UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The Penn State Nittany Lion field hockey team (9-8), ranked No. 14 in the National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) Coaches Poll, dropped a heart-breaking 4-3 double-overtime game to No. 11 Ohio State (14-5) in the first quarterfinal game of the Big Ten Field Hockey Tournament in Ann Arbor, Mich. Penn State entered the tournament as the fourth-seed while Ohio State was the fifth-seed.
Penn State took control of the ball at the start of the first period and worked it right into the Buckeye circle. The Ohio State defense was able to stop the early press at the 13:15 mark and the Buckeyes returned the ball to the Nittany Lion side. Penn State's defensive pressure did not allow Ohio State to get into its press early and then Penn State keeper Brie Barraco broke up a push at 10:35 to keep the game scoreless through the 10:00 mark. Penn State returned play to the Buckeye circle and forced the game's first penalty corner with 9:27 on the clock. Ohio State keeper Abby Danson made a save on the Lion play, OSU moved the ball back downfield and Barraco picked up her first save seconds later. Barraco made a kick save on another close OSU shot as the first period hit its midway point. Ohio State picked up its first penalty corner with 4:28 on the clock and then a second quickly after a Lion stop on the first. Anouk Knuvers broke up the play on the second and the game continued tied 0-0 through the 4:00 mark. Sophia Gladieux had a backhand blocked out of bounds at the 1:13 mark and Drew Taylor had a short shot blocked with :55 to play as the first period ended in a 0-0 tie.
Ohio State quickly picked up a its third penalty corner, just :34 into the second period. Barraco answered a Julie Rodijk shot with a kick save and Penn State moved play to the OSU side of the field and worked its way to a penalty corner of its own with 14:00 on the clock. Ohio State's Sarah Richards made a defensive save on the Penn State shot to keep the game scoreless. But Penn State kept the pressure on the Buckeye defense and picked up another penalty corner with 12:26. Danson made a save on a solid Mackenzie Allessie shot off the play and then Ohio State moved the ball down to the Nittany Lion circle. Penn State's defense held firm on another OSU corner at 10:01, keeping the game scoreless. Penn State put itself on the scoreboard seconds later. Taylor moved the ball into the Ohio State circle, feeding Gladieux, who moved the ball towards Danson. Carly Gannon finished off the play by tapping the ball past the OSU keeper for a goal at 8:09, giving the Nittany Lions a 1-0 lead with 9:02 on the clock. The lead was short lived, however, as Ohio State drove downfield and tied the game 1-1 with a Rodijk goal at 7:34. Penn State picked up a late penalty corner with 1:25 left in the half and made it count. Julienne van Bekkum fed the ball to Knuvers, who set up Gladieux for a goal with 1:20 on the clock. The Nittany Lions carried the one-goal lead into the halftime break.
Ohio State outshot Penn State 9-8 and both teams had four penalty corners. Barraco had six saves in the first half while Danson had three for Ohio State.
The Nittany Lions threatened early in the third period, but the Buckeye defense held and then Penn State was hit with a green card to give OSU a player advantage just 1:30 into the stanza. Ohio State turned the edge into a goal at the 11:48 mark when Brenna Bough scored from in close to tie the game at 2-2. The teams then traded possession over the next few minutes and the clock hit the 9:00 mark, still tied 2-2. The Nittany Lions pushed the ball to the Buckeye side of the field, but OSU's defense forced a turnover. As the third period hit its midway point, the teams battled for control in the midfield. Ohio State was able to force a corner with 6:30 on the clock. Barraco made a save on the first OSU set but another corner was awarded to the Buckeyes. Barraco and the Penn State defense held once again but Ohio State maintained possession, picking up another penalty corner at 5:32. The OSU shot went wide and Penn State was able to survive the series of Buckeye corners. Madison Tambroni blocked an OSU shot with 3:52 on the clock to allow Penn State to regain possession. Barraco made a save on a Makenna Webster shot at the 2:08 mark and Penn State moved action down to the Buckeye circle, picking up a corner with 1:32 on the clock. Danson made a save on a Gladieux backhand and the game moved to the fourth period tied 2-2.
