UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The Penn State Nittany Lion field hockey team (4-3, 0-0 B1G), ranked No. 20 in the latest NFHCA Coaches Poll, rallied late for a 2-1 win at Bucknell (3-5) in a non-conference field hockey game in Lewisburg, Pa. Senior Phia Gladieux scored both goals for Penn State, one in the fourth period and the other in overtime to spark Penn State to a come from behind win.
The teams battled evenly for the game’s first four-plus minutes with neither goal threatened. Penn State forced the game’s first penalty corners with 9:30 on the clock. Katelyn Strawser’s shot off the set was just a bit wide and the game continued on scoreless. Bucknell returned the ball downfield for its first shot at 7:48, with Lion goalie Aby Deverka notching a save to keep the Bison off the scoreboard. Deverka made a second save three minutes later as the first period hit the 5:00 mark. Gladieux took her first shot at 4:30 but did not find the back of the cage and Bucknell moved downfield on offense. Bison Rees Czajkowski took a shot that Lion defender Gery Schnarrs made a great defensive save on to keep the game scoreless with 3:42 left in the opening period. Deverka notched her third save a minute later. Bucknell forced its first corner a minute later. Deverka made a save on the Bison shot off the set, but BU picked up another quick corner. The Bison took a 1-0 lead off the corner, with Lily Neilson scoring at 1:26 to give the home team a 1-0 lead after the first period.
Penn State came out fast on offense in the second period, reeling off three shots in the first minute. Natalie Freeman, Gladieux and Strawser all had shots that Bison keeper Sarah Althouse made saves on, all in the first minute of the second period. The Bucknell defense withstood the quick Nittany Lion flurry to hold on to the lead. The teams did not threaten each other over the next five minutes and the clock moved towards the 9:00 mark. Bucknell moved the ball into the Penn State circle at 5:30 with Tallulah Fuhs taking a shot that sailed wide. Deverka made a save on a Kira Leclercq shot at 3:43 to keep the score close at 1-0. Penn State pressured the Bucknell cage late in the half but had a shot go wide at 1:44. Penn State trailed 1-0 at halftime.
Bucknell owned a slim 8-7 edge in shots in the first half and a 3-1 lead in penalty corners. Deverka had six saves for the Nittany Lions while Althouse had four for the Bison.
The Bison had the first chance on offense in the third period, with Lily Neilson getting off a shot. Penn State made a change at goal to start the first half and Lauren Delgado notched a save on the shot to keep Penn State cclose at 11:44. Penn State was hit for a green card a couple minutes later, giving Bucknell a player advantage for two minutes. The Penn State defense was able to hold for the two minutes, evening up the sides as the clock moved to the 9:00 mark. Penn State picked up the first penalty corner of the second half with 6:34 on the clock. Gladieux took a solid shot that forced Althouse into another save and the score remained 1-0 in Bucknell’s favor. Bucknell picked up a corner with 2:36 left in the period after a scramble in the Nittany Lion zone. Delgado made a great save on a Leclercq shot to keep Penn State close and the Nittany Lions trailed 1-0 after three periods.
The fourth period began with Penn State forcing a penalty corner a minute in. Althouse made a save on a Morgan McMenamin shot to keep the Nittany Lions off the scoreboard. Penn State continued to pressure the Bison cage with Gladieux forcing Althouse into yet another save a minute later. The clock moved to the 11:00 mark with the Bison still maintaining the one goal lead. Penn State forced a corner at 10:47 and the Nittany Lions capitalized. Julienne van Bekkum fed the ball to the Lion corner offense, and it ended up on Gladieux’s stick. Gladieux knocked the ball past Althouse to tie the game at 1-1 with 10:42 on the clock. The teams battled evenly over the next five minutes, with neither squad threatening. The clock hit the 5:00 mark with the score still knotted at 1-1. Penn State worked the ball into the Bison circle and picked up a late corner with just 1:39 left to play in regulation. The Bison defense held on the play and the home team pushed action down to the Lion zone. Bucknell had two shots at the cage late but both sailed wide with less than a minute to play and the game moved into overtime tied 1-1.
The seven-on-seven extra period began with Penn State taking the ball downfield and ending things quickly. Gladieux worked the ball towards the cage and scored unassisted just 1:22 into extra time to cap off the 2-1 come from behind win.
Both teams had 12 shots and the Nittany Lions owned a 5-4 edge in penalty corners. Deverka had six first half saves for Penn State while Delgado had two from the second half on. Althouse had seven saves for the Bison.
Penn State is now 4-3, 0-0 B1G. Bucknell falls to 3-5. Penn State opens up Big Ten play next Friday, Sept. 27, hosting Indiana at 4 p.m. The Nittany Lions then host Lafayette on Sunday, Sept. 29, in a 1 p.m. contest.
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 OT FINAL
PENN STATE 0 0 0 1 1 2
Bucknell 1 0 0 0 0 1
STATS: PSU BU
Shots 12 12
Corners 5 4
SCORING SUMMARY (goal/assist) – TIME
1st: BU – Lily Neilson (Nicky Punt, Isabella Pavlides); 1:26
4th: PSU – Phia Gladieux (Julienne van Bekkum); 10:42
OT: PSU – Phia Gladieux (unassisted); 8:38
GOALKEEPERS: MIN GA S
PSU: Aby Deverka 30:00 1 6
Lauren Delgado 31:22 0 2
BU: Sarah Althouse 61:22 2 7