UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The Penn State Nittany Lion field hockey team (4-3, 0-1 B1G) played its third overtime game of the year and lost 3-2 on penalty strokes at Lafayette (5-3) in a non-conference battle. The Nittany Lions got goals from Natalie Freeman and Morgan Snyder in the close road loss on Sunday in Easton, Pa
The opening period began with Lafayette working the ball downfield quickly. Lea Good took a shot that Nittany Lion keeper Aby Deverka knocked aside for her first save of the game, less than ninety seconds into the contest. The Leopards kept pressure on Penn State and eventually took an early lead when Lena Thedrian took an assist from Good to give Lafayette a 1-0 lead at 6:23. Nittany Lion Natalie Freeman got off Penn State’s first shot on goal, forcing LC keeper Raffi Fragomeni into a save at the 4:02 mark. Penn State picked up a corner with just over 3:00 left in the period but could not connect on the ensuing play. Lafayette immediately moved action down to the Nittany Lion end of the field and pressed the Penn State cage. The Lion defense held, and Penn State trailed 1-0 after the opening period.
The teams battled evenly for the opening minutes of the second period, trading possessions past the 10:00 mark. Penn State tied the game at 8:56 when Natalie Freeman scored, off a Brooke Weaver assist, to knot the contest at 1-1. The Nittany Lions picked up a penalty corner late in the second period. Ella Jennes’ shot was saved by Fragomeni at 1:02 and the contest moved to intermission tied at 1-1.
Lafayette opened the second half with a shot towards the Lion cage that sailed wide at the 12:15 mark. Freeman answered with a shot four minutes later, forcing Fragomeni into another save. Penn State pressured Lafayette for the next few minutes, forcing a penalty corner and then a penalty stroke at the 7:38 mark. Sophomore Morgan Snyder knocked the ball past Fragomeni on the free shot and Penn State led 2-1 midway through the third. Snyder’s goal was the lone score of the third period and the Nittany Lions led by one after three.
Penn State gave up a green card just :14 into the fourth period, giving Lafayette an early player advantage. But the Leopards gave up their own green card a minute later to even the sides. Nittany Lion Joji Purdy had a shot slip just wide at the 12:51 mark. The Nittany Lions forced a penalty corner at 9:58. Purdy’s shot off the set was blocked by the Lafayette defense and the game continued with the Nittany Lions up by one through the 9:00 mark. Lafayette was hit with another green card at 7:49. Olivia Marthins’ shot was saved by Fragomeni seconds later. Penn State picked up a penalty corner the 4:00 mark but could not connect on the play. With the game entering its final minute, Lafayette moved into the Lion circle and the Penn State defense blocked a Leopard shot. The home team was awarded a penalty corner at :43. The Leopards connected on the play with Lauren Kurek scoring at :37 to tie the game at 2-2 and send action into overtime.
Penn State had a chance to win it 4:00 into overtime but Fragomeni made a nice save on Weaver’s shot to keep the game knotted at 2-2. Lafayette moved downfield after taking possession and forced a corner at 5:24. The Lion defense held on the play and action moved to the extra period’s midway point. Lafayette was hit with a yellow card with just over 2:00 left in the overtime period. The first extra period ended with the score still 2-2. Penn State retained a player advantage to start the second overtime period.
Mirroring the first OT period, Weaver forced Fragomeni into a save just 1:04 into the second extra stanza. Freeman’s shot on the scramble missed high and the Leopards regained the ball. Lafayette moved downfield quickly and forced a penalty corner at 7:32. The Lion defense blocked the ensuing shot and Deverka made a save on a quick second shot to keep the Nittany Lions alive. Penn State moved into the Lafayette circle and Freeman had a shot blocked by the LC defense. The Nittany Lions were awarded a penalty corner at 5:05. Snyder’s shot was saved by Fragomeni and the game continued on. Neither team threatened in in the final seconds and the game ended the second overtime tied 2-2, moving to penalty shots. The Leopards took an early lead in the penalty stroke session and rode that momentum to the win, 3-2 on penalty shots.
Penn State outshot Lafayette 16-9 and had a 7-5 edge in corners. Deverka had two saves for Penn State while Fragomeni had nine to spark the Leopards.
Penn State is now 4-3, 0-1 B1G. Lafayette improves to 5-3. The Nittany Lions return home to host Michigan State on Friday, Sept. 26, at 4 p.m. The game will be a Big Ten Network national telecast. The Lions then trek to Syracuse on Sunday, Sept. 28, for a 1 p.m. non-conference match-up.
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 OT1 OT2 PS FINAL
PENN STATE 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 (1) 2
Lafayette 1 0 0 1 0 0 2 (1) 3
STATS: PSU LC
Shots 16 9
Corners 7 5
SCORING SUMMARY (goal/assist) – TIME
1st: LC – Lena Thedrian (Lea Good); 7:23
2nd: PSU – Natalie Freeman (Brooke Weaver); 8:56
3rd: PSU – Morgan Snyder (penalty stroke); 7:38
4th: LC – Lauren Kurek (unassisted); 0:37
PS: LC – Wins 2-0 (1 round left)
GOALKEEPERS: MIN GA S
PSU: Aby Deverka 80:00 2 2
LC: Raffi Fragomeni 80:00 2 9