UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The Penn State Nittany Lion field hockey team (2-2, 0-0 B1G), ranked No. 5 in the National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) Coaches Poll, used a second half burst to grab a win at Stanford (0-3) in a non-conference game on the West Coast. Penn State posted a 5-1 win, breaking open a 1-1 halftime tie with four unanswered goals in the second half.
Penn State came out firing, pressing the Cardinal defense. After an initial Stanford shot, Penn State reeled off a series of shots that were knocked back before Carly Gannon put Penn State up 1-0 with a goal on the rebound from a Stanford goalie Daisy Ford save. The score game at the 9:24 mark. Penn State continued to pressure Stanford, forcing the game's first penalty corner two minutes later. Stanford was able to defend the set, however, and the game continued with the Nittany Lions leading 1-0. Penn State had three more corner sets before the 4:00 mark of the first period with Ford making saves on two Lion shots and a block on the third. The first period ended with the Nittany Lions leading 1-0.
Stanford got hit with a green card early in the second period. Gannon had another shot on goal that Ford was able to make the save on and the Cardinal defense held off Penn State during the player advantage. The Penn State offense continued to dominate the game, controlling the ball deep into the second period. Aubrey Semler and Gannon each forced Ford into saves as the Nittany Lions looked to extend their lead. As the Stanford defense stiffened, the Cardinal offense managed to tie the game in the first half's final minutes. Gemma Townsend scored with just 1:49 left before intermission to knot the game at 1-1 heading to halftime.
Penn State held a large 12-2 edge in shots at the break but Ford's seven saves kept Stanford in the game and had the game's only saves. The Nittany Lions had four penalty corners while Stanford had none.
Penn State opened up the third period with two goals in just over 2:00. Sophia Gladieux scored her first of the game, and third of the weekend, unassisted just 1:12 into the period. Penn State kept the pressure on with Gladieux forcing Ford into a save a minute later and Gannon once again finding the back of the cage off the rebound. Gannon's second goal of the contest put Penn State up 3-1 just over 2:00 into the third period. The twosome then combined on Penn State's fourth goal shortly after that. Gannon hit Gladieux with a pass and Gladieux scored again at the 10:42 mark to give the Nittany Lions a 4-1 lead. Penn State kept the pressure on the Cardinal deep into the third period. Julia Lamb helmed a penalty corner that led to a Gery Schnarrs shot. Ford made the save and Stanford regained possession. Stanford's Haley Mossmer hit the post on a shot with 4:30 left in the period. Ella Jennes forced Ford into another save late in the period and Penn State carried the 4-1 lead into the final stanza.
Both teams swapped out their keepers to start the final period. Lauren Delgado took over for Penn State's Brie Barraco to begin the period while Kendall Dowd got the call for Stanford's Daisy Ford. The Nittany Lions scored quickly to start the fourth period with Drew Taylor taking an assist from Gannon and finding the back of the cage 5:00 into the period, giving Penn State a 5-1 lead. Stanford forced a penalty corner a couple minutes later but the Cardinal shot off the set was blocked by the Nittany Lion defense. Lauren Delgado made a save on a Stanford shot minutes later, Stanford was awarded a corner, and Delgado made another quick save to keep Penn State up by four. Delgado continued to play strong in goal as the Penn State defense withstood a late Stanford offensive push and the Nittany Lions finished off the 5-1 victory.
"I'm very proud of how we came out and played today, this was a good rebound game for us after a tough loss," said head coach Lisa Bervinchak Love. "We worked hard on our press and possessed the ball much better today. We capitalized on our scoring opportunities in the circle as well. We came out very strong in the first period and then, after giving up a late goal in the second, came out hard in the third period and our offense really clicked."
Penn State outshot Stanford 21-14 for the game and had a 5-4 lead in penalty corners. Ford had all 11 of Stanford's saves, all in the first three periods. Delgado had Penn State's only saves, with all five coming in the fourth period.
Penn State is now 2-2 overall, 0-0 B1G. Stanford falls to 0-3 on the year. Penn State begins a five-game homestand next week when it plays at the Penn State Field Hockey Complex for the first time this year. The Nittany Lions host Kent State at 6 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 8. Penn State then welcomes Delaware to the FH Complex on Sunday, Sept. 10, for a 1 p.m. contest.
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 1 0 3 1 5
Stanford 0 1 0 0 1
STATS: PSU STAN
Shots 21 14
Corners 5 4
SCORING SUMMARY (goal/assist) – TIME
1st: PSU – Carly Gannon (unassisted): 9:24
2nd: STAN – Gemma Townsend (Esther Pottebaum); 1:49
3rd: PSU – Phia Gladieux (unassisted); 13:48
3rd: PSU – Carly Gannon (unassisted); 12:47
3rd: PSU – Phia Gladieux (Carly Gannon); 10:42
4th: PSU – Drew Taylor (Carly Gannon); 10:58
GOALKEEPERS: MIN GA S
PSU: Brie Barraco 45:00 1 0
Lauren Delgado 15:00 0 5
STAN: Daisy Ford 45:00 4 11
Kendall Dowd 15:00 1 0