UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The Penn State Nittany Lion field hockey team (11-2, 5-1 B1G), ranked No. 5 in the NFHCA Coaches Poll, defeated Lafayette (4-10) 2-1 in double overtime at the Penn State Field Hockey Complex. Sophia Gladieux scored in the second extra period to spark Penn State to the non-conference win.
Penn State took the opening possession right down field and worked the ball into the Leopard circle. The Nittany Lions maintained control of the ball and forced their first penalty corner at the 13:01 mark. Penn State connected on the play, with Anna Simon drilling a hard shot past LC goalie Emma Garvey at the 12:38 mark with assists from Mackenzie Allessie and Elena Vos. The Nittany Lions continued to dominate possession and picked up another corner at the 5:02 mark but Simon's shot just missed, hitting the right post, and a subsequent Elena Vos shot off the rebound was just wide. Penn State's third corner of the opening period came with 3:02 on the clock but the Lion shot off the play was high. Ella Jennes nearly scored with 1:20 on the clock but Garvey made a solid save on the effort and Penn State settled for a 1-0 lead after the opening period.
Penn State earned a quick penalty corner in the second period, but Garvey made a leg-save on the ensuing shot. Lafayette worked the ball down to the Penn State side of the field briefly, but Gery Schnarrs, Anouk Knuvers, Kelsey Love and the Lion defense immediately regained possession. But the Leopards continued to press Penn State and Molly McAndrew tied the game for LC, scoring on a break-away after a long pass worked its way through Penn State's defense. McAndrew's first shot was saved by Brie Barraco, but the Lafayette senior scored off the rebound at the 8:23 mark to tie the game. The teams traded possessions for the next six minutes as the clock worked its way down under 2:00. Penn State had a late shot sail wide and the two teams entered the halftime break tied 1-1.
Penn State outshot Lafayette 8-3 in the first half and had a 4-0 advantage in corners. Barraco had one save for Penn State and Garvey had two for Lafayette.
The third period began with a Lafayette green card for not taking the field on time. The Leopards were able to effectively kill the player advantage and the game resumed at equal strength with 13:00 on the clock. A second quick green card on Lafayette meant Penn State spent nearly the first 5:00 with a player edge. Penn State was able to force a corner with 12:16 on the clock. Simon's shot was blocked, and Meghan Reese's rebound effort slipped just wide of the cage. Penn State continued to pepper the Leopard cage with shots, but Garvey was able to withstand the barrage and the game remained tied 1-1 as the clock moved below the 10:00 mark. Lafayette was able to keep the ball in the Lion circle for the middle part of the period, but Penn State's defense kept them from getting off a shot as the clock hit 6:00. Allessie drove the ball down the endline at the 5:42 mark and forced a penalty corner for Penn State. But Garvey made a great save on Gladieux's shot to keep the game tied. Neither team pressured over the final minutes of the period and the game moved to the final stanza tied 1-1.
Penn State worked the ball down to the Lafayette circle in the opening minute of the fourth period, but the Leopards kept the Lions from threatening the cage. Lafayette returned the ball to the Penn State side of the field at the 11:00 mark but Penn State was able to regain possession. The teams traded midfield possession as the period hit the halfway point. Lafayette gained control of the ball and pressed the Lion zone with 6:45 left in the game but the Penn State defense held. Vos made a nice steal at midfield with 5:30 left to play and the Lions had a fast break opportunity. But the Penn State shot sailed high, and the game continued tied 1-1. Lafayette broke the ball the other way, but Love made a great defensive stop to give Penn State possession. With 4:00 left in the game, Lafayette regained possession and worked the ball into the Penn State circle. Penn State turned the Leopards away as the clock hit 3:00. Lafayette's Laine Delmotte took a late shot that was blocked in the final minute and the game moved to sudden victory tied 1-1.
Lafayette had possession to start the seven-on-seven overtime but turned the ball over less than a minute in. Penn State worked the ball into the LC zone after the takeaway. Penn State's crossing pass with 7:30 was kicked aside by Garvey and Lafayette regained possession. Gladieux had a fast break thwarted with 6:45 left for Penn State. Penn State's Grace Wallis forced a penalty corner with 4:31 on the clock. Allessie had a shot blocked and Simon's effort off the rebound was just wide and Lafayette moved the ball down to the Penn State side with 4:00 left in the period. Elena Vos made a steal at the top of the Lion circle as LC drove with 3:30 on the clock, halting a Leopard burst. Lineke Spaans had a shot off a fast break knocked aside by Barraco at the :30 mark and the game moved to a second overtime period.
Penn State had possession to start the second extra period. Allessie worked the ball to the top of the LC circle, but the Leopard defense held. McAndrew had a goal disallowed at the 7:00 mark to keep the Lions in it. Penn State took advantage of the opportunity. Wallis drove the ball down the left side of the field and fed Gladieux, who dripped twice, turned and tossed the ball past Lafayette's keeper for the game winner at the 6:28 mark.
"This was a tough win against a tough Lafayette team," said head coach Char Morett-Curtiss. "We were in a fight for the entire game and were able to break through in overtime to get a win. It's an important win for us, they all are of course. Lafayette deserves a lot of credit for the game they played today, and I am happy that we were able to withstand their effort and get a win."
Penn State outshot Lafayette 18-5 and had a 7-0 edge in corners. Barraco had two saves for Penn State while Garvey had four for LC.
Penn State is now 11-2, 5-1 in the Big Ten, while Lafayette 4-10. Penn State hits the road for two games next weekend. The Nittany Lions will visit Bucknell on Friday, Oct. 14, for a 6 p.m. contest and Kent State on Sunday, Oct. 16, at 12 p.m. for two non-conference games.
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 OT1 OT2 FINAL
PENN STATE 1 0 0 0 0 1 2
Lafayette 0 1 0 0 0 0 1
STATS: PSU LC
Shots 18 5
Corners 7 0
SCORING SUMMARY (goal/assist) – TIME
1st: PSU – Anna Simon (Mackenzie Allessie, Elena Vos); 12:38
2nd: LC – Molly McAndrew (unassisted); 8:23
OT2: PSU – Sophia Gladieux (Grace Wallis); 6:28
GOALKEEPERS: MIN GA S
PSU: Brie Barraco 73:32 1 2
LC: Emma Garvey 73:32 2 4