UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The Penn State Nittany Lion field hockey team (4-0, 0-0 B1G), ranked No. 9 in the NFHCA Coaches Poll, used two first half corners and a fourth quarter goal to down visiting Albany (2-2) in a non-conference game at the Penn State Field Hockey Complex. Penn State took down the Great Danes 3-1 at the Penn State Field Hockey Complex.
The two teams battled evenly for nearly the entire first period. Penn State's offense was met with a stingy Albany defense that withstood an early Nittany Lion penalty corner effort. The Nittany Lions were able to get on the board late, however, converting on the team's second corner of the period. Anna Simon (Hanau, Germany) knocked in a blistering shot from atop the circle, taking assists from Mackenzie Allessie (Mount Joy, Pa.) and stopper Elena Vos (Hanau, Germany). The goal came with just :13 left in the period and gave Penn State a 1-0 lead.
The second period was similar in form to the first but both offenses began to get on track. Albany had three shots in the period, forcing Penn State keeper Brie Barraco (Allentown, Pa.) into her first save of the game. The Nittany Lions also had three shots, with Albany keeper Lara Behn getting her first save as well. But like the first period, the Penn State penalty corner offense proved too much for the Danes. Simon scored once more, again off assists from Allessie and Vos. The goal came at the 6:51 mark off the second period. The Nittany Lions would carry the 2-0 lead into halftime.
Penn State outshot Albany 4-3 in the half and had a 5-0 edge in penalty corners. Barraco and Behn each had one save.
The third period was a defensive battle with each team managing only one shot. The Nittany Lions faced more pressure in and around their circle than the first half, but only allowed the one shot. The Great Danes, however, made that one shot count. Midway through the third, Albany worked the ball into the Nittany Lion circle and forced the team's first penalty corner. The Danes made it count, getting a goal from Floor de Ruiter off assists from Alison Smisdom and Blanca Orsola. The goal was the only of the period and Penn State led by just one, 2-1, heading into the fourth.
Penn State picked up its offensive pressure in the final period and the Nittany Lion defense held Albany to no shots. While pitching a shutout defensively over the final 15:00, Allessie iced the game with just 4:50 left to play, scoring from the middle of the circle for her first goal as a Nittany Lion. Kelsey Love (State College, Pa.) fed the ball in from the right side to Meghan Reese (Coopersburg, Pa.), who made a nifty tip pass to Allessie. Love and Reese tallied assists on the play.
"I thought Albany played very well and pressured us throughout the game," head coach Char Morett-Curtiss. "We did not have consistently good fundamentals and that cost us. But we kept pressing Albany and created enough corner chances and offense to get a good win against a good team."
The Nittany Lions outshout Albany 7-4 and owned a 6-1 edge in penalty corners. Barraco had one save in the contest while Behn had three for Albany.
Penn State is now 4-0 overall, 0-0 in the Big Ten. Albany falls to 2-3. Penn State hosts Delaware on Sunday, Sept. 12, at 12 p.m. in its next game.
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 1 0 1 3
Albany 0 0 1 0 1
STATS: PSU UA
Shots 7 4
Corners 6 1
SCORING SUMMARY (goal/assist) – TIME
1st: PSU – Anna Simon (Mackenzie Allessie, Elena Vos); 0:13
2nd: PSU – Simon (Allessie, Vos); 6:51
3rd: UA – Floor de Ruiter (Alison Smisdom, Blanca Orsola); 6:54
4th: PSU – Allessie (Kelsey Love, Meghan Reese); 4:50
GOALKEEPERS: MIN GA S
PSU: Brie Barraco 60:00 1 1
UA: Lara Behn 60:00 3 3
