UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.; November 10, 2019 – The Penn State Nittany Lion field hockey team (8-12) dropped a tough overtime thriller to second-seeded Iowa (16-4) in the title game of the 2019 Big Ten Field Hockey Tournament. Penn State battled the Hawkeyes through four scoreless quarters before falling in a tough 1-0 overtime game, seeing the young squad's stellar tourney run end as Big Ten Tournament runner-up.
The two teams traded barbs in the opening period with neither squad controlling momentum early. Iowa had the game's first corner while the Nittany Lions had a corner later in the period. Each team defended the early efforts. The Nittany Lions worked the ball down to Iowa's circle late in the period but Iowa goalie Leslie Speight was able to withstand Penn State's efforts. Nittany Lion goalie Brie Barraco (Allentown, Pa.) also had a save in the opening period to continue her hot streak in goal for Penn State.
Penn State worked to set the tempo to start the second period and outshot Iowa 4-0 in the second stanza. Speight stopped each effort to keep the game knotted at 0-0. The Nittany Lions had two corners in the second period, including a late one that nearly connected but sailed just wide of the Iowa cage. With Penn State controlling the second period, the game moved to halftime tied 0-0.
Penn State outshot Iowa 6-2 in the first half. Speight had five saves to keep the Nittany Lions off the board while Barraco had one for Penn State. Penn State had a 3-1 advantage in corners as well while Iowa had the first half's only two green cards.
Iowa came out in the third period and tried to take momentum in hand, including a penalty corner at the 10:43 mark. But Barraco and the Lion defense, anchored by Anna Simon (Hanau, Germany) and Madison Hutson (Gloucester Point, Va.), kept Iowa from scoring. The Lions also withstood a green card with just under 9:00 to play in the period as well. The Nittany Lion offense, with Madison Morano (Hammonton, N.J.) and Abby Myers (Hartland, Wis.) looking to push the ball down to the Iowa circle, worked to reset the tempo in Penn State's favor. The Lions forced Iowa into a green card at the 4:30 mark but the Hawkeyes were able to kill the advantage and action moved below the 4:00 mark. The Nittany Lions gave up a yellow card as the third period ended, still knotted in a scoreless tie.
With Iowa hold a card edge to start the first, Penn State went to work killing the advantage. Iowa was able to pick up a corner at the 11:10 mark but the Lions once again kept Iowa in check and the game continued in a scoreless tie. The teams traded possessions as the clock wound down to the 9:00 mark with the game still tied 0-0. Iowa was able to get off two shots in the fourth period but Barraco made a save on one and the other sailed wide, extending the game into overtime tied 0-0.
With the conference title in the balance, Iowa was able to notch the win when Maddy Murphy knocked in a goal off a scramble in front of the Lion cage just 0:23 into extra time. The goal, with an assist from Leah Zellner, gave the Hawkeyes the 1-0 win and the Big Ten Tournament title.
Penn State outshot Iowa 6-5 in the game but the Hawkeyes had the only shots from the third period on. Barraco had two saves for the Nittany Lions while Speight had five for the Hawkeyes. Each team had three penalty corners.
"Our best hockey was this weekend and I'm very proud of how the team competed," said head coach Char Morett-Curtiss. "We had some great momentum going into the tournament and continued it throughout the tournament. I thought our leadership was great on the field, Maddie Morano and Madison Hutson really put the team on their backs at different times. Anna Simon played well, Abby Myers played well and Brie Barraco had a great weekend as well. This team played so well together. It made me proud to see them grow together as a team and perform so well."
Morano and Myers were honored on the 2019 Big Ten All-Tournament Team for their efforts throughout the weekend. The Nittany Lions fall to 8-12 with the loss and end the tournament as the 2019 Big Ten Tournament Runner-Up. Iowa improves to 16-4 with the victory.
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 OT FINAL
PENN STATE 0 0 0 0 0 0
Iowa 0 0 0 0 1 1
STATS: PSU IOWA
Shots 6 5
Corners 3 3
SCORING SUMMARY (goal/assist) – TIME
OT: Iowa – Maddy Murphy (Leah Zellner), 60:23
GOALKEEPERS: MIN GA S
PSU: Brie Barraco 60:23 1 2
IOWA: Leslie Speight 60:23 0 5
