UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.; September 18, 2021 – The Penn State Nittany Lion field hockey team (6-0, 1-0 B1G), ranked No. 8 in the NFHCA Coaches Poll, posted a thrilling overtime win over No. 7 Maryland (4-2, 0-1 B1G) to open up Big Ten play. Sophia Gladieux (Boyertown, Pa.) scored in extra time as Penn State won 3-2 in overtime in Maryland on Saturday afternoon.
Maryland controlled possession early in the first period, keeping the ball in or near the Penn State circle for the first five-plus minutes. Penn State goalie Brie Barraco (Allentown, Pa.) made a great save on her left side as the clock moved below the 10:00 mark to keep the Terrapins off the board early. Maryland continued to pressure the Lion defense and picked up its first penalty corner midway through the period. The Terrapins took advantage of the corner and took a 1-0 lead with 8:12 left in the period, with Julianna Tornetta finding the back of the cage for Maryland.
Penn State's offense began to get untracked in the last five minutes of the period, with Penn State forcing its first penalty corner with just under 5:00 on the clock. Maryland keeper Noelle Frost made a good save on a hard shot from Anna Simon (Hanau, Germany) off the corner set. Penn State continued to control possession as the period wound down, however. Gladieux took a hard back-hand from the left side of the Maryland cage that Frost knocked away. Nittany Lion Mackenzie Allessie (Mount Joy, Pa.) was there for the rebound, however, knocking in the unassisted goal at the 3:11 mark to tie the game. Barraco made another diving save on a late corner for Maryland and Elena Vos (Grave, The Netherlands) knocked away the rebound shot to send the game into the second period tied 1-1.
The Nittany Lion defense was tested early in the second, fending off a Maryland penalty corner to keep the game tied. Maryland took advantage of a Penn State turnover five minutes into the period to get the ball into the Lion circle. The Lion defense, with Vos and freshman Anouk Knuvers ('s-Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands) on alert, pushed the ball back out towards midfield. Barraco made a great kick save at the 9:00 mark to keep the game tied, Penn State briefly pushed the ball downfield, but Maryland was able to regain possession.
The teams traded possession in the midfield for the next couple minutes before the Nittany Lions forced a corner with 6:00 left in the half. Frost made a save on the first Lion corner, and then again on a subsequent one. Barraco made two saves on a Maryland flurry with under 5:00 left to keep Penn State in a 1-1 tie. Penn State moved the ball down field and Gladieux took over as the ball hit the Maryland circle. The Lion sophomore moved to the left of the Terrapin cage and launched a backhand rocket that zipped by Frost to put Penn State up 2-1 with 2:00 left in the half, a lead it would hold into intermission. Maryland outshot Penn State 9-5 and had a 5-3 lead in corners in the half. But Barraco's seven saves, to three for Frost, allowed Penn State to carry the one-goal lead into the break.
The third period began with Penn State owning possession early. The Maryland defense was able to withstand early presses by the Lion midfield but eventually, Penn State was able to work the ball into the Terrapin circle. Allessie took a long shot a midway into the period and Bree Bednarksi (Wyoming, Pa.) forced a corner on a rebound shot. Frost knocked away a hard Simon blast off the corner to keep the score 2-1 in Penn State's favor. Grace Wallis (Blue Bell, Pa.) moved the ball quickly into the circle a couple minutes later, fording another corner with 6:28 left in the third. The corner was denied by another Frost save but Penn State's offense remained in control and carried the one-goal lead into the final period.
Maryland forced an early corner in the fourth period, just :25 in. The Terrapins tied the game off the corner set with Nathalie Feichter scoring off the corner set-up with an assist from Riley Donnelly, tying the game at 2-2. The Nittany Lions responded by working the ball down to the Maryland circle and forcing a corner a couple minutes later. Simon's shot was blocked off the play, but Penn State quickly forced another corner. But a defensive save from Belle Bressler kept Penn State from retaking the lead and the clock moved down to the 11:00 mark. The teams traded possession for the bulk of the final 10:00 and the game moved into overtime.
The seven-on-seven overtime began with Penn State's Vos defending an early Maryland press and working the ball downfield to Gladieux. Gladieux forced a Maryland green card with a nifty move on the sideline. Jemma Punch (McDowall, Australia) forced penalty corner at the 8:15 mark in overtime but the Lions could not connect. Penn State maintained possession. Simon worked the ball to the top of the Maryland circle and fed Gladieux, who connected on another hard backhand, finding the back of the cage at the 6:49 mark. Gladieux's second goal of the game gave Penn State the thrilling 3-2 win.
"This game, I think, is a glimpse into what it's going to be like in the Big Ten this year. These games are going to be battles for 60:00 or more," said Penn State head coach Char Morett-Curtiss. "We showed some moments of panic at times in this game, and we talked afterwards about maintaining our composure, so I believe we can really learn some things coming out of this. Phia's (Gladieux) shot is so dangerous when it's on target and today she came up big twice; and Mack's (Allessie) goal to answer early one when Maryland took the lead was big. Getting a win on the road against one of the Big Ten's best teams is important. This conference is just so strong this year."
Maryland outshot Penn State 15-13 over the course of the game but Penn State owned an 8-6 edge in penalty corners. The Nittany Lion defense stiffened in the second half and Barraco ended the game with seven saves, all in the opening two periods. Frost also had seven for Maryland.
Penn State is now 6-0 overall, 1-0 in the Big Ten. Maryland falls to 4-2, 0-1 in the conference. Penn State treks to Iowa City, Iowa, for two games next weekend. The Nittany Lions battle the Hawkeyes on Friday, Sept. 24, at 7 p.m. Eastern (6 p.m. local) in a Big Ten conference road game. Two days later, the two teams battle on Sunday, Sept. 26, at 1 p.m. Eastern (12 p.m. local) in a non-conference road 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 OT FINAL
PENN STATE 1 1 0 0 1 3
Maryland 1 0 0 1 0 2
STATS: PSU MD
Shots 13 15
Corners 8 6
SCORING SUMMARY (goal/assist) – TIME
1st: MD – Julianna Tornetta (Maura Verleg, Bibi Donraadt); 8:12
1st: PSU – Mackenzie Allessie (unassisted); 3:11
2nd: PSU – Sophia Gladieux (unassisted); 2:00
4th: MD – Nathalie Fiechter (Riley Donnelly); 14:31
OT: PSU – Gladieux (Anna Simon); 6:49
GOALKEEPERS: MIN GA S
PSU: Brie Barraco 63:11 2 7
MD: Noelle Frost 63:11 3 7