UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The Penn State field hockey team (8-9, 2-6 B1G), ranked No. 17 in the latest NFHCA Coaches Poll, lost a tough 4-2 game to No. 7 Maryland (12-5, 6-2 B1G) in the season finale for the Nittany Lions. Maryland used a three-goal burst in the third period to post the win.
Penn State had an early shot on goal with Julienne van Bekkum taking a pas from Phia Gladieux in the first minute and tipping it towards the Terrapin cage. Maryland keeper Alyssa Klebasko kicked the shot aside to halt the early effort. Maryland returned the ball to the Nittany Lion circle and had an early shot go wide of Penn State keeper Lauren Delgado and the Penn State goal. Maryland forced the game’s first corner at the 11:50 mark. Penn State made the stop on the corner, but Maryland was awarded another. Maryland connected on the next corner with Ella Gaitan scoring off a Hope Rose assist with 11:34 on the clock. Another Maryland corner at 9:15 led to a Delgado save but Maryland maintained possession. Maryland forced another corner at 8:22 and Delgado made a diving kick save on the shot that followed to keep Penn State close. Gladieux and Sophia Mannino worked the into the Maryland zone at the 5:30 mark but Maryland’s defense held. Maryland was hit with a green card at 3:36 but the Terrapins killed the advantage and Penn State trailed 1-0 after one period.
Penn State controlled the ball to start the second period, pressing the Terrapin circle through the 12:00 mark. Maryland stole the ball and moved downfield but Lion freshman Morgan Snyder forced a turnover on the fastbreak to halt the drive. Penn State forced its first corner at 10:26 of the second period. Van Bekkum fed the ball into Gladieux on the corner and the Lion senior scored at 10:17 to tie the game at 1-1. Penn State kept the pressure on Maryland and Katelyn Strawser had a shot blocked at 7:49. Maryland moved action to the Penn State side through the 3:30 mark. Gery Schnarrs forced a turnover at 3:40 and Maryland gave up a green card at 3:32. Maryland controlled action through the penalty and the game moved to halftime tied 1-1.
Maryland outshot Penn State 6-4 and had a 4-1 edge in corners. Both Delgado and Klebasko had two saves each.
The Terrapins scored quickly to start the second half with Annemijn Klijnhout scoring off a Kylee Niswonger assist at 14:23 to give the visitors a 2-1 lead. Three minutes later, Maryland upped its lead to 3-1 on a Hope Rose goal at 11:32. Maryland kept PSU on defense, forcing a corner at 10:43 and another at 10:33. Schnarrs made a defensive save on the following shot and the clock moved below 10:00 with Penn State trailing 3-1. Maryland kept the ball on the Lion side of the field for much of the third period and the clock slipped below the 5:00 mark. Rose scored again with just 2:26 left in the period and Penn State trailed 4-1 after three.
Maryland forced a quick corner at 12:58 to start the fourth period. The Nittany Lion defense held, and Penn State moved the ball downfield, forcing a penalty corner with 10:31 on the clock. The corner was challenged and overturned on review, giving the ball back to Maryland. The teams worked the clock under the 8:00 mark, batting evenly throughout. Gaitan had a shot hit the post at 5:20, nearly upping the Terrapin lead. Neither team threatened offensively through the 2:00 mark. Delgado intercepted a Maryland pass at 1:50 in a late push by the Terrapins as well. Sophia Mannino capped off Penn State’s scoring with an unassisted goal at :55 but Maryland was able to post the 4-2 win.
“It’s always tough to end your season with a loss but these young women played with heart tonight and I am proud of them,” said head coach Lisa Bervinchak Love. “We played three very competitive quarters, but the third period cost us. We are thankful for the great fan support we had once again tonight and all season long, it means so much to us.”
Maryland outshot Penn State 15-8 and had an 8-1 edge in corners. Delgado had five saves and Schnarrs had a defensive save for Penn State while Klebasko had four for Maryland. Gladieux closes out her career as a Nittany Lions as Penn State’s all-time leader in goals scored (94) and points scored (202 off 94 and 14). She ends her final season with 44 points off 20 goals and four assists.
Penn State ends its season at 8-9 overall, 2-6 B1G. Maryland improves to 12-5, 6-2 B1G. Penn State’s 2024 season came to completion with the Maryland loss.
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 1 0 1 2
Maryland 1 0 3 0 4
STATS: PSU MD
Shots 8 15
Corners 1 8
SCORING SUMMARY (goal/assist) – TIME
1st: MD – Ella Gaitan (Hope Rose); 11:34
2nd: PSU – Phia Gladieux (Julienne van Bekkum); 10:17
3rd: MD – Annemijn Klijnhout (Kylee Niswonger); 14:23
3rd: MD – Hope Rose (Maci Bradford); 11:32
3rd: MD – Hope Rose (Ella Gaitan); 2:26
4th: PSU – Sophia Mannino (unassisted); 0:55
GOALKEEPERS: MIN GA S
PSU: Lauren Delgado 60:00 4 5
Team -- 0 1
MD: Alyssa Klebasko 60:00 2 4