UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.; Sept. 10, 2023 – The Penn State Nittany Lion field hockey team (4-2, 0-0 B1G), ranked No. 11 in the National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) Coaches Poll, rolled to a 4-2 win over No. 19 Delaware (3-3) in a battle of ranked teams. Nittany Lion Sophia Gladieux notched a hat trick in the home win for Penn State.
Penn State's offense controlled the ball early and Mackenzie Allessie forced Delaware goalie Kyle Walbert into an early save at the 13:30 mark. The Blue Hens then took possession and move the ball into the Nittany Lion circle. Kelsey Love intercepted a pass to force a reset and then Carly Gannon forced the Hens into a turnover with 12:20 on the clock. Delaware regained possession minutes later and found the back of the cage. Lion keeper Brie Barraco made a nice save on a Kiki Oudshoorn shot, but Oudshoorn was able to control the rebound and tapped the ball into the goal at 11:01 to put Delaware up 1-0. The teams traded possessions to the midpoint of the first period. Delaware worked the clock down to the 5:30 mark after a Penn State turnover. Julienne van Bekkum stopped a quick Delaware fast break and Penn State returned the ball to the UD circle at 3:50. But another turnover gave the ball back to the Hens. Delaware forced the game's first penalty corner with 1:21 left in the first period. Barraco made two saves on a flurry after the corner and Penn State trailed 1-0 after the opening period.
Nittany Lion Sophia Mannino began the second period with a hard shot from the right of the Hen cage that just missed wide. Penn State kept the ball on the Delaware side for the first five minutes of the period but could not break through the Blue Hen defense. Delaware had a brief run to the Penn State side of the field, but Gery Schnarrs and Anouk Knuvers stopped the press as the clock hit 8:30. Delaware was able to force Barraco into two point-blank saves at 8:10 and then Penn State took a player advantage when UD was hit with a green card. Penn State forced a penalty corner and capitalized. Sophia Gladieux took the incoming pass from Allessie and connected for a goal at the 7:05 mark to tie the game 1-1. Penn State controlled the ball for the next five minutes, as Julia Lamb worked the ball downfield and Allessie nearly scoring at 1:57. But Hen defender Valentina Martorell made a defensive saver after the ball got past the UD keeper. Penn State was awarded a corner after the save and Walbert made a diving save on Allessie's shot on the play. Penn State kept possession after the save and Nittany Lion Aubrey Semler rocketed a shot past Walbert at the 1:22 mark to put Penn State up 2-1. Delaware defended two late PSU corners and the Nittany Lions led 2-1 at the break.
Delaware outshot Penn State 9-8 but the Lions had a 4-1 edge in corners. Barraco had five saves for Penn State and Walbert had four for the Hens (UD had one team/defensive save as well).
The Blue Hens opened the third period with possession and forced a quick penalty corner at the 13:09 mark. But Penn State's defense held on the play. The Nittany Lions pushed the ball back down to the Hen side of the field briefly, but Delaware regained possession. Knuvers intercepted a pass with 10:00 on the clock and moved the ball back down to Delaware's side. Allessie blasted a shot towards the goal that hit the post. Gladieux collected the ball off the rebound and sent the ball into the cage to give Penn State a 3-1 lead at 9:27. Penn State forced another corner at 7:48 when Ella Jennes worked the ball deep into the UD circle. Penn State's shot off the set was just wide. Delaware worked its way to a penalty corner at 6:30. Barraco made a diving stick save on the shot and Penn State held its two-goal lead. Neither team threatened for the remainder of the period and Penn State carried a 3-1 lead into the fourth.
Delaware forced an early corner that led to a Rachael Whitehead shot. But Barraco made the save on the effort to keep the Nittany Lions out in front 3-1. The teams battled evenly for the next two minutes and then Delaware got hit with a green card at 11:55. Penn State forced a corner seconds later. Gery Schnarr forced Walbert into another save off the set and Delaware returned the ball down to the Penn State side of the field. Kelsey Love tipped away a Hen pass and Penn State regained the ball at 10:15 but the Blue Hens were able to kill the player advantage. Delaware picked up another corner at the 8:43 mark but the Lion defense blocked the ensuing shot. Love made another steal on defense at the 5:30 mark as Penn State stifled Delaware's offense deep into the final stanza. Penn State worked the ball down to the UD side with Drew Taylor moving the ball downfield. Penn State forced a corner with 2:26 left in the game. Gladieux scored off the set with assists from Allessie and Knuvers with 2:20 on the clock, giving Penn State a 4-1 lead. Delaware looked to answer with two late corners, but Penn State's defense held on both efforts and the Nittany Loins rolled to the 4-1 victory.
"This was huge for us today, getting a big win over a good Delaware team," said Bervinchak Love. "Getting two wins over the weekend is important for us. We played the Penn State way today for the entire game and that was very good to see. Phia (Gladieux) did a great job of just letting the game come to her. Her confidence is growing with each game."
Delaware outshot Penn State 14-13 and Penn State held a slim 7-6 edge in penalty corners. Barraco was outstanding in the cage for Penn State, grabbing seven saves while Walbert had five saves (and the UD defense had a sixth).
Penn State is now 4-2 overall, 0-0 B1G. Delaware falls to 3-3 overall. Penn State continues its home stand next weekend with two games. The Lions open up Big Ten play on Friday, Sept. 15, when Rutgers visits Happy Valley for a 5 p.m. game. Penn State hosts Bucknell on Sunday, Sept. 17, in a non-conference contest at 12 p.m.
Fans are encouraged to follow the Nittany Lion field hockey team online at www.GoPSUsports.com (click teams, click field hockey), on X/Twitter @pennstateFH and on facebook at www.facebook.com/pennstatefieldhockey.
GAME BREAKDOWN
SCORING: 1 2 3 4 FINAL
PENN STATE 0 2 1 1 4
Delaware 1 0 0 0 1
STATS: PSU UD
Shots 13 14
Corners 7 6
SCORING SUMMARY (goal/assist) – TIME
1st: UD – Kiki Oudshoorn (unassisted); 11:01
2nd: PSU – Phia Gladieux (Mackenzie Allessie); 7:05
2nd: PSU – Aubrey Semler (unassisted); 1:22
3rd: PSU – Phia Gladieux (unassisted); 9:27
4th: PSU – Phia Gladieux (Mackenzie Allessie, Anouk Knuvers); 2:20
GOALKEEPERS: MIN GA S
PSU: Brie Barraco 60:00 1 7
UD: Kylie Walbert 60:00 4 5
Defensive Save ------- - 1