The fourth period began with Ohio State pressuring the Nittany Lion circle and taking a 3-2 lead just over a minute in when Webster knocked in a high shot at 13:55 to give OSU a 3-2 lead. Penn State quickly moved the ball downfield and forced a penalty corner at 13:25. But Ohio State stopped the Lion play and then Penn State was hit with a green card, giving the Buckeyes a player advantage with just over 13:00 to play. Penn State was able to work off the green card and the sides were even at 11:00 with the Lions trailing 3-2. Ohio State worked the ball into the Lion circle as the clock moved below the 10:00 mark but Kelsey Love and the Penn State defense held. The Lions pushed downfield and picked up a corner at 8:59. The Nittany Lion shot off the set was tipped out of bounds and Ohio State regained possession. The Nittany Lions forced a turnover and Gladieux moved the ball into the circle and forced a penalty stroke at the 8:09 mark. Allessie then connected on the penalty to tie the game at 3-3. As the clock moved towards the 5:00 mark, the Nittany Lions pressed the Buckeye circle and were awarded another penalty corner, but the Buckeyes defended the play. Ohio State was hit with a green card, however, and Penn State worked with a player advantage at 5:06. The Nittany Lions were unable to take advantage of the penalty and the game remained tied 3-3 at the 3:00 mark. Penn State worked the ball to the OSU circle at 2:00 but the Buckeyes defended the effort. Ohio State then returned to the Lion circle in the final minute and the Nittany Lion defense held, sending the game to overtime tied 3-3.
Penn State began the seven-on-seven 10:00 extra period with possession, moving into the Buckeye circle quickly. Allessie worked herself into position and forced a penalty corner just :30 into extra time. But Ohio State's defense held, and the Buckeyes moved the ball downfield. After a couple of traded possessions, Gladieux moved downfield on a fast break. Danson was able to move out and defend the shot to keep the game tied at 6:45. As the clock moved below the 3:00 mark, Ohio State pushed into the Nittany Lion circle, but Barraco defended the effort to keep the Buckeyes off the board. The Penn State defense held off a late Buckeye press in the final seconds and the game moved to a second overtime period.
The teams traded early possessions in the second extra stanza. Ella Jennes had a hard shot on goal with 9:05 on the clock that Danson was able to knock aside. Another Penn State shot seconds later missed just wide and the clock ticked past 8:00. Ohio State moved action down to the Nittany Lion side and worked it into the Penn State circle with 7:45 on the clock. Webster took a pass from Anne Marie Krebs and found the back of the cage at 7:24 to give Ohio State the hard fought 4-3 win.
Penn State was outshot in the game 21-19 but had a 9-7 lead in penalty corners. Barraco, facing 21 shots, had 12 saves in the contest for Penn State. Danson had six for OSU, add one defensive, for a total of seven Buckeye saves.
Penn State is now 9-8 overall while Ohio State is 14-5. Penn State will now wait for a potential NCAA tournament at-large bid with the unveiling of the 2023 NCAA Field Hockey Championship tournament bracket on Sunday night. The 18-team field will be revealed at 10 p.m. on NCAA.com.
Fans are encouraged to follow the Nittany Lion field hockey team online at www.GoPSUsports.com (click teams, click field hockey), on X @pennstateFH and on facebook at www.facebook.com/pennstatefieldhockey.
GAME BREAKDOWN
SCORING: 1 2 3 4 OT OT2 FINAL
PENN STATE 0 2 0 1 0 0 3
Ohio State 0 1 1 1 0 1 4
STATS: PSU OSU
Shots 19 21
Corners 9 7
SCORING SUMMARY (goal/assist) – TIME
2nd: PSU – Carly Gannon (Phia Gladieux); 9:02
2nd: OSU – Julie Rodijk (unassisted); 7:34
2nd: PSU – Sophia Gladieux (Julienne van Bekkum, Anouk Knuvers); 1:20
3rd: OSU – Brenna Bough (Makenna Webster); 11:48
4th: OSU – Makenna Webster (Anne Marie Krebs); 13:55
4th: PSU – Mackenzie Allessie (penalty stroke); 8:10
2OT: OSU – Mackenna Webster (Anne Marie Krebs); 7:24
GOALKEEPERS: MIN GA S
PSU: Brie Barraco 72:36 4 12
OSU: Abby Danson 72:36 3 6
Team 0:00 0 1