UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.; October 6, 2024 – The Penn State Nittany Lion field hockey team (6-5, 1-2 B1G), ranked No. 17 in the latest NFHCA Coaches Poll, dropped a tough 7-2 road game at No. 2 Northwestern (12-0, 5-0 B1G) in Big Ten field hockey action on Sunday. Senior Phia Gladieux scored both Penn State’s goals and became Penn State’s all-time leading goal scorer in the process.
The Wildcats had an early opportunity to start the first period, forcing a turnover that led to an Olivia Bent-Cole shot that was blocked by a Lion defender. Northwestern, however, forced a penalty corner at 13:21. Ilse Tromp had a shot off the corner, but Penn State freshman goalie Aby Deverka made a kick save to keep NU off the scoreboard. The Penn State defense, led by Morgan Snyder, was pressured through the first 5:00 but kept the Wildcats from scoring. Penn State then moved the ball downfield for a brief foray into the Wildcat circle, but NU keeper Annabel Skubisz knocked a pass away. Nittany Lion Gladieux collected the ball at the top of the circle and forced a penalty corner at 9:07. Penn State did not connect on the play but Gery Schnarrs stopped a brief NU break to keep the ball in Penn State’s zone as the clock hit 8:30. Northwestern eventually moved play into the Lion zone and forced corner at 7:26. The Wildcats connected on the play, taking a 1-0 lead off a Chloe Relford goal at 7: 27. Northwestern made it 2-0 two corners later when Maddie Zimmer scored off the third Wildcat corner at 4:46. The Wildcats scored a third goal less than a minute later when Lauren Wadas knocked in a close shot with 3:41 on the clock. Northwestern made it three goals in less than two minutes when Wadas made it 4-0 with a goal at 3:08 left in the period.
Penn State was able to stabilize the tempo early in the second period, working the ball into the Wildcat circle early on. Northwestern held off any Penn State shots, then moved into the Lion circle and forced a penalty corner with 11:27 on the clock. The Nittany Lion defense was able to defend the corner play. Northwestern picked up another corner under 2:00 later. Snyder blocked the shot at 9:41 Northwestern reeled off a series of subsequent corners, but the Nittany Lion defense held firm, not allowing another goal as the clock moved below 9:00. Northwestern continued to pressure Penn State, however, and was awarded a penalty stroke after a scramble in front of the goal with 6:35 on the clock. Deverka defended against Bent-Cole, who’s shot sailed high, and the score remained 4-0 in NU’s favor. Deverka made a late save on another Wildcat drive late in the period and Penn State trailed 4-0 at the break.
Northwestern outshot Penn State 19-0 in the first half and had a 10-1 lead in corners. Deverka had six saves for Penn State, Skubisz had none for the Wildcats.
Northwester scored early in the third period, taking a 5-0 lead after a fast break on a goal from Ashley Sessa just :48 into the period. The Nittany Lions got on the board seconds later. Gladieux took a superb long pass from Drew Taylor and knocked the ball past Skubisz at the 13:18 mark, cutting the Wildcat lead to 5-1. The Nittany Lions kept up the offensive pressure over the next five minutes, forcing a penalty corner at the 8:40 mark. Gladieux’s backhand off the inbound was saved by Skubisz. After trading possessions with the Wildcats, Penn State forced another corner with 6:41 on the clock. Elle Jennes’ shot off the set was knocked away by Skubisz, but Penn State was awarded another corner. Gladieux’s backhand off the second corner was ruled too high with 5:50 left in the third period. Northwestern picked up a corner at 4:17. The Penn State defense held off two shots on the corner, but NU forced another corner at 3:41. Deverka made two saves after this corner and Penn State regained possession with 3:30 left in the third. Gladieux took the ball into the NU circle in the final seconds of the third period and was awarded a penalty stroke with 0:10 left to play. Gladieux took the penalty shot but her shot missed just inches, wide left and the Nittany Lions trailed 5-1 after three.
Penn State was able to force a quick penalty corner to start the fourth period, getting the call at 14:19. Gladieux’s shot was blocked but PSU received another corner. Jennes took a hard shot off the next corner and Skubisz made a save on the play, keeping the score set at 5-1. Northwestern then pushed play downfield and scored again, with Sessa scoring at the 11:29 mark to give Northwestern a 6-1 lead. The Wildcats then scored again less than a minute later with Lane Herbert finding the cage at 10:42. Penn State picked up a corner at 7:50, another off the play and then Skubisz made a save on the shot off the second corner. The Nittany Lions kept pressuring NU and notched a third corner in just :25, this one at 7:25. Gladieux connected on the play, with an assists from Madison Tambroni and Julienne van Bekkum, to cut the lead to 7-2 with 7:05 on the clock. Gladieux became Penn State’s all-time leading goal scorer on the play, notching her 91st career goal and breaking the mark held by Candy Finn (90; 1978-81). That goal was the last of the game as the Nittany Lions dropped the 7-2 road game.
Northwestern outshot Penn State 29-13 and had a 13-9 edge in corners. Deverka had nine saves for the Nittany Lions while Lauren Delgado, who played the final 10:00, had one. Skubisz had seven for Northwestern. Gladieux, as stated, became Penn State’s all-time leader in goals scored and has tied Penn State’s all-time record for points, needing one more point to become the new leader in that category as well (196; Candy Finn, 1978-81).
Penn State is now 6-5 overall, 1-2 B1G. Northwestern improves to 12-0, 5-0 B1G. Penn State has two more road games next weekend, visiting No. 4 Ohio State on Friday, Oct. 11, for a 3 p.m. game live on the Big Ten Network. The Lions then trek to Ohio University on Sunday, Oct. 13, for a 12 p.m. non-conference game.
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 1 1 2
Northwestern 4 0 1 2 7
STATS: PSU NU
Shots 13 29
Corners 9 13
SCORING SUMMARY (goal/assist) – TIME
1st: NU – Chloe Relford (Ilse Tromp); 7:27
1st: NU – Maddie Zimmer (Ilse Tromp); 4:46
1st: NU – Lauren Wadas (Lauren Hunter, Ashley Sessa); 3:41
1st: NU – Lauren Wadas (Maddie Zimmer); 3:08
3rd: NU – Ashley Sessa (Piper Borz); 14:12
3rd: PSU – Phia Gladieux (Drew Taylor); 13:18
4th: NU – Ashley Sessa (Elaine Velthuizen); 13:29
4th: NU – Lane Herbert (Ashley Sessa); 10:42
4th: PSU – Phia Gladieux (Madison Tambroni, Julienne van Bekkum); 7:05
GOALKEEPERS: MIN GA S
PSU: Aby Deverka 49:18 7 9
Lauren Delgado 10:42 0 1
NU: Annabel Skubisz 60:00 2 7