UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The Penn State Nittany Lion field hockey team (5-4, 1-1 B1G) battled No. 6 Syracuse (8-2) tough on the road in non-conference field hockey action, before dropping a 3-2 contest in New York. Penn State led late in the contest but the Orange scored twice in the last 1:30 to steal the win.
Syracuse got off the game’s first shot at the 8:26 mark, a shot that sailed wide of Penn State keeper Aby Deverka and the Nittany Lion cage. The Orange forced the game’s first corner at 6:40 and reeled off three straight shots with Deverka making a save on one to keep the game scoreless. Penn State’s defense blocked another SU shot with just over 5:00 to play in the opening period. The Nittany Lions were able to pressure the Syracuse zone late in the first period with Natalie Freeman getting of PSU’s first shot, blocked by the Orange defense, at 0:43. The game moved to the second period tied 0-0.
The two teams traded possessions early in the second period. Penn State then struck first as Morgan McMenamin scored at 11:39 to give Penn State a 1-0 lead. Syracuse’s Hattie Madden got off a shot in the Lion zone that Penn State blocked with 8:41 on the clock. The Nittany Lions answered the SU effort with freshman Joji Purdy taking a shot on goal, forcing SU keeper Jessie Eiselin into a save at 5:02. Penn State carried the 1-0 lead into the halftime break.
Syracuse began the third period by forcing a quick penalty corner at 11:56. Deverka made a save on the following SU shot but the Orange picked up another quick corner. Nittany Lion defender Anouk Knuvers then notched a defensive save on the next Syracuse shot and Penn State maintained its one goal lead. The teams battled evenly after that and Penn State led 1-0 heading into the final period.
Freshman Lara Pyle had a quick shot on goal that SU keeper Tane King knocked aside less than 2:00 into the final period. Syracuse worked the ball quickly downfield and forced a penalty corner at the 11:26 mark. Madden connected on the corner play for SU to tie the game at 1-1 with 11:22 left on the clock. Syracuse picked up a corner shortly after, and a second following a Lion defensive block, with Deverka making a pair of saves with 9:00 left in the game to keep the contest tied. The Lions then worked the ball downfield with Pyle taking a shot that SU blocked a minute later. Penn State picked up a couple corners at 8:30 with the SU defense blocking the Nittany Lion shots that followed. Penn State continued to pressure the SU cage, picking up two more corners and forcing King into another save for Syracuse. The Penn State pressure paid of when Joji Purdy scored unassisted at 5:49 to give PSU a 2-1 lead late in the game. Penn State continued to dominate the action, with Purdy getting another shot on goal that forced King into another save. Syracuse pulled its goalie in the final minutes and the Orange offense moved the ball into the PSU zone. Penn State’s defense blocked a shot at 1:28 but Syracuse picked up a penalty corner on the play. The Orange connected on the corner set with Bo Van Kempen tying the game at 2-2 with 1:23 on the clock. Penn State gave up a late yellow card at 0:37, giving SU a player advantage. With just :23 on the clock, Syracuse took advantage of the player advantage when Lana Hamilton scored to give SU a 3-2 lead. That late goal proved the difference and Penn State dropped the 3-2 heartbreaker on the road.
The Orange outshot Penn State 24-10 in the game and held a 9-4 lead in penalty corners. Deverka had eight saves for the Nittany Lions while SU’s keepers combined for four.
Penn State is now 5-4 overall, 1-1 B1G. Syracuse improves to 8-2. The Nittany hit the road for two Big Ten road games next weekend. Penn State is at Michigan on Friday, Oct. 3, at 5 p.m. and at Ohio State on Sunday, Oct. 5, 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 1 0 1 2
Syracuse 0 0 0 3 3
STATS: PSU SU
Shots 10 24
Corners 9 4
SCORING SUMMARY (goal/assist) – TIME
2nd: PSU – Morgan McMenamin (unassisted); 11:39
4th: SU – Hattie Madden (Bo Van Kempen); 11:22
4th: PSU – Joji Purdy (unassisted); 5:49
4th: SU --- Bo Van Kempen (Pati Strunk, Lana Hamilton); 1:23
4th: SU – Lana Hamilton (Pati Strunk); 0:23
GOALKEEPERS: MIN GA S
PSU: Aby Deverka 60:00 3 8
SU: Jessie Eiselin 30:00 1 1
Tane King 27:00 1 3
Team 3:00 0 0