UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.; October 22, 2023 – The Penn State Nittany Lion field hockey team (8-7, 3-4 B1G), ranked No. 16 in the National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) Coaches Poll, took down No. 5 Iowa (12-4, 3-4 B1G) in the home finale for head coach Lisa Bervinchak Love's squad. Sophia Gladieux scored both Penn State goals in a 2-1 victory over the visiting Hawkeyes.
Played on a cool and windy day at the Penn State Field Hockey Complex, the two teams played each other evenly over the bulk of the opening period. Penn State survived an early green card, killing the penalty early in the opening stanza. The Nittany Lions forced the game's first penalty corner over 10:00 into the contest but Iowa keeper Mia Magnotta made a save on the Nittany Lion shot. Iowa was able to regain possession after Penn State's corner and worked the ball downfield for the final two minutes. The Hawkeyes took an early 1-0 lead when Alex Wesneski scored with 1:34 left in the period, taking an assist from Miranda Jackson. Iowa carried that one goal lead into the second period.
The Nittany Lions controlled action early in the second period, reeling off two Julia Lamb shots and a Gladieux effort. But Magnotta made a save and the other two were blocked and Penn State continued to trail through the first five minutes of the second period. Nittany Lion keeper Brie Barraco made a great save on an Iowa shot with 7:11 on the clock, keeping the Lions close. The Nittany Lions regained possession and worked the ball downfield, eventually forcing a penalty corner at the 3:05 mark. Gladieux tied the game up off the corner set, scoring with 2:58 on the clock, taking assists from Ella Jennes and Madison Tambroni. Gladieux's goal knotted the score at 1-1 and it held into the halftime break.
Penn State outshot Iowa 8-7 in the first half and had the only two corners in the first 30:00. Both Barraco and Magnotta had five saves each.
The Nittany Lions forced an early penalty corner but Penn State' shot off the set sailed high. Iowa quickly worked the ball back to the Penn State circle and Barraco made two fast saves on a couple Hawkeye shots with just over 12:00 on the clock. Penn State rallied off Barraco's save, working the ball into the Hawkeye circle where Gladieux fired off a pair of shots. Magnotta made a save on the first, but Gladieux found the back of the cage on the second, putting Penn State on top 2-1 with 10:33 on the clock. Barraco tallied three more saves over the third period's final minutes and the Nittany Lions survived a late yellow card to lead 2-1 heading into the final period.
The fourth period was an evenly played affair with Barraco and Magnotta each notching saves in goal. Penn State was hit with a yellow card early in the period and effectively killed the advantage. But Iowa was hit with two yellow cards within two minutes of each other in the game's final seven minutes. While the Hawkeyes were able to kill off the two- and one-player edges, it effective worked the clock down to its final minute with Penn State holding on to a one goal lead. The Nittany Lion defense was able to work time off the clock and walked off the field with a thrilling 2-1 victory.
"I am so proud of these players today, this was a huge win for us, and it took a total team effort to get it," said head coach Lisa Bervinchak Love. "We played with heart today, we played together, and we played tough and that allowed us to get the win. We need to take this momentum into next weekend and beyond."
Both teams had 15 shots during the game and Penn State had a 6-3 edge in penalty corners. Barraco collected 11 saves while Magnotta had eight for Iowa.
Penn State is now 8-7 overall, 3-4 B1G. Iowa falls to 12-4, 3-4 B1G. The Nittany Lions wrap up their regular season schedule next Friday with a 3 p.m. game at Indiana
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 1 1 0 2
Iowa 1 0 0 0 2
STATS: PSU IOWA
Shots 15 15
Corners 6 3
SCORING SUMMARY (goal/assist) – TIME
1st: IOWA – Alex Wesneski (Miranda Jackson); 1:34
2nd: PSU – Phia Gladieux (Madison Tambroni, Ella Jennes); 2:58
3rd: PSU – Phia Gladieux (unassisted); 10:33
GOALKEEPERS: MIN GA S
PSU: Brie Barraco 60:00 1 11
IOWA: Mia Magnotta 60:00 2 8