UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The Penn State Nittany Lion field hockey team (2-3, 0-0 B1G) used a fourth quarter offensive burst to pick up a 4-1 road win at Kent State (0-6) on Friday. Senior Phia Gladieux scored twice in the final period to spark the Nittany Lions to the win.
The Nittany Lions controlled action early. Gladieux had a quick shot sail just over the cage then Penn State nearly took a lead just two minutes into the game when Drew Taylor nearly connected, but the Flash defense knocked the ball away and regained possession for Kent State. The Nittany Lions forced a penalty corner with 10:00 left in the period. Ella Jennes’ shot off the set was blocked. Gladieux had a second shot stopped by Kent State and the Flash regained possession at 8:00. The Penn State defense, anchored by freshman Morgan Snyder, kept the Flash from working the ball into the circle. Kent State briefly worked the ball into the Lion circle with under 5:00 on the clock, but Lion Madison Tambroni forced a turnover. Kent State’ increased its pressure a bit as the clock hit 4:00 but the Lion defense held. Penn State pressed deep into the Flash circle late in the period, but Kent State held, and the game moved to the second period tied 0-0.
Penn State pressured Kent State early in the first but could not break through the Flash defense. The Flash returned action to the Lion side of the field briefly, but Sophia Mannino forced a quick turnover, and the Nittany Lions regained the ball. Penn State forced a second penalty corner at the 11:00 mark. Gladieux’s shot off the set was saved by KSU goalie Lieve Jansen. Mannino’s shot off the rebound led to another corner. A third was called on the Lion shot off the second. Penn State connected on the third. Julienne van Bekkum fed Gladieux, who slid the ball to Mannino, who connected at 10:37 to give the Nittany Lions a 1-0 lead. Kent State got its first shot off 8:30 when Emma Seger forced Penn State keeper Lauren Delgado into a save. Delgado was making her first start of the season. The Flashes kept the pressure on Penn State and picked up their first corner at 6:28 but could not connect on the play. Penn State forced another penalty corner with 4:47 left in the half. The Lion shot off the play was blocked but the rebound shot led to another corner. Natalie Freeman had a backhand blocked on the ensuing shot but the Lions picked up a third corner right away. Jansen made a save on a Julia Lamb shot with 3:30 left and the ball moved back to midfield. Penn State returned the ball to the KSU circle and picked up its eighth corner of the half with 2:46 on the clock. Gladieux’s shot was kicked aside by Jansen. Penn State had one last chance with a late corner, but the Flash defense was up to the task. Kent State pushed the ball downfield and Delgado made another save on a late Flash shot. The Nittany Lions settled for a 1-0 lead at the break.
Penn State outshot Kent State 11-2 and had a 9-1 edge in penalty corners. Delgado had two saves for the Nittany Lions and Jansen had five for KSU.
The teams traded possessions in the first minute of the third period. Penn State forced a quick corner at the 12;30 mark but the Flash defense kept Penn State from getting a shot on goal. Penn State continued to pressure the KSU defense, however, and forced another quick corner less than two minutes later. Gladieux’s shot was knocked back by Jansen, but Mannino was right there for the rebound, tipping it through the KSU goalie’s leg. But the play was reviewed and waived off. Kent State immediately worked the ball downfield deep into the Penn State zone. But van Bekkum and the Lion defense kept the Flash from getting off a shot as the clock moved below the 10:00 mark. Taylor led a fast break that pressured Jansen and the Flash cage, but the goalie held off the threat. Kent State then moved downfield and forced a corner with 6:14 left in the period. Kent State’s first shot off the set hit the post, but Emma Rolston scored off the rebound to tie the game with 5:47 on the clock. Gladieux speared a fast break late in the period, but Jensen made a kick save on the Lion’s effort. Seconds later, Penn State picked up a penalty corner but could not connect and the game moved to the fourth period tied 1-1.
Junior Ella Jennes quickly put Penn State back on top. She moved the ball in from left of the KSU cage towards the endline and then finessed a shot just past Jansen into the KSU cage at the 13:16 mark. Less than a minute later, Lion freshman Katelyn Strawser pressured the Flash cage and, after a scramble in front of the cage, Penn State was awarded with a penalty stroke. Gladieux connected on the penalty and Penn State led 3-1 at 12:27. The Lions continued to pressure the Flash, keeping the ball on the KSU side of the field. The Nittany Lions forced a corner at 10:33 but the Lion shot off the set was just wide. Morgan McMenamin kept the pressure on KSU for Penn State, sparking an energized Lion offensive push. Taylor made a steal minutes later, drove down field, drippled right then left and fed Gladieux with a perfect pass for Gladieux’s second goal of the game. Gladieux’s score came with 8:24 left to put Penn State up 4-1. Freeman had a solid backhand shot kick-saved by Jansen off another corner with under 5:00 on the clock. Freeman drove down the middle of the field and forced a penalty stroke on the drive. She took the penalty shot at 2:16 but Jansen made a diving save on the shot to keep the score 4-1 in PSU’s favor. Freeman and the Lion offense continued to pressure Kent State for the remainder of the game, but Jansen and the Flash defense held.
“I’m very pleased with how we responded after the third period,” said Penn State head coach Lisa Bervinchak Love. “We had a good first half and then got a little frantic there in the third period and when they tied the game, and we came to the bench before the fourth, we talked about just settling down and playing our game. We did that in the fourth and the results were positive. This is a good win against a feisty team and now we have to return home to get ready for Princeton.”
Penn State outshot Kent State 22-4 over the course of the game. The Nittany Lions had a 14-2 edge in penalty corners as well. Delgado had two saves for Penn State while Jansen had 16 for Kent State.
Penn State is now 2-3, 0-0 B1G. Kent State falls to 0-6. The Nittany Lions return to action in two days when they host Princeton on Sunday, Sept. 15, 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 1 0 0 1
Kent State 0 0 1 3 4
STATS: PSU KSU
Shots 22 4
Corners 14 2
SCORING SUMMARY (goal/assist) – TIME
1st: PSU -- Sophia Mannino (Phia Gladieux); 10:37
3rd: KSU -- Emma Rolston (Maybritt Duwel); 5:47
4th: PSU -- Ella Jennes (unassisted); 13:16
4th: PSU – Phia Gladieux (penalty stroke); 12:27
4th: PSU – Phia Gladieux (Drew Taylor); 8:24
GOALKEEPERS: MIN GA S
PSU: Lauren Delgado 60:00 1 2
KSU: Lieve Jansen 60:00 4 16