NIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The Penn State Nittany Lion field hockey team (4-1, 0-0 B1G) dominated visiting Kent State (1-4) in non-conference field hockey action Sunday, wrapping up a string of four straight home games. The Nittany Lions rolled to a 5-2 win over Kent State, riding the strength of 25 shots and goals from five different players.
Natalie Freeman began the game by charging into the KSU circle and forcing a penalty stroke at the 14:28 mark. Morgan Snyder knocked the penalty in, and Penn State led 1-0 early. But Kent State immediate answered back. The Flashes moved quickly into the Penn State circle. Lion keeper Aby Deverka made a save on a quick Kent State shot but Maybritt Duwel knocked the rebound past Deverka to tie the game at 1-1 with 13:28 on the clock. Sophia Mannino rifled off a shot that KSU keeper Allison Wood saved. Penn State was awarded the game’s first penalty corner afterwards. Wood made a diving save on Joji Purdy’s ensuing shot and the game continued tied 1-1 at 4:45. Katelyn Strawser had a close shot kicked aside by Wood with :50 on the clock. Kent State worked the ball downfield and forced a late penalty corner with just :03 on the clock. The Penn State defense blocked two shots off the corner, and the game ended the first quarter in a 1-1 tie.
Deverka made a save on a tight Flash tip at the 11:30 mark as the second period began with Kent State on offense. Penn State moved the ball into the KSU circle right after the save and Aubrey Semler had a shot just miss to the left with 11:45 on the clock. The Nittany Lions roared downfield on a fast break at 9:30 with Semler leading the charge. The Lion senior moved to the left of the cage and rocketed a backhand past Wood to give Penn State a 2-1 lead with 9:13 on the clock. The Lions kept pressure on KSU’s defense. Purdy forced Wood into a save and McMenamin just missed wide on the rebound as the clock hit 8:00. The teams battled evenly for the remainder of the second period and the game went to halftime with Penn State leading 2-1.
Semler began the third period pressing the Flash cage and forcing Wood into another save. The Lions picked up a quick penalty corner at 14:15 but the KSU defense held, and the Flash moved the ball down to the Nittany Lion side of the field briefly. Elle Jennes forced a turnover and Natalie Freeman drove downfield, leading to a Lara Pyle shot that just missed left. Penn State gave up a green card at 11:37. But Penn State picked up the pressure a player down and worked action into the KSU circle. As the card expired, Freeman tapped a ball towards the cage, but Wood made a diving save to keep the score at 2-1 with 9:05 on the clock. Penn State got hit with another green card at 6:12. Purdy moved the ball into the KSU circle, however, and picked up a Lion corner with 5:42 on the clock. Snyder fed Purdy, who knocked in the goal at 5:31 to give Penn State 3-1 lead. The Nittany Lions continued to control possession and picked up another corner at 3:47. Snyder’s shot was blocked on the play, but the Lions quickly forced another corner. The Flash defense held as time moved below 3:00. Penn State led 3-1 after three quarters.
Kent State picked up a quick penalty corner to start the fourth, getting the call at 14:39. But Penn State called for a review and the call was reversed, giving the Nittany Lions possession. Kent State forced a turnover at 13:00 and moved into the Lion zone. Eva Usoz dribbled left to right and knocked in a goal at 12:23 to cut the Penn State lead to 3-2. Penn State nearly answered seconds later but a Mannino to Freeman play just missed the KSU cage with 10:45 left to play. Olivia Marthins and Mannino forced a corner with 9:44 on the clock and Lara Pyle forced another corner on the ensuing scramble. Penn State connected on the corner play with Jennes scoring off assists from Freeman and Strawser to give PSU a 4-2 lead at 9:27. Penn State had a fifth goal overturned on review at 6:13 but was awarded a corner. Wood made a save on Semler’s shot and the Lions were awarded another corner. Kent State’s defense held, and the Nittany Lions garnered another corner. The ensuing shot was wide. Kent State pulled their goalie, and the Nittany Lions quickly took advantage with Freeman finding the empty net off a Purdy pass at 5:17. Marthins forced another Lion corner with 1:38 to play. The Flash defense held and worked the ball downfield, forcing a penalty corner with :52 on the clock. Deverka made a save on the ensuing scramble and KSU picked up another corner at :19. Penn State defended the play and walked off with a 5-2 win.
“We had some great goals today and we finished much better in a few situations,” said head coach Lisa Bervinchak Love. “This was a very positive weekend for us. We got two good wins and have some momentum heading into our Big Ten opener next weekend. We had 25 shots today, which is outstanding. We will continue to work on finishing more consistently.”
The Nittany Lions outshot the Flash 25-9 and had an 11-3 edge in penalty corners. Deverka had three saves for Penn State and Wood had 11 for Kent State.
Penn State is now 4-1, 0-0 B1G. Kent State falls to 1-4. The Nittany Lions open up Big Ten play next weekend, travelling to Maryland for a 5 p.m. game on Friday, Sept. 19. Penn State then visits Lafayette on Sunday, Sept. 21, 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 1 1 1 2 5
Kent State 1 0 0 1 2
STATS: PSU KSU
Shots 25 9
Corners 11 3
SCORING SUMMARY (goal/assist) – TIME
1st: PSU – Morgan Snyder (penalty stroke); 14:28
1st: KSU – Maybritt Duwel (unassisted); 13:28
2nd: PSU – Aubrey Semler (unassisted); 9:13
3rd: PSU – Joji Purdy (Morgan Snyder); 5:31
4th: KSU – Eva Usoz (unassisted); 12:23
4th: PSU – Ella Jennes (Natalie Freeman, Katelyn Strawser); 9:27
4th: PSU – Natalie Freeman (Joji Purdy); 5:17
GOALKEEPERS: MIN GA S
PSU: Aby Deverka 60:00 2 3
KSU: Allison Wood 59:34 4 11
Team 0:26 1 0