The Penn State Nittany Lion field hockey team (5-1, 1-0 B1G), ranked No. 6 in the NFHCA Coaches Poll, grabbed an important 2-1 win at No. 7 Michigan (3-3, 0-1 B1G) in the Big Ten opener for both teams. Penn State goalie Brie Barraco (Allentown, Pa.) collected 10 saves, including seven in the third period alone, to carry Penn State to victory.
The team battled evenly for the bulk of the first period. Michigan had the first legitimate shot of the game, with Abby Tamer forcing Barraco into a save at the 7:06 mark. Penn State, however, drew first blood in the game. The Nittany Lion offense worked the ball into the Michigan circle as the clock moved towards the 2:00 mark and Penn State forced the first penalty corner of the game. Mackenzie Allessie (Mount Joy, Pa.) sent the ball in to Sophia Gladieux (Boyertown, Pa.) who fed Meghan Reese (Center Valley, Pa.) for the goal at the 1:14 mark to give Penn State a 1-0 lead after one period.
After an even first five minutes in the second stanza, Michigan forced Barraco into another save and the forced its first penalty corner of the game shortly thereafter. The Wolverines tied the game up on the corner, with Lora Clarke scoring at the 12:58 mark to make the score 1-1. Ella Jennes (Aerdenhout, The Netherlands) had a shot on goal that Michigan keeper Anna Spieker made the save on and then Michigan worked the ball back to the Lion side of the field for another corner. But the Wolverine shot sailed wide and Penn State went on attack. The Nittany Lions took a 2-1 lead with just :29 left in the half when Gladieux scored unassisted to give Penn State a one-goal lead at halftime.
Michigan outshot Penn State 5-3 in the first half and had a 2-1 edge in penalty corners. Barraco had two saves for the Nittany Lions while Spieker had one for the Wolverines.
Michigan came out hot in the third period, nearly scoring on just 1:16 into the half. But Barraco notched the first of many third period saves as the Lion keeper kept Penn State in the lead against a barrage of Michigan corners and shots. Over the course of the third period, Michigan picked up five penalty corners and Barraco snared seven saves in a third period Wolverine barrage. Barraco's effort allowed the Nittany Lions to take a 2-1 lead into the final period.
Penn State tried to regain offensive momentum to start the fourth period with Allessie driving the ball downfield early in the final stanza. But the Lion drive ended out of bounds. Michigan moved the ball down to the Penn State circle and was awarded another penalty corner at the 11:00 mark but the Michigan shot was wide. Barraco made another great save on a driving Michigan shot with 10:00 on the clock, allowing the Nittany Lions to maintain their one-goal lead. Michigan continued to pressure Penn State but the Lion defense, with Barraco in the cage, held firm against Michigan's pressure. The Wolverines pulled their goalie with just under 5:00 left in the game. Penn State's defense pushed back against the Wolverine player advantage and killed the final 5:00 on the clock and Penn State walked away with a hard fought 2-1 win.
"There is one word that describes this game from my perspective and that is grit," said head coach Char Morett-Curtiss. "Our defense was strong, Brie Barraco was outstanding and the team put on a really good stall at the end of the game when they pulled their goalie. I would like to see us generate more attack opportunities on offense, certainly, but getting a road win in this conference is difficult and we did the things we needed to do to win."
Michigan outshot Penn State 23-3 in the game and had a 10-1 lead in corners. But Barraco carried the day for Penn State, grabbing 10 saves to only one for Michigan's Spieker.
Penn State is now 5-1 overall, 1-0 in the Big Ten, while Michigan falls to 3-3, 0-1 B1G. Penn State will remain in Ann Arbor to face Cornell on Saturday, Sept. 17, in a neutral site non-conference contest at 3 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 1 1 0 0 2
Michigan 0 1 0 0 1
STATS: PSU UM
Shots 3 23
Corners 1 10
SCORING SUMMARY (goal/assist) – TIME
1st: PSU – Meghan Reese (Sophia Gladieux); 1:06
2nd: UM – Lora Clarke (unassisted); 12:58
2nd: PSU --- Sophia Gladieux (unassisted): 0:29
GOALKEEPERS: MIN GA S
PSU: Brie Barraco 60:00 1 10
UM: Anna Spieker 55:38 2 1
Team 4:22 0 0