UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.; November 5, 2021 – The Penn State Nittany Lion field hockey team (14-5), ranked No. 7 in the NFHCA Coaches Poll, dropped a hard-fought game at No. 3 Rutgers (17-3) in the semifinals of the 2021 Big Ten Tournament, hosted by Rutgers University. Head coach Char Morett-Curtiss' squad lost 2-1 to the homestanding Scarlet Knights in Piscataway, N.J. Penn State will now await word of an NCAA bid, announced Sunday night.
The first period began with a high pace with each team moving the ball through the midfield into the other's zone. Sophia Gladieux (Boyertown, Pa.) and Mackenzie Allessie (Mount Joy, Pa.) worked the ball into the Rutgers circle at the 13:00 mark but the Scarlet Knight defense held early. Jemma Punch (McDowall, Australia) continued to press the ball into the Scarlet circle, forcing the game's first penalty corner at the 10:16 mark. Anna Simon's (Hanau, Germany) hard shot off the corner set was blocked off the corner set. Rutgers answered, however. The Knights moved the ball quickly into Penn State's circle. Brie Barraco (Allentown, Pa.) knocked away the first Knight shot, but Bridy Molyneaux knocked the rebound in at the 8:32 mark to give RU a 1-0 lead. Penn State, with Meghan Reese (Coopersburg, Pa.) and Grace Wallis (Blue Bell, Pa.) on attack, shifted action to the RU zone over the next five minutes. The Rutgers defense denied Penn State's offense any clear looks at the cage as the clock moved below the 3:00 mark. Bree Bednarski (Wyoming, Pa.) stole an RU pass at the 2:00 mark and hit Gladieux in front of the cage. The Lion sophomore's shot was blocked by Rutgers keeper Gianna Glatz and the Nittany Lions trailed 1-0 after one.
Penn State quickly worked the ball into the Rutgers circle to start the second period. Both Punch and Simon had crossing passes defended in the first couple minutes. While Rutgers was able to knock the ball back into the midfield, Penn State maintained possession as the clock hit 10:00. Brianna O'Donnell (Lansdale, Pa.) made another crossing pass at the 9:00 mark but the effort did not connect. Simon pressed the ball from the midfield into the circle as well, but RU's defense held. Penn State's pressure led to a penalty corner at the 5:57 mark. Simon's hard shot off the set was blocked, and the game continued with Rutgers on top by one. Rutgers picked up a corner less than a minute later, but Barraco made a save on the ensuing shot. A Bednarski to Allessie to Wallis burst nearly got by Glatz at the 2:50 mark but the effort missed just wide. Penn State had one last chance in the Rutgers circle as the first half ended but Simon's late pushed slid out of bounds and the Nittany Lions trailed 1-0 at the break.
Penn State outshot Rutgers 4-3 in the first half and had a 2-1 edge in corners. Both Barraco and Glatz had two saves each in the opening 30:00.
The Nittany Lions began the third period with Elena Vos (Grave, The Netherlands) intercepting a pass in the midfield and working the ball downfield. Gladieux rocketed off a hard backhand and Glatz was able to knock the shot ay in the opening minute. Penn State picked up a green card at the 11:16 mark and Rutgers had a player advantage. Emma Spisak (Boiling Springs, Pa.) made a great steal to the side of the Rutgers circle, helping to work the clock down and kill the penalty. Reese dove to keep the ball in bounds on a Lion break but Rutgers was able to regain possession in their own circle. Penn State, however, effectively killed the penalty and the game continued even strength with 9:00 left in the third period. Rutgers took advantage of a Penn State turnover to pick up a corner at the 6:36 mark. Barraco made an outstanding save on the ensuing Rutgers shot to keep the score 1-0 as the clock hit 5:45. Allessie made a great pass at the 3:45 mark but the deflection off the effort just missed. Rutgers worked the ball into the Penn State circle with 1:41 left in the period, forcing a corner after a Barraco save. The Knights connected on their corner effort with Kassidy Shetler scoring at the 1:40 mark to give Rutgers a 2-0 lead. Gladieux forced a penalty corner back in the Rutgers circle with :27 on the clock but the Knights were able to defend the effort and carry the two-goal lead into the fourth period.
Penn State took the opening possession and worked the ball into the Rutgers circle to start the fourth period but once again RU's defense was able to stifle the Penn State attack. Vos made a steal on a subsequent Rutgers press and led a fast break back down to the Knight side of the field. Rutgers' defense was able to keep Penn State from getting close to the cage and work the clock down under 10:00. Penn State continued to work the ball into the Rutgers circle. Simon moved the ball from right to left into the circle and fed Gladieux, who found the back of the cage with a hard backhand, cutting Rutgers lead to 2-1 with 8:50 left to play in the game. The Scarlet Knights were able to work over three minutes off the clock by moving the ball down into the Penn State circle. But Vos and the Lion defense regained possession and moved the ball downfield. The Lions had two chances on the possession, but each effort just missed. With just 1:12 left in the game, Gladieux forced a penalty corner as Penn State looked to tie the game. Gladieux's shot was knocked away by a Rutgers defender, Allessie's shot off the rebound was blocked, and the clock moved under 1:00. The corner effort was Penn State's last chance to tie the game and the Nittany Lions dropped a tough 2-1 game.
"I was really proud of how hard we played tonight, and how hard we fought for 60:00," said Morett-Curtiss. "We just have to be a little savvier on offense, to take advantage of the opportunities we get with better shots. While it's disappointing to lose a close game like this, we are very excited about how we are playing right now and all the positives we can take out of this weekend. We'll head back home and get ready to find out where we are going and who our next opponent is."
Penn State outshot Rutgers 9-6 over the course of the entire game and had a 5-3 edge in penalty corners. Both Barraco and Glatz had four saves.
Penn State is now 14-5 while Rutgers moves to 17-3. The Nittany Lions will now await word of a spot in the 2021 NCAA Field Hockey Championship tournament. The full field for the 2021 NCAA tournament will be announced on Sunday, Nov. 7, at 10 p.m. on NCAA.com.
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 1 1
Rutgers 1 0 1 0 2
STATS: PSU RU
Shots 9 6
Corners 5 3
SCORING SUMMARY (goal/assist) – TIME
1st: RU – Bridy Molyneaux (Katie Larmour); 8:32
3rd: RU – Kassidy Shetler (Redlingshoefer); 1:40
4th: PSU – Sophia Gladieux (unassisted); 8:50
GOALKEEPERS: MIN GA S
PSU: Brie Barraco 60:00 2 4
RU: Gianna Glatz 60:00 1 4