UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The Penn State Nittany Lion field hockey team (1-0, 0-0 B1G) opened up the 2021 fall season with a thrilling 3-2 overtime win at No. 8 Virginia (0-1) on Friday afternoon. Goalie Brie Barraco (Allentown, Pa.) was outstanding in the cage, fending off 25 total shots and collecting nine saves while Jemma Punch (McDowall, Australia) scored the game winner in extra time to clinch the win.
Penn State got on the scoreboard first in the season's opening game. Midway through the first period, Penn State's offensive pressure led to a penalty corner that ended in a 1-0 Penn State lead. New Nittany Lion Mackenzie Allessie assisted on the corner, setting up Lion captain Anna Simon (Hanau, Germany) for the goal, giving Penn State a 1-0 lead at the 7:03 mark. Penn State's defense, anchored by Meghan Reese (Coopersburg, Pa.) and goalie Brie Barraco (Allentown, Pa.) kept the Cavaliers at length for the opening stanza and Penn State led 1-0 after one.
The Nittany Lions continued to hold the lead deep into the second period, but the Cavalier defense stiffened, and Penn State led 1-0 late into the period. Virginia's offense began to break through as the clock moved below the 10:00 mark, forcing a number of penalty corners down the stretch. The home team got on the board for the first time when Amber Ezechiels scored off a penalty corner with 2:39 left in the half, assisted by Meghen Hengerer. The goal tied the game and the 1-1 score held to intermission.
Virginia outshot Penn State 12-1 in the first half, six in each period. Penn State keeper Barraco notched three saves, all in the first period. Virginia's Lauren Hausheer had none. Virginia had five penalty corners to one for the Nittany Lions.
Virginia's offense kept the pressure on Penn State for the bulk of the third quarter. Virginia dominated the period on offense, but Barraco held firm in the cage and Penn State maintained it's 1-1 deadlock deep into the stanza. The Nittany Lions took a 2-1 lead with just 0:24 left on the clock when Sophia Gladieux (Boyertown, Pa.) scored off an assist from senior Hannah Zemaitis (Camp Hill, Pa.) with less than thirty seconds to play, allowing Penn State to lead 2-1 after three periods. Barraco had three saves in the period.
Penn State saw its one-goal lead disappear early in the final period. Virginia tied the game with 10:08 left to play when Adele Iacobucci scored off a deflection and an Ezechiels assist. The goal came off a penalty corner to knot the game at 2-2. The teams traded possessions for the next few minutes and Barraco kept the game tied with a nice save off an Ezechiels shot with under 7:00 to play. Penn State had a late chance to grab the lead, forcing a penalty corner with just 1:32 left in regulation. But Hausheer notched the save on a Gladieux shot and the game moved to overtime.
Virginia began the first extra period fast, working the ball downfield and getting off a shot quickly. But Barraco's save off the Noa Tollaksen shot kept the game tied. Allessie followed for Penn State, getting off a quick shot just seconds later, but the effort was blocked as well. Penn State wrapped the game up, however, just 3:58 into extra time when Jemma Punch (McDowall, Australia) took a great pass from Emma Spisak (Boiling Springs, Pa.) who got the assist, and broke away down field. Elena Vos (Grave, The Netherlands) started the break that led to the final goal. Punch ended the game with a goal at the 6:02 mark of overtime to give Penn State a 3-2 victory.
"This is a very nice win for us," said head coach Char Morett-Curtiss. "Virginia is a very talented team and they pressured our defense throughout the game. But the defense hung in there, Brie made some great saves and we scored off some very nice offensive plays. While there are definitely some things we have to work on, getting a good win against a good team on their field is very important. Tomorrow's practice will be all about the film as we get ready for a tough game at William and Mary on Sunday."
Virginia outshot Penn State 25-8 but the Nittany Lions scored on three of their eight shots while Barraco collected nine saves for Penn State. Hausheer had two saves for Virginia. The Cavaliers had an 11-3 edge in penalty corners as well.
Penn State is now 1-0 overall, 0-0 in the Big Ten. Virginia falls to 0-1. The Nittany Lions remain in Virginia for a second road game to open the season. Penn State is at William and Mary on Sunday, Aug. 29, for an 11 a.m. game. Penn State's first home game is next weekend when it welcomes St. Joseph's to the Penn State Field Hockey Complex on Sunday, Sept. 5, at 3 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 OT1 FINAL
PENN STATE 1 0 1 0 1 3
Virginia 0 1 0 1 0 2
STATS: PSU UVA
Shots 8 25
Corners 3 11
SCORING SUMMARY (goal/assist) – TIME
1st: PSU – Anna Simon (Mackenzie Allessie); 7:03
2nd: UVA – Amber Ezechiels (Meghen Hengerer, Annie McDonough); 2:39
3rd: PSU – Sophia Gladieux (Hannah Zemaitis); 0:24
4th: UVA – Adele Iacobucci (Ezechiels); 10:08
OT: PSU – Jemma Punch (Emma Spisak); 6:02
GOALKEEPERS: MIN GA S
PSU: Brie Barraco 63:58 2 9
UVA: Lauren Hausheer 63:58 3 2