UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The Penn State Nittany Lion field hockey team (15-3), ranked No. 3 in the NFHCA Coaches Poll, lost a tough 2-1 game to No. 6 Michigan (13-5) in the first of Friday's two Big Ten Tournament semifinal games in Columbus, Ohio. The Nittany Lions fell victim to two penalty stroke goals to the Wolverines and will now await their match-up in the NCAA tournament with the announcement of the official field Sunday night at 10 p.m.
Michigan took possession off the opening whistle and quickly pushed the ball down into the Nittany Lion circle. But Penn State's defense pushed the effort back briefly in the opening minute. The Nittany Lions had their first foray into the UM circle shortly after that, but the Wolverine defense also held. Michigan picked up the game's first penalty corner at the 9:36 mark but did not connect on the first set. Another Michigan corner :30 later but the shot off the corner was high. Michigan earned a third corner with 6:31 on the clock and once again Penn State's corner defense was too much for UM to break through. Penn State was hit with a green card at the 5:41 mark and Michigan controlled the ball with a player edge. The Lion defense worked the penalty away, but Michigan picked up yet another corner with 1:57 left in the first period. Brie Barraco made a great save on a solid Sarah Pyrtek shot to keep the game scoreless after one period.
The Nittany Lions took control of the ball to start the second period and nearly scored 2:00 into the stanza. Jemma Punch had two shots saved by Michigan's Anna Spieker in the opening 2:30 as the Lion offense had its best push of the day. Sophia had a quick shot blocked at the 9:41 mark as Penn State kept pressure on the Ohio State defense throughout the first part of the second quarter. Michigan was able to advance back into the Lion circle at the 8:00 mark with Barraco making a kick save on an Abby Tamer shot. Ella Jennes had a shot blocked at the 2:25 mark but her efforts helped force Penn State's first corner of the game with 2:21 left in the half. But Penn State's Anna Simon had a rocket of a shot saved by Spieker to keep the game scoreless. Penn State's defense withstood a late Michigan press late and, after Michigan got hit with a green card with :29 left in the half, the game moved to intermission tied 0-0.
Penn State outshot Michigan 5-3 in the first half but Michigan had a 4-1 edge in penalty corners. Barraco had two saves for the Nittany Lions and Spieker had three for the Wolverines.
The teams traded quick possessions to start the third period before Michigan moved the ball into the Penn State circle at the 13:00 mark and picked up a penalty corner. Barraco blocked the first shot and a second was knocked aside as well. But Michigan was awarded a penalty stroke on the scramble in front of the cage and Michigan's Kathryn Peterson connected on the free shot to give the Wolverines a 1-0 lead at the 12:57 mark. Michigan continued to pressure the Penn State defense after the reset, picking up another corner with 9:14 on the clock. But the Nittany Lions blocked two quick UM shots. Michigan was awarded another corner and the Lion defense held again as the clock hit 8:45. Michigan forced Barraco into another save and another Michigan corner was defended by the Nittany Lions, keeping the score at 1-0 with 7:00 left in the third period. Penn State was hit with a yellow card with 7:38 on the clock, giving Michigan a lengthy player advantage. But Penn State was able to work off the player edge and keep things a one-goal game. Jennes had a late shot kicked away by Spieker with under :05 left in the period and the Nittany Lions trailed 1-0 after three quarters.
Gladieux began the fourth period by working the ball down the right sideline and feeding the ball center circle to Punch. But a Michigan defender was able to tip the ball away on the pass and Punch never had the chance to redirect the ball at the cage. Lora Clarke had a point-blank shot saved by Barraco shortly after that early Lion press, but Michigan was awarded another penalty stroke for an intentional back stroke on the scramble after the save. Peterson was once again successful on the penalty stroke with 13:10 left in the game and the Nittany Lions trailed 2-0. Penn State moved the ball down into the Michigan circle and Mackenzie Allessie forced a corner with 11:02 left in the game. Gladieux's shot off the set was blocked, and the clock slipped below the 10:00 mark. Barraco made two quick saves at the 9:00 mark to keep Penn State in the game as Michigan continued to pressure the Lion cage. Sophia Mannino blocked a hard Michigan shot from mid-circle at 4:56 to give Penn State a chance to move the ball back down into Michigan territory. Penn State's offense worked the ball towards the Wolverine cage and forced a penalty corner with 3:34 left in the game. Allessie fed the ball to Punch whose hard shot bounced right off the left post, just missing out on cutting the lead in half. Penn State continued to pressure, and Gladieux knocked a backhand past Spieker with 2:42 to play, cutting the lead to 2-1. The Wolverines were able to fight off Penn State's late efforts to tie the game and the Nittany Lions fell 2-1.
"Michigan was very good today," said head coach Char Morett-Curtiss. "We got on our heals early and, while we played better in the second and fourth periods, it wasn't enough. That's a credit to Michigan's play today. That game perfectly exemplifies just how good Big Ten field hockey is."
Michigan outshot Penn State 16-9, including a 13-4 edge in the second half. Penn State had three corners while Michigan had eight. Barraco had seven saves and Spieker had four for Michigan.
Penn State is now 15-3 overall while Michigan 13-5. Penn State will now await the selection of the NCAA Championship field on Sunday night. The 2022 NCAA Field Hockey Championship selection show will stream live on NCAA.com at 10 p.m. Sunday night, Nov. 6.
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 0 0 0 1 1
Michigan 0 0 1 1 2
STATS: PSU MICH
Shots 9 16
Corners 3 8
SCORING SUMMARY (goal/assist) – TIME
3rd: MICH – Kathryn Peterson (penalty stroke); 12:57
4th: MICH – Kathryn Peterson (penalty stroke); 13:10
4th: PSU – Sophia Gladieux (unassisted); 2:42
GOALKEEPERS: MIN GA S
PSU: Brie Barraco 60:00 2 7
MICH: Anna Spieker 60:00 1 4