UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The Penn State Nittany Lion field hockey team (2-8, 1-1 B1G) came up short in a tough battle at No. 6 Louisville (10-1) in a non-conference game on Sunday. The Cardinals opened up an early lead and were able to notch a 3-0 win in Kentucky.
The first few minutes of the game featured each team trading possessions early on. Penn State had an early penalty corner about seven minutes into the contest but Louisville was able to defend the effort and the game continued into the latter part of the opening period tied 0-0. The Cardinal pushed the ball downfield and took a 1-0 lead late in the period, getting an Erica Cooper goal at the with just over 3:00 to play. The Cardinals took that lead into the second stanza.
Louisville maintained its one goal lead well into the second period with Penn State's defense holding off Louisville's efforts to up its lead. The Lions were not able to break through the Cardinals' defense and Louisville was able to get back on the scoreboard when Mercedes Pastor scored unassisted with just under 5:00 left in the second period. Louisville carried that lead into the halftime break.
Penn State had four shots in the opening half while Louisville had seven. The Lions had two penalty corners while the host team had three. Penn State goalie Brie Barraco (Allentown, Pa.) had one save while Louisville keeper Hollyn Barr had two.
Louisville garnered possession early in the third period and got off an early shot, but Barraco was strong with the save to keep the game at 2-0. Penn State had a chance to get on the board after a Louisville green card but could not find the back of the Cardinal's goal. Louisville responded with possession and a flurry of shots but Barraco was able to knock them back to keep Penn State in the game as the third period wound down.
The teams traded shots in the opening minutes of the final period. Penn State nearly got on the board with a penalty corner 2:30 into the period, but Barr was made a nice save on a solid Anna Simon (Hanau, Germany) shot to keep the Lions scoreless. The Cardinals were able to break through the Lion defense late in the fourth period, taking a 3-0 lead on a goal from Biz Allgeier at the 54:09 mark. Louisville would kill the final minutes of the game to post the 3-0 win.
"We had some good moments off high quality hockey against a very good Louisville team," said head coach Char Morett-Curtiss. "We fought back in the second half as well. But we have to better setting up our offense. We need to be better from the 25 to the circle and from the circle to the cage. We had opportunities but could not turn them into good shots."
Louisville outshot Penn State 15-10 and had a 6-3 edge in penalty corners. Barraco ended the game with six saves while Barr had five for Louisville.
The Nittany Lions are now 2-8 overall, 1-1 in the Big Ten, while the Cardinals improve to 10-1. The Nittany Lions return home for a Big Ten homestand next weekend. Penn State is back in action on Friday, Nov. 11, when the team hosts Northwestern at 6 p.m. in a Big Ten battle at the Penn State Field Hockey Complex. The Lions then host Iowa on Sunday, Nov. 13, at 12 p.m.
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 0 0 0 0 0
Louisville 1 1 0 1 1
STATS: PSU LOU
Shots 10 15
Corners 3 6
SCORING SUMMARY (goal/assist) – TIME
1st: LOU – Erica Cooper (Mercedes Pastor), 11:38
2nd: LOU – Pastor (unassisted), 25:19
4th: LOU – Biz Allgeier (Bethany Russ), 54:09
GOALKEEPERS: MIN GA S
PSU: Brie Barraco 60:00 3 6
LOU: Hollyn Barr 60:00 0 5
