UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The Penn State Nittany Lion field hockey team (16-3), ranked No. 6 in the final NFHCA Coaches Poll, rolled over No. 12 Louisville (12-8) by a lopsided 5-0 score in the first round of the 2022 NCAA Tournament. The Nittany Lions shut out the Cardinals in the game played at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Mich., on Friday afternoon.
The Nittany Lions took control of the ball early and picked up a penalty corner just :48 into the contest. Sophia Gladieux's shot off the corner set up was just wide and Louisville took its turn pushing the ball into the Lion zone. The Penn State defense, with Gery Schnarrs making the steal, quickly regained the ball to stop the early Cardinal push. Jemma Punch forced another penalty corner at the 13:00 mark for Penn State. Anna Simon had a shot blocked by Cardinal keeper Sasha Elliott to keep the game scoreless. Louisville controlled the ball as the first period hit its midway point, but Elena Vos helped turn the ball over to keep the Cardinals from pressuring the Nittany Lion cage. Penn State gave up a green card at the 6:30 mark, giving UL a player edge for two minutes.
Louisville worked the ball back into the Lion circle at 4:30 but the Lion defense once again pushed back the effort and the game continued in a 0-0 tie. Louisville gave up a green card with 3:20 on the clock and Meghan Reese quickly worked the ball into the circle, forcing a penalty corner at 3:04. Jemma Punch had two good looks saved by Elliott off the first corner, but the Lions were awarded another right away. Anna Simon, Punch and Kelsey Love each had direct shots from the top of the circle with Love forcing a corner on hers (Penn State's fifth of the period). A sixth corner was given to Penn State on a scramble with 2:28 on the clock. While the Lions did not score on the corner set, Penn State maintained possession and Simon scored with 2:07 left in the period to give the Lions a 1-0 lead. But the Nittany Lions weren't done as Sophia Gladieux took control of the ball in the final seconds and knocked in a quick second shot to give Penn State a 2-0 lead after the opening period.
The Nittany Lions continued to pour on the offense to start the second period. Grace Wallis moved the ball into the circle and forced yet another Penn State penalty corner just under 2:00 into the game. Mackenzie Allessie sent the ball in on the corner set and Punch knocked a shot by Elliott at 13:09 to give Penn State a 3-0 lead quickly in the second period. It took Penn State less than a minute to pick up an eighth penalty corner, but Louisville was able to defend this effort. The Nittany Lions continued to pile on the offense, with Gladieux scoring from an assist from Wallis at the 9:28 mark to put the Lions up 4-0. The teams traded the ball over the next few minutes before Louisville picked up its first penalty corner with 5:27 left in the half. Brie Barraco made a save on the first shot and Louisville was awarded another corner right away. But the Lion defense was too much, and Penn State pushed the ball away. The Nittany Lion defense continued to push back the Cardinals and Barraco ended the period with another save and Penn State led 4-0 at the halftime break.
Louisville's offense began to show itself a bit to start the third period, but Penn State's defense was equal to the task. Barraco made a great save on a Katie Schneider shot midway through the third to keep Penn State's shutout intact and Allessie followed with a shot that hit the post just a minute later as Penn State rallied after the save. The Nittany Lion offense then regained its momentum and continued to pressure the Louisville circle as the clock moved below the 5:00 mark in the third. The Nittany Lions maintained their pressure and picked up a late penalty corner. Allessie fed the ball to Vos who set up Simon who blasted the ball to the back of the cage to give Penn State a 5-0 lead after three periods.
Penn State began the fourth period like it began the game, with a quick penalty corner. Gladieux's shot off the corner set was just wide, and Penn State continued on in the game with a 5-0 lead. The two teams traded possessions over the bulk of the fourth period with Penn State head coach Char Morett-Curtiss getting a number of her younger players invaluable NCAA tournament experience with the game in hand. Louisville picked up a penalty corner, but the shot went just wide of Lion keeper Lauren Delgado with 4:30 left in the game. The Nittany Lion defense kept Louisville away from the cage for the remainder of the game and Penn State walked away with a 5-0 victory to advance to the NCAA quarterfinals.
"This was a great game to watch as a coach," said Morett-Curtiss. "Our corner execution was so good today. We came out with a lot of confidence today and it showed. Credit to Louisville, they never stopped playing hard but our pressure on the ball gave us scoring opportunities and we really took advantage of them today. We'll enjoy this win for a little while and start getting ready for an outstanding Albany team on Sunday."
Penn State outshout Louisville 19-8 and had a 10-4 edge in corners. Barraco had six saves while Delgado had one for Penn State and Elliott had seven for Louisville. Penn State, in its seventh NCAA tournament in the past decade, advances to the quarterfinals for the third time in the last 10 years.
Penn State is now 16-3 overall while Louisville ends its season at 12-8. Penn State will now face Albany (16-4) in the NCAA quarterfinals on Sunday, Nov. 13, at 1 p.m. in Ann Arbor.
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 2 2 1 0 5
Louisville 0 0 0 0 0
STATS: PSU UL
Shots 19 8
Corners 10 4
SCORING SUMMARY (goal/assist) – TIME
1st: PSU – Anna Simon (unassisted); 2:07
1st: PSU – Sophia Gladieux (unassisted); 0:06
2nd: PSU – Jemma Punch (Mackenzie Allessie); 13:09
2nd: PSU – Sophia Gladieux (Grace Wallis); 9:28
3rd: PSU – Anna Simon (Mackenzie Allessie, Elena Vos); 0:00
GOALKEEPERS: MIN GA S
PSU: Brie Barraco 54:57 0 6
Lauren Delgado 5:03 0 1
LOU: Sasha Elliott 60:00 5 7