UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.; September 1, 2024 – The Penn State Nittany Lion field hockey team (0-2, 0-0 B1G), ranked No. 16 in the National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) Coaches Poll, dropped a tough 2-1 contest to No. 10 Syracuse (2-0) to close out the first weekend of the 2024 season. Nittany Lion senior Phia Gladieux scored for Penn State as the Lions opened up the season with two home games.
Penn State worked the ball into the Syracuse circle, with Ella Jennes feeding Natalie Freeman. Freeman’s shot was blocked but it forced an early corner for Penn State. Penn State ticked off three shots with Syracuse goalie Louise Pert saving two and the third just wide, all in the first two minutes. Penn State maintained possession through the 11:00 mark before Syracuse was able to briefly work the ball into the Penn State zone. The Orange forced their first penalty corner at 9:49 but the shot off the set was wide of freshman Lion keeper Aby Deverka. Willemjin Boogert took the incoming pass, shifted ride atop the circle and scored unassisted at 8:57 to give SU an early 1-0 lead. Tambroni forced a turnover for the Lion defense at the 2:03 mark. Phia Gladieux drove the ball downfield for the Lions, forcing a penalty corner with :33 on the clock. Gladieux’s forehand shot was blocked off the set and the Lions trailed 1-0 after one.
Syracuse began the second period by pushing the ball into the Penn State circle. True freshman Morgan Snyder, anchoring the Lion defense, stole the ball, pushing it outside left to cut the Orange pressure short. Syracuse was called for a green card at 12:13, giving Penn State a player advantage. Sophia Mannino worked the ball from midfield towards the SU circle as the card ended and the Nittany Lions forced a penalty corner at 10:09. Jennes’ shot was knocked aside by Pert on the play. Lion defender Julienne van Bekkum and Deverka broke up a brief Syracuse push at the 8:00 mark and Nittany Lion Aubrey Semler drove the ball down the rights side, working the ball into the Syracuse circle. But the Orange held on defense as the clock hit 7:00 with SU still leading by one. The teams traded possessions for the next few minutes before Penn State was called for a green card at 4:58. The Penn State defense was able to kill the penalty to even up the sides. Deverka made a diving save on a Rivian Rowan shot at 1:20 and the Lions drove fast down the field. But Syracuse stifled the break and Penn State trailed 1-0 at intermission.
Penn State outshot Syracuse 6-5 in the first half and had a 3-1 corner edge. Deverka had two saves for Penn State and Pert had three for SU.
The teams traded early possession in the third quarter. Penn State was hit with a yellow card at 10:10, giving Syracuse a player edge for 5:00. Tambroni, Snyder, van Bekkum and the Lion defense held off a quick SU burst and then pushed the ball downfield for the Nittany Lion offense. Julia Lamb worked the ball from the midfield at 7:20 but SU was able to steal the ball and regain possession. Tambroni forced another Orange turnover at 6:30. With Madison Britton setting up after an out-of-bounds play, Penn State worked the clock down and killed off the yellow card at 5:10. Drew Taylor worked the ball to the top of the circle at 4:30 but SU stopped the play at 4:15. Syracuse pressed Penn State’s defense through the 2:00 mark, but the Nittany Lions held. After a Syracuse turnover at :50, Jennes lifted the ball deep into Syracuse territory for a final push. But Syracuse held and the Nittany Lions trailed 1-0 after three periods.
The teams traded early drives in the fourth period. Gladieux worked the ball downfield for Penn State at the 11:30 mark and Mannino set the offense at the top of the circle. With Julia Lamb pushing the ball in from the left, Penn State’s Drew Taylor forced a penalty corner at the 10:50 mark. Gladieux’s shot was saved by SU goalie Vera Hekkenberg and the Orange took over at 10:40. Syracuse quickly forced a penalty corner after moving the ball downfield, getting the corner at 9:43. Syracuse scored on the corner play, with Bo van Kempen scoring at 9:35 to give the Orange a 2-0 lead. Penn State answered quickly, however, when Gladieux drilled a backhand past Hekkenberg with 6:41 on the clock, cutting the lead to 2-1. Snyder stole the ball from the Orange as the clock moved past 5:30, giving Penn State possession. Mannino worked the ball into the SU circle as the Lions pressed for a tying goal. Penn State kept possession in the SU zone for over 2:00 before the Orange were able to regain the ball. Syracuse worked the clock down below the 2:00 mark. Deverka made a diving save at the 1:30 mark on a one-on-one break, keeping Penn State within striking distance. Penn State regained possession at :35, forced a late SU yellow, but could not break the Orange defense in the final seconds. Syracuse escaped with a hard fought 2-1 win.
“We were more aggressive and confident today and that showed early in the game,” said head coach Lisa Bervinchak Love. “They are starting to believe in themselves a bit more and that’s a real positive. Opening the season against two of the best teams in the country, and playing them tough and being right there, gives us a lot to build on. Now we’ll look at ways we can improve and get ready to work for a first win on Friday.”
Penn State outshot Syracuse 8-7 and had a 4-2 penalty corner edge. Pert had three saves and Hekkenberg one for the Orange while Deverka had three for Penn State.
Penn State is now 0-2, 0-0 B1G. Syracuse improves to 2-0. The Nittany hit the road for two road games next weekend, visiting St. Joseph’s on Friday, Sept. 6, at 3 p.m. and Delaware on Sunday, Sept. 8, 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 and IG @pennstateFH and on facebook at www.facebook.com/pennstatefieldhockey.
GAME BREAKDOWN
SCORING: 1 2 3 4 FINAL
PENN STATE 0 0 0 1 1
Syracuse 1 0 0 1 2
STATS: PSU SYR
Shots 8 7
Corners 4 2
SCORING SUMMARY (goal/assist) – TIME
1st: SU – Willemjin Boogert (unassisted); 8:57
4th: SU – Bo van Kempen (Annabelle Vossenaar, Willemjin Boogert); 9:35
4th: PSU – Phia Gladieux (unassisted); 6:41
GOALKEEPERS: MIN GA S
PSU: Aby Deverka 60:00 2 3
SU: Louise Pert 30:00 0 3
Vera Hekkenberg 30:00 1 1