UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.; October 18, 2024 – The Penn State Nittany Lion field hockey team (7-7, 1-4 B1G), ranked No. 16 in the latest NFHCA Coaches Poll, dropped a 6-0 game to No. 7 Michigan (11-1, 4-0 B1G) in a Big Ten battle at the Penn State Field Hockey Complex on Friday. The Nittany Lions gave up two goals in the first period and three in the third in the loss.
Michigan scored early in the first period, with Juliette Manzur taking an Abby Burnett pass and tipping the ball into the Lion goal at 13:03. The Wolverines regained possession shortly after the reset and kept pressure on the Nittany Lion defense through the 9:00 mark. Nittany Lion defender Gery Schnarrs forced a turnover at 6:30 to give Penn State an opportunity to push back on the action. But the Michigan offense struck again at 5:57, with Alana Richardson scoring to give the visitors a 2-0 lead. Nittany Lion senior Phia Gladieux drove the ball the length of the field, along the left side, and worked to get off a shot at 3:17. But the effort was blocked by a Michigan defender and the Lions trailed 2-0 after one period.
The Wolverines forced a quick corner to start the second at 13:32. The Lion defense held on the play. Michigan was able to keep the ball on the Penn State side of the field. Julia Lamb made a steal to give Penn State the ball and then Michigan was hit with a yellow cart at 11:53, giving the Nittany Lions a player advantage for 5:00. The Penn State offense was able to threaten the Wolverine cage, and the sides were even as the clock moved below the 7:00 mark. Michigan forced a corner at 5:25 but the Nittany Lion defense blocked the UM shot off the play. Schnarrs anchored the Penn State defense, which held off Michigan through the 2:00 mark. Gladieux and the Lion offense worked the ball downfield as the clock hit 1:00. Senior Drew Taylor dribbled the ball into the Michigan circle and forced Penn State’s first corner at the :27 mark. The shot off the set was wide and the Nittany Lions trailed 2-0 at the break.
Michigan outshot Penn State 4-1 in the first half and had a 2-1 edge in corners. Neither Lion goal Aby Deverka nor Michigan keeper Hala Silverstein had saves.
The visitors began the third period by forcing a penalty corner early in the third period at 13:20. The Lion defense blocked the shot, but Michigan was able to retain possession. Michigan forced another corner two minutes later. Deverka made a diving save on the shot, but UM was awarded another corner. Abby Tamer scored off an Eva Bernardy assists at 11:08 to give Michigan a 3-0 lead. Michigan reeled off three quick thots after the reset and Deverka made saves on all of them. Gladieux moved the ball down the full length of the field, forcing a corner for Penn State at 8:06. Gladieux rocketed a shot at Silverstein, who made a diving save to keep Penn State off the board. A Penn State turnover at the top of the circle gave Michigan a corner with 5:07 on the clock. Penn State blocked the first shot, Michigan received another corner, and Pilar Oliveros scored to Michigan up 4-0 at 4:52. Michigan scored again at 2:50 with Kate McLaughlin finding the back of the cage. Gladieux fed Taylor with a long pass that led to a PSU corner at 1;41. Gladieux had two shots off the play, but Silverstein made saves. Gladieux forced another corner at :45. Taylor’s tip off a Gladieux pass was just wide, and Penn State trailed 5-0 after three.
The teams traded possessions through the 5:00 minutes of the final period. Ella Jennes fed Gladieux in the circle, forcing a corner at 10:13. The Nittany Lion shot off the play was blocked, and the clock moved below the 10:00 mark. Michigan returned the ball to the Lion side and Lion Lauren Delgado made a kick save on a Wolverine shot with 8:15 to play. Michigan’s Zoe Bormet scored at the 6:42 mark to put the Wolverines up 6-0. Michigan was hit with a green card at 4:25 and Penn State quickly picked up a penalty corner with 3:50 left to play. Gladieux had a shot hit the post and another knocked aside by the UM keeper and Michigan posted the 6-0 victory.
“We’re disappointed with how we played today,” said head coach Lisa Bervinchak Love. “We just didn’t come out with a competitive attitude against a good Michigan team. We need to bounce back on Sunday. We have three Big Ten games left and we can still achieve the things we set out to do this season.”
Michigan outshot Penn State 15-8 and both teams had seven corners. Deverka had four saves and Delgado had one for Penn State while Silverstein had three and Caylie McMahon had two for Michigan.
Penn State is now 7-7 overall, 1-4 B1G. Michigan improves to 11-1, 4-0 B1G. The Nittany Lions conclude a weekend homestand against 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 0 0 0 0 0
Michigan 2 0 3 1 6
STATS: PSU MICH
Shots 8 15
Corners 7 7
SCORING SUMMARY (goal/assist) – TIME
1st: MICH – Juliette Manzur (Abby Burnett); 13:03
1st: MICH – Alana Richardson (Abby Tamer, Payton Maloney); 5:57
3rd: MICH – Abby Tamer (Eva Bernardy); 11:08
3rd: MICH – Pilar Oliveros (Emmy Tran); 4:57
3rd: MICH – Kate McLaughlin (Abby Burnett); 2:50
4th: MICH – Zoe Bormet (Abby Tamer); 6:42
GOALKEEPERS: MIN GA S
PSU: Aby Deverka 45:00 5 4
Lauren Delgado 15:00 1 1
MICH: Hala Silverstein 45:00 0 3
Caylie McMahon 15:00 0 2