UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The Penn State Nittany Lion field hockey team (2-7, 1-1 B1G) dominated homestanding Indiana (4-6, 1-3 B1G) in a Big Ten road game Friday afternoon for its first conference win of the season. Sophomore Anna Simon (Hanau, Germany) had two goals and an assist in Penn State's 3-1 win in Bloomington.
After the teams traded early possessions, Penn State made a rush on the Indiana goal that resulted in a penalty corner less than three minutes into the game. Hoosier goalie Sachi Ananias pushed away a strong Simon shot to keep the game scoreless early. Penn State maintained control in the Indiana circle but could not find the goal. Penn State's pressure paid off, however, as Simon found the back of the cage for the game's first goal at the 8:19 mark to put Penn State up 1-0. Simon's goal came off a penalty corner from Alexis Horst (Port Trevorton, Pa.). Penn State keeper Brie Barraco (Allentown, Pa.) was strong on a late Indiana corner to keep the Hoosiers off the scoreboard. Penn State's offense controlled the ball for the bulk of the first period and the Lions carried a 1-0 lead into the second period.
The Nittany Lions had an early chance in the second period to add to its lead but Hoosier keeper Ananias once again pushed the Penn State offense back to keep Indiana in the game. Penn State continued to attack Ananias as the second period hit its midway point, forcing the Hoosier into a number of saves. Simon then took a hard shot on a penalty corner from Grace Wallis (Blue Bell, Pa.). Junior Emma Spisak (Boiling Springs, Pa.) tipped the ball in for the goal, with Simon getting the assist, to put the Lions up 2-0 midway through the second period. Penn State had a late penalty corner to add to its lead but the Hoosier defense held firm to keep the score 2-0 as the clock moved below the 2:00 mark. Penn State had two more corners as the half ended, Indiana was able to defend them, and the Lions led by two at intermission.
Penn State outshot Indiana 13-2 in the first half and had seven corners to just one for the Hoosiers. Barraco did not face a shot on goal while Ananias had seven saves to keep the game close in the first 30:00.
Barraco made a nice save on an early Indiana shot, keeping Penn State up by two as the second half got underway. The Lion midfield, anchored by senior Madison Morano (Hammonton, N.J.) and junior Abby Myers (Hartland, Wis.) continued to dominate the game, giving Penn State possession once again as the Nittany Lions forced the ball down to the Indiana circle. Penn State connected on another penalty corner with Simon scoring her third goal off the game, again with an assist from Wallis with just under 6:00 to play in the third period. Penn State continued to pile on the penalty corners but Ananias pushed back two strong Simon shots to keep the score at 3-0 in Penn State's favor.
The Nittany Lions had an open cage as the fourth period began but the Hoosier defense pushed the ball aside. Indiana then drove the ball downfield and got on the board with Hailey Couch scoring less than two minutes into the fourth period to cut the Lion lead to 3-1. The Nittany Lions responded with more pressure on offense, tacking on a handful of penalty corners over the next six minutes. While Ananias was able to hold Penn State off and the clock moved under the 6:00 mark with Penn State holding a two-goal lead. The Nittany Lions held on to that lead for the remainder of the game to post the 3-1 victory.
"I was very pleased with our overall passing today," said head coach Char Morett-Curtiss. "We controlled possession much better than we have in prior games and it paid off. Maddie (Morano), Anna (Simon) and Emma Spisak were very good today and Bree Bednarski played a really good game off the bench for us."
Penn State posted a lopsided 22-5 advantage in shots and has 14 penalty corners to just one for Indiana. Lion keeper Barraco had one save while Ananias kept IU close with 12.
The Nittany Lions are now 2-7, 1-1 B1G, while Indiana falls to 4-6, 1-3 B1G. Penn State visits Louisville on Sunday, Oct. 6, for a 12 p.m. non-conference game. The Nittany Lions' next home contest is set for Friday, Nov. 11, when the team hosts Northwestern at 6 p.m. in a Big Ten battle 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 FINAL
PENN STATE 1 1 1 0 3
Indiana 0 0 0 1 1
STATS: PSU IU
Shots 22 5
Corners 14 1
SCORING SUMMARY (goal/assist) – TIME
1st: PSU – Anna Simon (Alexis Horst), 8:19
2nd: PSU – Emma Spisak (Simon), 22:12
3rd: PSU – Simon (Grace Wallis), 38:39
4th: IND – Hailey Couch (Jessica Morford), 46:33
GOALKEEPERS: MIN GA S
PSU: Brie Barraco 60:00 1 1
IND: Sachi Ananias 60:00 3 12
