UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The Penn State Nittany Lion field hockey team (2-3, 2-1 B1G) lost a hard-fought 3-2 game to visiting Maryland (3-3, 2-2 B1G) in the series finale between the two teams. Head coach Char Morett-Curtiss' team fought back from an early two-goal deficit but a late goal by the Terrapins led the visitors to the win.
In instances where teams are schedule to play each other twice during this year's Big Ten season, only the first game between the two squads is considered for the Big Ten regular season standings. Given that, today's game counts only in overall standings, not the conference ledger.
Maryland came out and took control of the first period, scoring two goals in the opening six minutes. The Terrapin offense moved the ball down the field and pressed the Penn State defense from the onset, taking a 1-0 lead on a Bibi Donraadt goal at the 11:13 mark. Penn State keeper Brie Barraco (Allentown, Pa.) kept Penn State close as Maryland continued to push, knocking back two shots before the Terrapins scored again with 9:10 on the clock. Emma DeBerdine's goal put Maryland up 2-0.
Penn State regrouped however and dominated the second period. After playing even hockey to close out the first period, Penn State got on the board five-plus minutes in to the second stanza. After forcing a penalty corner, Anna Simon (Hanau, Germany) cut the Maryland lead to 2-1 off the corner, with assists from Bree Bednarski (Wyoming, Pa.) and Elena Vos (Grave, The Netherlands). The first Lion goal came with 9:29 left in the half. Penn State controlled the action for the bulk of the second period and tied the game at 2-2 with just 2:57 left in the period. Bednarski gathered a loose ball on the side of the Terrapin circle and deftly knocked the ball past Maryland keeper Noelle Frost to tie the game at 2-2 with the unassisted goal
Penn State outshout Maryland 12-5 in the first half, including an 8-1 margin in the second period. The Nittany Lions had five corners in the opening half, all in the second period. Barraco had three saves for Penn State while Frost had six for the Terrapins.
The Nittany Lions came out in the third period and controlled the tempo but could not get a shot past Frost. Penn State took six shots in the period to only one for Maryland and had two penalty corners. But Frost collected three saves to keep the game tied heading to the final period.
Maryland had the edge in the final stanza. The Terrapin defense kept the Penn State offense at bay, allowing only one total shot. The period was a back-and-forth affair as each team was unable to dent the other's defense. Late in the game, Maryland's Donraadt scored the contest's decisive goal, working the ball past Penn State defenders and Barraco to give the Terrapins a 3-2 lead with just 1:155 left to play. The Lions rallied on offense and kept the ball in the Maryland circle for the final two minutes but could not get off a clear shot to tie the game.
Penn State outshot Maryland 19-10 over the course of the game and had eight penalty corners to just one for the visitors. Barraco had six saves for Penn State while Frost had nine for Maryland.
"Maryland came out more aggressive than us and it cost us early," said Morett-Curtiss. "I felt we did a good job of regrouping and fighting back to tie the game and we had chances in the second half to win it. I am pleased with the progress I saw out off the team this weekend, we improved from last weekend and that is something we can build on."
Penn State is now 2-3 overall, 2-1 the conference standings. Maryland is 3-3, 2-2. Penn State visits Michigan State next weekend for two games. The Nittany Lions and Spartans battle on Friday, March 19, at 3 p.m. and again on Sunday, March 21, 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 2 0 0 2
Maryland 2 0 0 1 3
STATS: PSU MD
Shots 19 10
Corners 8 1
SCORING SUMMARY (goal/assist) – TIME
1st: MD -- Bibi Donraadt (Maura Verieg); 12:23
1st: MD -- Emma DeBerdine (Mayv Clune); 9:10
2nd: PSU – Anna Simon (Bree Bednarski, Elena Vos); 9:19
2nd: PSU – Bednarski (unassisted); 2:57
4th: MD – Donraadt (DeBerdine); 1:55
GOALKEEPERS: MIN GA S
PSU: Brie Barraco 60:00 3 6
MD: Noelle Frost 60:00 2 9
