plan late," said Morett-Curtiss. "Their defense was very good, we were on attack throughout the game but could not get any shots off and that cost us in the second half."
Delaware posted a 15-3 lead in shots and had seven corners to Penn State's two. Barraco ended the contest with six saves while Rhodes had two for Delaware.
The Nittany Lions are now 0-3 while Delaware moves to 4-0. Penn State will host Old Dominion on Friday, Sept. 13, at 6 p.m. in its home opener and then trek to No. 5 Princeton on Sunday, Sept. 15, for a 12 p.m. game.
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 FINAL
#9 PENN STATE (0-3) 1 0 0 0 1
#16 Delaware (4-0) 0 1 1 1 3
STATS: PSU UD
Shots 3 15
Corners 2 7
SCORING SUMMARY (goal/assist) -- TIME
1st: PSU – Paityn Wirth (unassisted), 9:37
2nd: UD – Lotte de Koning (Ally Pollak, Grace Hoepfner), 28:09
3rd: UD – Femke Strien (Emily Kresho, Bo van Hunnik), 36:00
4th: UD – Ally Pollack (unassisted), 52:47
GOALKEEPERS: MIN GA S
PSU: Brie Barraco 60:00 3 6
UD: Sydney Rhodes 60:00 1 2
