UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.; September 8, 2024 – The Penn State Nittany Lion field hockey team (1-3, 0-0 B1G), ranked No. 16 in the National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) Coaches Poll, posted a thrilling 5-4 come-from-behind win at Delaware (1-2) in non-conference field hockey action. Senior Phia Gladieux notched a hat trick to lead Penn State, upping her season goal total to six through four games.
Penn State began the game by applying pressure to the Blue Hen defense. The Nittany Lions forced a penalty corner less than a minute into the game and Gladieux’s hard shot was saved by Delaware goalie Cicile Van Eijck. A second corner led to an Ella Jennes shot that just missed wide. The Hens then pushed the ball down field and quickly connected as Janne Stoetzer knocked the ball into the Lion cage at 12:41 to give UD a 1-0 lead. Penn State looked to answer back and forced two more quick corners, the last ending an a Gery Schnarrs blocked shot. Penn State tied the game up at the 9:30 mark on another corner. Julienne van Bekkum fed the ball into Madison Tambroni, who set up Gladieux for the tying goal, Gladieux’s fourth goal in as many games. The teams battled evenly for the next five-plus minutes, with the clock ticking below 4:00. Gladieux had a shot at 2:30 knocked away by Van Eijck. The Lions worked their way to a penalty corner with 1:09 left in the opening period but the Blue Hen defense held, and the game moved to the second period tied 1-1.
The teams traded possessions early in the second period. Penn State threatened a minute-plus in with Drew Taylor firing off a pair of shots that forced Van Eijck into two saves. The Delaware defense pushed back on a subsequent Lion corner and then UD moved the ball down field into he Penn State zone. Genevieve Johnson put the Blue Hens up 2-1 with a goal at the 10:43 mark. Penn State worked the action into the Delaware zone after the goal by Johnson and forced a corner. Gladieux’s shot was blocked with 9:13 to play in the opening half and action continued with the home team holding a one goal lead. Neither team threatened over the next few minutes. Delaware forced a penalty corner at the 5:09 mark. The Blue Hen shot off the set sailed wide of the cage and Lion goalie Aby Deverka. Penn State worked its way into the UD circle minutes later and force a corner. Schnarrs’ shot was saved by the UD goalie, but van Bekkum was there to knock in the rebound, off a Sophia Mannino assist, to tie the game for Penn State with 2:50 on the clock. Penn State stayed on attack late in the half with two corners. Jennes had a shot saved on the first corner and Gladieux missed just wide on the second as the clock moved to the 1:00 mark. The game went to halftime knotted at 2-2.
Penn State outshot Delaware 12-3 and had 12 penalty corners to two for the Hens. Van Eijck had six saves for the home team while Deverka had zero for the Nittany Lions.
The third period began with Delaware rushing the ball into the Penn State zone and taking a 3-2 lead on a Kate Janssen goal at the 13:18 mark. Penn State answered quickly, however. The Nittany Lions moved the ball quickly down the field and forced a quick penalty corner. Gladieux notched her second goal of the game after a bit of stick work, tying the contest at 3-3 with 12:18 on the clock. The two teams battled evenly over the middle portion of the third period. With under 5:00 left in the period, Gladieux nearly gave Penn State the lead, but Van Eijck made a good save on the play. Deverka answered her UD counterpart seconds later, making a save on a Johnson shot to keep the game tied 3-3 at the 3:05 mark. Delaware forced a penalty corner at the 2:12 mark and connected. Johnson knocked in a shot off the set with 2:06 left in the period to give the Blue Hens a 4-3 lead after three.
Penn State quickly tied the game early in the fourth period. True freshman Katelyn Strawser notched her first collegiate goal with 11:49 on the clock to tie the game at 4-4. Penn State continued to pressure the Hens after the goal. Gladieux had a shot knocked away by Van Eijck and the Delaware was hit with a yellow card. The Blue Hens managed to kill off the penalty, but Penn State kept up the pressure. With the Lions pressing and the game tied with under 3:00 left, Gladieux worked her way into scoring position and knocked in her third goal of the game, giving Penn State a 5-4 lead with just 2:25 left to play. Delaware quickly pulled its goalie, giving Penn State an empty net to work on but giving the Hens an extra player. Delaware picked up a corner with 1:06 on the clock but the Lion defense blocked the ensuing shot. The Hens picked up two more corners and both shots sailed wide as the clock moved below the :20 mark. Penn State’s defense was able to hold off the furious Blue Hen rally late and the Nittany Lions picked up their first win of the season, 5-4.
“We played with poise and positivity today, particularly when we got behind early” said Penn State head coach Lisa Bervinchak Love. “It was very positive to see us score in multiple ways on offense and get so many people involved in what we were doing on the field. We were connected on our press and our counter offense and really set up some nice opportunities inside the 25. This was a great team effort today and we are very happy with the win.”
The Nittany Lions outshot Delaware 18-11 and doubled up the Hens on corners, 14-7. Deverka had two saves for Penn State while Van Eijck had eight for Delaware.
Penn State is now 1-3, 0-0 B1G. Delaware falls to 1-2. The Nittany Lions are at Kent State on Friday, Sept. 13, at 3 p.m. in their next action. They host Princeton on Sunday, Sept. 15, at 12 p.m. that same weekend.
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 1 1 1 2 5
Delaware 1 1 2 0 4
STATS: PSU DEL
Shots 18 11
Corners 14 7
SCORING SUMMARY (goal/assist) – TIME
1st: UD – Janne Stoetzer (unassisted); 12:41
1st: PSU – Phia Gladieux (Julienne van Bekkum, Madison Tambroni); 9:30
2nd: UD – Genevieve Johnson (Lulu Fulton); 10:43
2nd: PSU – Julienne van Bekkum (Sophia Mannino); 2:50
3rd: UD – Kate Janssen (unassisted); 13:18
3rd: PSU – Phia Gladieux (unassisted); 12:18
3rd: UD – Genevieve Johnson (Lulu Fulton); 2:06
4th: PSU – Katelyn Strawser (unassisted); 11:47
4th: PSU – Phia Gladieux (unassisted); 2:25
GOALKEEPERS: MIN GA S
PSU: Aby Deverka 60:00 4 2
DEL: Cecile Van Eijck 57:46 5 8
Team 2:14 0 0