UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The Penn State Nittany Lion field hockey team (7-6, 1-3 B1G), ranked No. 17 in the latest NFHCA Coaches Poll, rolled to a 5-0 shutout win at Ohio University (5-8) in its fourth straight road game on Sunday. Senior Phia Gladieux had a goal and an assist to set yet another Penn State career record in the non-conference field hockey win in Athens, Ohio.
Penn State opened up the game firing on offense, with Julienne van Bekkum getting off two quick close-in shots that were blocked by Bobcat defenders. Penn State maintained possession and took an early 1-0 lead with a goal Gladieux off an Ella Jennes assist at 12:07. Gladieux became Penn State’s all-time leader in points scored with the goal, moving to 198 for her career off 92 goals and 14 assists (at the time of the goal), breaking the old mark of 196 set by Candy Finn (1978-81). Penn State continued to dominate on offense, regaining possession after the reset, moving into the Bobcat circle once again and taking a 2-0 lead on an Aubrey Semler unassisted goal at 9:30. Penn State forced a late penalty corner with just :56 on the clock but could not connect on the play. The Nittany Lion defense kept the Bobcats from challenging the Penn State cage throughout the opening period and the Nittany Lions led 2-0 after 15:00.
The teams battled evenly through the first 5:00 of the second period. The Nittany Lion offense threatened the Bobcats midway through the second period. Gladieux worked the ball into the circle and had a solid shot blocked by a Bobcat defender. The Nittany Lions maintained possession and kept the pressure on, forcing a penalty corner with 6:51 on the clock. Jennes’ shot off the play was tipped wide, and action continued with the Lions still on top 2-0. Ohio managed to press the Penn State cage for the first time late in the second period, picking up a penalty corner with 1:37 on the clock. Meela Kopp’s shot sailed wide on the play and the Nittany Lions moved the ball back down to the Bobcat circle. Penn State once again forced a corner in the period’s final minute with just :43 left in the half. Drew Taylor’s shot off the play was blocked by a Bobcat defender and Penn State carried a 2-0 lead into the halftime break.
Penn State outshot Ohio 9-1 and had a 4-1 ledge in corners. Neither Penn State’s Lauren Delgado nor Ohio’s Macy Lotze had a save in the opening 30:00.
Gladieux took the first shot of the third period, blocked by an Ohio defender over 6:00 into the stanza. With the teams trading possessions towards the third’s midway point, Penn State forced a penalty corner with 7:51 on the clock. The Ohio defense broke up the Penn State’s offensive play and play continued with the Nittany Lions still leading 2-0. A minute later, however, Nittany Lion true freshman Carly Seal put Penn State up 3-0 with her first collegiate goal with 6:03 left in the third. Penn State continued to control the action to the end of the third. Nittany Lion Ella Jennes scored assisted on a Katelyen Strawser goal with just 3:00 left in the period to give Penn State a 4-0 lead that it carried into the fourth period.
Penn State opened up the final quarter with a quick goal from Gladieux, just 1:34 into the final period. Penn State continued to pressure the Bobcats after the reset with van Bekkum forcing Macy Lotze into a save just :30 later. The Nittany Lion defense continued to stifle the Bobcats through the midway point of the final period, keeping OU from threatening the Nittany Lion goal. Penn State forced a penalty corner at 5:09 but the Bobcat defense held. Penn State’s corner with just over 5:00 to play was the final real offensive threat for either team in the game and Penn State posted the strong 5-0 shutout win.
Penn State had a lopsided 16-1 lead in shots in the game and owned a 6-1 margin in penalty corners. Delgado picked up the shut out for Penn State as the Lion defense did not allow Ohio to get any shots on goal. Lotze had one save for Ohio. Gladieux had four points off two goals in the game and as stated, is now Penn State’s all-time leader in points scored with 200. She has 93 goals, also a Penn State all-time record, and 14 assists.
Penn State is now 7-6 overall, 1-3 B1G. Ohio University falls to 5-8. Penn State returns home to Char Morett-Curtiss Field at the Penn State Field Hockey Complex for two Big Ten games next weekend. The Nittany Lions host No. 5 Michigan on Friday, Oct. 18, at 4 p.m. and Michigan State on Sunday, Oct. 20, 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 2 0 2 1 5
Ohio University 0 0 0 0 0
STATS: PSU OU
Shots 16 1
Corners 6 1
SCORING SUMMARY (goal/assist) – TIME
1st: PSU – Phia Gladieux (Ella Jennes); 12:07
1st: PSU – Aubrey Semler (unassisted); 9:30
3rd: PSU – Carly Seal (unassisted); 6:03
3rd: PSU – Katelyn Strawser (Ella Jennes); 3:00
4th: PSU – Phia Gladieux (unassisted): 13:26
GOALKEEPERS: MIN GA S
PSU: Lauren Delgado 60:00 0 0
OU: Macy Lotze 60:00 5 1