PISCATAWAY, N.J. – A slow second half proved to be the Nittany Lions' undoing as Penn State fell 18-13 at No. 14 Rutgers on Saturday afternoon.
PSU went toe-to-toe with the nationally ranked Scarlet Knights in the first half, repeatedly erasing deficits to enter the half down by a score, 10-9. Freshman Brooke Hoss netted a hat-trick herself in the first period alone, while sophomores Kristin O'Neill and Gretchen Gilmore racked up two goals and two assists each.
However, the Nittany Lions could not keep up the momentum as RU out-scored PSU 8-4 in the second half. Despite the difference, Penn State kept battling to tally their most goals in a conference game this season.
O'Neill and Gilmore also finished with hat-tricks. O'Neill tied her career and season-high point total with six points on three goals and three assists. Gilmore's five points on three goals and two assists is a career-high for the sophomore.
The loss drops PSU to 6-8, 0-5 B1G, while RU moves to 12-3, 3-2 B1G.
BOX SCORE BREAKDOWN
- O'Neill's hat-trick is her third in a row. She has 12 multi-goal games this season and leads the Lions with 36 total goals.
- Gilmore's five points bests her previous high of three which she has set twice in her career. The RU game is the first time she has made multiple assists.
- Hoss earned her third hat-trick of the season.
- 31 of 41 Penn State shots were on goal. PSU out-shot RU 41 to 25, but the Scarlet Knights were more efficient.
- PSU made only four saves to RU's 18.
- RU turned the ball over 16 times to PSU's eight.
- PSU was 17-18 on clears while RU was 18-20.
- Penn State won 18 draw controls to Rutgers' 16.
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Quarter – PSU 5, RU 5
PSU struck first, getting on the board at 13:52 on a free-position shot by O'Neill. RU would score three-straight before Hoss scored back-to-back goals within 41 seconds of each other. RU took their second multi-goal lead with back-to-back goals themselves. With 50 seconds remaining, Hoss netted her third hat-trick of the season in the first period alone. RU missed a shot on their final possession of the quarter as PSU had under 20 seconds to clear the ball. Dodging through traffic at mid-field, O'Neill delivered the ball inside to Gilmore who found the back of the net on the buzzer beater to tie RU at five.
Second Quarter – PSU 9, RU 10
The Scarlet Knights scored the first two goals out of the break. Mary Muldoon would put PSU back within a score on a feed by Gilmore. RU then scored another two for their largest lead of the half, 9-6. Gilmore capitalized on a RU mistake, scoring her second goal of the day. The Scarlet Knights scored again to gain back their three-goal lead. Ashley Bowan made a big save and on the clear and RU received a yellow card for slashing. A woman-up, PSU was fouled, and Gilmore kicked back the free-position to O'Neill who successfully fired down the middle. The following possession Gilmore was fouled on a free-position and received another chance. Gilmore shot, and Regan Nealon picked up the deflection and delivered to Sydney Wolfington who scored putting PSU within one heading into the break.
Third Quarter – PSU 10, RU 14
RU came out of the half strong, scoring three in a row for their largest lead. At 3:42, Kayla Abernathy made a cutting move and snuck a shot inside to put PSU into double digits but down 10-13. With under two minutes to go, RU made a free-position goal.
Fourth Quarter – PSU 13, RU 18
Rutgers scored the first goal of the period on a free-position attempt for a five-goal lead. The next score would be from PSU as Gilmore netted herself a hat-trick. RU kept rolling scoring the next three in succession, 18-11. The Nittany Lions netted the final two goals of the game on scores from O'Neill and Lauren Saltz.
UP NEXT
Penn State finishes out the regular season by hosting Johns Hopkins on Thursday, April 28. First draw is scheduled for 6 p.m. and will be broadcast live on the Big Ten Network.