UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.; October 6, 2023 – The Penn State Nittany Lion field hockey team (6-5, 1-2 B1G), ranked No. 16 in the National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) Coaches Poll, used tenacious defense and two second half goals to down No. 7 Ohio State (11-3, 4-2 B1G) at the Penn State Field Hockey Complex. The Nittany Lions posted a 2-1 victory over the visiting Buckeyes to pick up their first conference win of the season.
Penn State had possession to start the game and moved the ball into the Buckeye circle. But the Ohio State defense held, pushed the ball downfield and it was Ohio State who got off the first shot of the game less than a minute into the period. The shot was wide of the goal. Ohio State forced a penalty corner at 12:42 and the Penn State defense blocked the shot off the play. Penn State was able to hold off Ohio State's pressure through the midway point of the period. Ohio State had a shot sail high over Penn State keeper Brie Barraco at the 5:20 mark. Penn State defender Anouk Knuvers forced a turnover at the 2:00 mark and Penn State briefly moved the ball to the Buckeye side but did not press the cage. The first period ended in a 0-0 tie.
The two teams played evenly over the first five minutes of the second period with neither team threatening. Penn State began to pressure the Buckey circle at the 10:00 mark but Ohio State was able to steal the ball and work it downfield, with Barraco making a save on a Buckeye shot at the 9:00 mark. Ohio State forced a penalty corner a minute later. Barraco made another save off the corner set and the game continued past the halfway point of the second period, still tied 0-0. Penn State's Sophia Gladieux forced Penn State's first penalty corner just outside the Buckeye circle with 4:48 left in the half. Ohio State keeper Abby Danson made a diving save on Gladieux's shot off the play to keep the game scoreless. Ohio State worked the ball deep into the Lion circle, but Penn State's defense held, sending the game to halftime tied 0-0.
Ohio State outshot Penn State 6-1 in the opening half and had a 2-1 edge in corners. Barraco had two saves for Penn State while Danson had one for OSU.
Penn State pressured the Buckeye circle briefly to start the third period but Ohio State regained possession and worked the ball down to the Penn State side. Barraco made a kick save on a Buckeye shot at the 11:45 mark and then Knuvers worked the ball through the Lion zone and began a Penn State fast break. The Buckeyes defended the effort and returned the ball to the Lion zone where Penn State's defense held once again, keeping the game scoreless at the 10:00 mark. Still scoreless 5:00 later, Ohio State's Hallie Brost worked the ball towards the Lion cage, but Barraco made another kick save at the 4:30 mark. Nittany Lion Madison Tambroni began a fast break that ended in the game's first goal. Tambroni worked the ball downfield and the Lion offense moved the ball into the circle where Mackenzie Allessie hit Gladieux with a pass. Gladieux backhanded the ball into the cage and Penn State led 1-0 at 3:05. Penn State kept the pressure on, with Drew Taylor taking a shot that Danson saved and Gladieux's rebound effort missing just wide. Penn State carried a 1-0 lead into the final period.
Ohio State began the fourth period with possession, moving the ball to the endline. But Knuvers once again stood firm on defense, regaining possession for the Nittany Lions. Natalie Freeman and Julia Lamb worked the ball into the Buckeye circle at the 12:00 mark and forced a penalty corner with 11:38 on the clock. Ohio State held on the play, but Penn State picked up another quick corner. Ohio State pushed back on the second corner, regained the ball, and moved action down to the Penn State side with 11:00 left in the game. Penn State held, retook possession, and worked the ball to the Buckeye side with Taylor and Gladieux forcing another corner at 8:56. Penn State had three shots off the set, but a block and two saves kept the score at 1-0 in Penn State's favor. The Lions picked up another corner almost two minutes later and connected once more. After a Morgan McMenamin setup, Gladieux and Allessie traded passes before Allessie drilled a shot past Danson for the goal at 7:02. Ohio State answered back with its first goal two minutes later. Makenna Webster knocked in a rebound shot after a diving Barraco save with 5:04 on the clock to cut the Lion lead to 2-1. Ohio State then pulled its goalie. The Buckeyes pressed the Penn State circle for as the clock moved down to the 1:00 mark but the Penn State defense continued to hold. Ohio State forced a penalty corner with 1:15 left in the game and Knuvers once again came up with the big defensive block. Penn State worked the ball downfield and forced a penalty corner with :42 left, facing a Buckeye team with no goalie in the cage. OSU's Lenne Bough made a defensive save on the set to keep the game at a one goal deficit. The Lions kept possession for the final seconds and notched the thrilling 2-1 victory.
"We have been talking about finishing on offense and finishing a game and tonight we did it," said head coach Lisa Bervinchak Love. "I think we really did a nice job of settling down after the first period. Ohio State is very fast and just an outstanding team and I was happy with how we settled in. Our defense was just excellent tonight and kept us in it until that first goal really gave us a lift."
Ohio State outshot Penn State 14-10 in the game but Penn State owned a 6-3 edge in penalty corners. Barraco was outstanding in goal, collecting six saves. Danson had four for Ohio State and the Buckeyes also had one defensive save.
Penn State is now 6-5 overall, 1-2 B1G. Ohio State falls to 11-3, 4-2 B1G. The Nittany Lions continue Big Ten play next weekend with two road games. Penn State is at Michigan State on Friday, Oct. 13, at 6 p.m. and at Michigan on Sunday, Feb. 15, at 1 p.m. The game at Michigan is a Big Ten Network national telecast.
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 0 1 1 2
Ohio State 0 0 0 1 1
STATS: PSU OSU
Shots 10 14
Corners 6 3
SCORING SUMMARY (goal/assist) – TIME
3rd: PSU – Phia Gladieux (Mackenzie Allessie); 3:05
4th: PSU – Mackenzie Allessie (Phia Gladieux); 7:02
4th: OSU – Makenna Webster (unassisted): 5:02
GOALKEEPERS: MIN GA S
PSU: Brie Barraco 60:00 1 6
OSU: Abby Danson 54:58 2 4
TEAM 5:02 0 1