UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.; September 24, 2021 – The Penn State Nittany Lion field hockey team (6-2, 1-1 B1G), ranked No. 6 in the NFHCA Coaches Poll, lost a non-conference game at No. 2 Iowa (10-0, 2-0 B1G) in Iowa City. Penn State fell 4-0 in the last of two games in Iowa City this weekend (this game does not count in the conference standings.
Iowa took an early 1-0 lead, with Ellie Holley scoring from the left side of the Lion circle. Holley's shot moved by Penn State's defense, with a late defensive save effort just missing. Iowa took the 1-0 lead at the 12:00 mark. Five minutes later, the Nittany Lions worked the ball down to the Iowa circle with Sophia Gladieux (Boyertown, Pa.) moving possession towards the Hawkeye cage. The momentum forced a penalty corner at the 6:28 mark for the Nittany Lions. The initial shot off the corner was defended and then Anna Simon (Hanau, Germany) had a solid shot knocked away by Iowa keeper Grace McGuire. A second Nittany Loin corner with 5:00 left in the period was also defended by Iowa. Penn State continued to press the Hawkeye defense, forcing a third corner just two minutes later. But a Gladieux backhand was ruled too high. Iowa quickly moved the ball down into the Lion circle and Penn State keeper Brie Barraco (Allentown, Pa.) made a great save on a quick Iowa shot and the Lions trailed by one after one.
The second period began with the teams working the midfield, battling for control of the ball. Iowa's Maddy Murphy got off a point-blank shot that Barraco saved, but the Hawkeyes picked up a penalty corner off the ensuing scramble. Iowa connected on the corner, with Nikke Freeman scoring at the 11:23 mark to give the Hawkeyes a 2-0 lead. Penn State worked to answer the goal, with Mackenzie Allessie (Mount Joy, Pa.) moving the ball into the Hawkeye circle. But Iowa was able to defend the Penn State effort. Meghan Reese, Allessie and Bree Bednarski (Wyoming, Pa.) controlled the ball in the midfield, working the ball forward to Grace Wallis (Blue Bell, Pa.), but the leading pass sailed out of bounds with 7:00 on the clock. Iowa scored quickly after the Lion effort, with Holley scoring at the 6:48 mark to put the home team up 3-0. With under two minutes left, Barraco and the Lion defense withstood two close Hawkeye shots at the 1:40 mark. A late Jemma Punch (McDowall, Australia) shot slipped just wide of McGuire and the Iowa cage and Penn State trailed 3-0 at the break. Iowa outshot Penn State 7-4 in the first half. McGuire had a 2-1 lead in saves and Penn State owned a 3-1 edge in corners in the opening two quarters.
Gladieux nearly put the Nittany Lions on the board just over 2:00 into the third quarter. But an effort from the left side of the Hawkeye circle was defended by McGuire and Iowa held on to its 3-0 lead. The Nittany Lions controlled the ball for the next two minutes and continued to look for their first goal of the game. Iowa was able to steal the ball at the 10:20 mark and began a fast break down their left side. But Lion sophomore Kelsey Love (State College, Pa.) was able to steal the ball back and Penn State regained possession. The teams spent the last minutes of the third period trading possessions. The Nittany Lions had a late corner defended by Iowa and the score remained 3-0 after three.
Iowa began the fourth period by pressing the ball downfield and picking up a penalty corner. Barraco made a save on the first shot off the corner, but Iowa connected on the rebound, getting an Anthe Nijziel goal off the rebound at the 13:36 mark to give the Hawkeyes a 4-0 lead. Minutes later, Barraco made a great save on a Zellner shot with 11:00 to play to keep the home team from getting another goal. Penn State controlled the time of possession over the next ten minutes but could not find the back of the cage as Iowa's defense bent but did not break. The Hawkeyes went on to post the 4-0 win, notching its eighth-straight shutout in the process.
"Iowa has an outstanding team, they played great on defense and attacked us well," said head coach Char Morett-Curtiss. "We made a structural change at the half to get more people playing in the midfield and the girls adapted to that well and played better, so that's a positive. We just have to learn to do a better job defensively. There are a lot of positives to take out of playing a good team like Iowa twice in one weekend on the road and we'll learn from this."
The Hawkeyes worked up a 14-6 lead in shots during the game while Penn State had a 4-2 lead in penalty corners. Barraco ended the contest with five saves while McGuire had three in another shutout victory.
Penn State is now 6-2 overall, 1-1 in the Big Ten. Iowa improves to 10-1, 2-0 B1G. Penn State hosts two games next weekend. The Nittany Lions welcome Indiana on Friday night, Oct. 1, at 6 p.m. and then host Northwestern on Sunday, Oct. 3, 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 0 0 0 0
Iowa 1 2 0 1 4
STATS: PSU IOWA
Shots 6 14
Corners 4 2
SCORING SUMMARY (goal/assist) – TIME
1st: IOWA – Ellie Holley (unassisted); 12:00
2nd: IOWA – Nikki Freeman (Anthe Nijziel); 11:23
2nd: IOWA – Holley (Lokke Stribos); 6:48
4th: IOWA – Anthe Nijziel (unassisted); 13:36
GOALKEEPERS: MIN GA S
PSU: Brie Barraco 60:00 4 5
IOWA: Grace McGuire 60:00 0 3