UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.; November 3, 2019 – The Penn State Nittany Lion field hockey team (6-11, 4-4 B1G) took care of visiting Rutgers (10-7, 4-4 B1G) in the regular season finale for both teams Sunday. Abby Myers (Harland, Wis.) led the Lion offense in a 2-1 Big Ten victory on Senior Day for Penn State.
Penn State controlled the action early, keeping the ball down on the Rutgers side of the field for the first two minutes. Senior Madison Morano (Hammonton, N.J.) stole the ball after the Knights tried to move forward on a fast break and Penn State continued to press the Rutgers defense as the clock moved to the 11:00 mark. Abby Myers (Hartland, Wis.) had a fast break stopped by RU keeper Gianna Glatz and the game continued scoreless with 9:00 on the clock. Rutgers was able to gain possession with 7:00 left but Penn State's defense, anchored by Madison Hutson (Gloucester Point, Va.), held firm with 5:00 left in the opening period. With 2:49 left, Myers pushed the ball into the Rutgers circle and forced the first penalty corner of the game. Myers then knocked in a rebound after the initial corner to score unassisted at the 2:37 mark to give the Nittany Lions a 1-0 lead. Freshman Elena Vos (Grave, The Netherlands) blocked a late Rutgers shot and the Lions led by one after one period.
Penn State continued to dominant possession as the second period started. Alexis Horst (Port Trevorton, Pa.) had a close shot saved by Glatz that led to a second Lion corner. Glatz made a save on the Lion shot and Rutgers worked to move the ball down to Penn State's side of the field. Penn State's defense was able to keep the Knights from pushing possession into the circle and the game continued to the 9:00 mark with the Lions leading by one. Penn State continued to frustrate the Knight offense as the second period moved to the final 5:00 of the half. Rutgers made a brief appearance in the Penn State circle with 3:20 in the half, but Anna Simon (Hanau, Germany) and the Lion defense was able to stand firm. Rutgers was able to work the ball into the circle with 2:50 left and pick up its first corner of the opening half. Lion keeper Brie Barraco (Allentown, Pa.) made a nice save to keep Penn State on top.
Penn State outshot Rutgers 4-2 in the first half and had two corners to one for the Scarlet Knights. Barraco had one save for the Nittany Lions while Glatz had two for RU.
Rutgers came out looking to set a faster tempo and Penn State immediately got called for a green card. The Lion defense was able to kill off the card with Barraco making a diving save at the 11:20 mark after a scramble in the Lion circle. Rutgers continued to control possession as the clock moved below the 7:30 mark and the Knights picked up a corner with 7:20 on the clock. Penn State blocked the first corner, but RU got a second corner off the shot and Clayre Smith scored off a rebound to tie the game at the 7:05 mark. Penn State called for a review of the goal but the goal was confirmed and action moved on in the third period tied 1-1. Rutgers got hit with a green card with 3:30 to play in the period but was able to keep possession for the bulk of the penalty and the game moved to the fourth period tied 1-1.
Vos was able to stop an early fourth period Rutgers fast break and Penn State tried to regain control of possession as the clock moved to the 12:30 mark. Rutgers regained possession and pushed the ball down to the Lion side of the field. With the tie game hitting the 11:03 mark, Rutgers called for a review on a scramble in front of the Lion cage and won the review, getting a penalty corner. Barraco made a high save on the corner and the Nittany Lions regained possession. The teams traded possession as time ticked down below 6:00 to play. Rutgers' Tayla Parkes moved the ball into the Lion circle with 5:52 left, forcing a penalty corner. Barraco made a save on the first shot and a second Knight shot went wide. Penn State quickly pushed the ball down to the RU circle. Myers made a slick diving pass across the cage to freshman Jemma Punch (McDowall, Australia), who knocked in the goal with 4:28 to play, giving Penn State a 2-1 lead. A minute later, RU's Parkes had a shot hit the Lion post and Penn State continued to lead as the clock moved to the 2:00 mark. Penn State's defense was able to hold off a final Rutgers charge and the Nittany Lions grabbed an impressive 2-1 victory.
"This was a game of two halves," said head coach Char Morett-Curtiss. "We really did a good job of dominating the first half but Rutgers controlled the second half. Abby Myers first half goal was outstanding and her effort on the diving pass for Jemma's goal in the fourth was so clutch. It is nice to get a win on Senior Day. I just want to thank this group of seniors for all of their efforts. They mean so much to this program and this week they really did an outstanding job of getting their teammates ready to play and it paid off for us."
Rutgers outshot Penn State 11-6, including a 9-2 edge in the second half. The Knights had a 5-2 margin in corners as well. Barraco had five saves to help anchor the Lion defense while Glatz had two for the Scarlet Knights.
The Nittany Lions are now 6-11 overall, 4-4 in the Big Ten. Rutgers falls to 10-7, 4-4 in the Big Ten. Penn State will host the 2019 Big Ten Field Hockey Tournament next week at the Penn State Field Hockey Complex. The tournament begins with three games on Thursday (11 a.m., 2 p.m., 5 p.m.), the semifinals on Friday (4 p.m., 6:30 p.m.) and the championship game on Sunday (2 p.m.). Friday and Sunday's games air on the BTN (with the 6:30 semifinal airing on tape delay later that evening). Thursday's game stream live on BTN+.
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 0 0 1 2
Rutgers 0 0 1 0 1
STATS: PSU RU
Shots 6 11
Corners 2 5
SCORING SUMMARY (goal/assist) – TIME
1st: PSU – Abby Myers (unassisted), 12:23
3rd: RU – Clayre Smith (unassisted), 38:00
4th: PSU – Jemma Punch (Myers), 55:32
GOALKEEPERS: MIN GA S
PSU: Brie Barraco 60:00 1 5
RU: Gianna Glatz 59:04 2 2
Team 0:56 0 0
