UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The Penn State Nittany Lion field hockey team (6-6, 1-3 B1G), ranked No. 17 in the latest NFHCA Coaches Poll, dropped a tough 4-0 game at No. 4 Ohio State (10-1, 2-1 B1G) in a Big Ten road game on Friday. Penn State fell victim to four second half goals after a scoreless first half in Columbus.
Penn State controlled the action early, keeping the ball down on the Ohio State side of the field to start the first period. The Buckeyes were able to regain possession at 12:00 and move into the Penn State zone but Julia Lamb and the Nittany Lion defense forced a turnover. The first period hit its midway point with the game still scoreless. With the clock moving to the 4:00 mark, Ohio State worked the ball deep into the Penn State zone, but PSU freshman Morgan Snyder forced a turnover to stop the Buckeye push. Penn State quickly moved action to the Ohio State side of the field. Elle Jennes fed the ball to Nittany Lion Taylor in the circle, who forced the game’s first penalty corner at 2:57. Phia Gladieux’s backhand on the corner was blocked by the Buckeyes but the Lions were awarded another corner. The Nittany Lion shot off the next corner was just wide, and the game remained scoreless at 2:18. Snyder made another great tackle for the Nittany Lions on defense to halt a quick Ohio State break and the game moved to the second period tied 0-0.
The second period began with Ohio State setting up on offense in the Penn State zone. Natalie Freeman forced a turnover to break up the Buckeyes. Ohio State, however, was able to win the battle in the midfield and maintain possession as the clock moved past 12:00. Ohio State forced its first penalty corner of the game at the 11:45 mark of the second stanza. The Buckeye deflection off the set up missed wide and the game remained scoreless. The Buckeyes began a fast break with 7:45 on the clock but goalie Aby Deverka and the Lion defense broke up the action to keep the game scoreless. Gladieux had a steal with 7:00 on the clock to regain possession for the Nittany Lions. But Ohio State was able to hold off the Lion offense with 6:00 left in the half. Another Gladieux steal set up a brief Lion attack, but OSU stopped the Lion offense before Penn State could threaten. Ohio State had a late rally in the Lion circle, but Lion keeper Deverka made two outstanding saves to send the game to the half tied 0-0.
Ohio State owned a slim 3-2 edge in shots during the first 30:00 and the Nittany Lions had a 2-1 edge in penalty corners. Deverka had two saves for Penn State while Ohio State keeper Abby Danson had none.
The Buckeyes picked up the first goal of the game early in the third period when Mackenna Webster scored at the 13:42 mark to give Ohio State a 1-0 lead. Penn State quickly moved into the Buckeye zone and forced a corner at the 12:30 mark. Gladieux’s hard shot off the play forced Danson into a diving save to keep the Lions of the board. Penn State regained the ball and forced another corner only to have Ella Jennes’ shot blocked. A third Lion corner led to a block on another Penn State shot and Ohio State maintained its one goal lead through the 11:00 mark. Ohio State moved the ball downfield on a fast break at 11:30 and Hallie Brost finished off the play with a goal at 11:06 to give Ohio State a 2-0 lead. Penn State forced a penalty corner with 9:39 on the clock. The Lions had shots blocked and wide off the play. Ohio State was hit with a green card at the 8:47 mark to give the Nittany Lions a player advantage. But it was the Buckeyes who scored during the penalty, with Olivia Wallace notching a goal with 7:41 on the clock to give the home team a 3-0 lead. Nittany Lion Sophia Mannino had a shot miss just wide with 1:26 left in the period. Penn State then forced a corner at :55. Jennes’ shot off the play was blocked and Penn State trailed 3-0 after three.
The two teams battled evenly for the first 5:00 of the fourth period. The Nittany Lions were hit with a green card at 8:59 and the Buckeyes quickly got off a shot that went wide of the Penn State cage. The Nittany Lions were able to work off the player advantage. The game moved deeper into the final period with the teams trading possessions primarily in the midfield and the clock dipped below the 5:00 mark. Ohio State forced a penalty corner with 4:39 on the clock. A Penn State block was followed by another Buckeye corner and Deverka made a nice save on the subsequent shot. Ohio State worked the ball into the Nittany Lion circle and received a penalty stroke at the 1:06 mark. Webster knocked the free shot in, notching the late goal, and Ohio State posted the 4-0 win over the Nittany Lions.
Both teams tallied 11 shots in the game and Penn State had a 7-3 advantage in penalty corners. Deverka had four saves for the Nittany Lions and Danson had two for the Buckeyes.
Penn State is now 6-6 overall, 1-3 B1G. Ohio State improves to 10-1, 2-1 B1G. Penn State caps off a four-game road swing with a non-conference game at Ohio University on Sunday, Oct. 13, 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 0 0
Ohio State 0 0 3 1 4
STATS: PSU OSU
Shots 11 11
Corners 7 3
SCORING SUMMARY (goal/assist) – TIME
3rd: OSU – Mackenna Webster (unassisted); 13:42
3rd: OSU – Hallie Brost (unassisted); 11:06
3rd: OSU – Oliva Wallace (Loryn Jordon); 7:41
4th: OSU – Mackenna Webster (penalty stroke); 1:06
GOALKEEPERS: MIN GA S
PSU: Aby Deverka 60:00 4 7
OSU: Abby Danson 60:00 0 2