UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The Penn State Nittany Lion field hockey team (1-1, 0-0 B1G) downed visiting Delaware (0-3) in the home opener for head coach Lisa Bervinchak Love’s team. Penn State scored late in the second overtime period to post a 3-2 (2OT) win to even its record at 1-1.
Delaware threatened first, getting off two shots in the 9:00 window that Penn State goalie Aby Deverka made saves on. The Blue Hens were awarded the game’s first penalty corner after the second at the 9:26 mark. Sophia Mannino blocked the ensuing shot and Penn State took over possession. The Nittany Lions moved the ball down into the Blue Hen zone, but Delaware’s defense held as the clock moved to the 6:00 mark. Deverka made a kick save on a close shot at the 3:43 mark but the Hens picked up another penalty corner. Deverka made another save on the play and the game continued through the 3:00 mark in a scoreless tie.
The Nittany Lions were hit with a green card early in the second period. The Lion defense fought off the player advantage to keep the game tied at 0-0. Penn State used a fast break to press Delaware goalie Gabby Prentice with Natalie Freeman nearly tipping a ball past the UD keeper. The Nittany Lions were awarded their first penalty corner on the play. Morgan Snyder’s shot off the set was blocked by the Hen defense as the clock moved towards 9:00. The Nittany Lions picked up another corner at the 6:39 mark. Freshman Brooke Weaver forced a penalty corner at 2:03 with a drive from the right side of the circle. Elle Jennes’ shot was blocked but Penn State maintained possession. The teams traded possessions in the final minutes of the half, and the game entered intermission tied 0-0.
Penn State held off a quick Delaware push to start the third quarter then both teams traded unsuccessful penalty corners, all in the first 4:00 of the second half. Freshman Lara Pyle nearly finished off a successful fast break at the 10:40 mark but the Hen defense held. On defense, Lion freshman Cooper Cutchins forced a turnover by the Hens at 9:25 allowing the Nittany Lions to move the ball back into the Delaware zone. Katelyn Strawser and Cutchins forced a corner at 8:34. The Nittany Lions got on the board first with Joji Purdy scoring off Morgan McMenamin’s assist on a penalty corner. The Hens answered quickly, however, with Kate Fiest connecting on a penalty corner at 8:00 to tie the score at 1-1. Mannino forced another Lion corner with 2:20 left in the third. Aubrey Semler’s shot off the play was blocked. Penn State had a Carly Seal goal reversed on review with 1:42 left in the period. Olivia Marthins forced another corner for the Nittany Lions at the 1:20 mark. The Lions picked up another quick corner at 1:14 but Madison Tambroni’s tipped shot slipped wide and the game moved to the final period tied 1-1.
Mannino forced a penalty corner at 10:34 in the fourth. Freeman’s shot off the play was wide, but Penn State continued to pressure the Blue Hen defense, picking up another corner at 9:40. But the Delaware defense held off the Lions once again the game continued tied 1-1 past the 9:00 mark. A Nittany Lion turnover led to a Delaware corner at 7:30 but Penn State held off the effort. The hens kept the ball in the Lion zone and picked up another penalty corner with 6:14 on the clock. Penn State stopped the play and eventually regained possession. After a Lion turnover, Snyder forced a Hen miscue and Penn State looked to move the ball downfield with 4:40 left. Weaver had a shot saved by Prentice at 2:40 and Freeman nearly tipped a ball past the Hen keeper as well. Purdy then knocked in a goal at 2:19 to put Penn State on top 2-1. Delaware quickly moved the ball downfield and forced a corner at 2:00. A Blue Hen goal waved off and the Lions maintained a one-goal lead. Delaware tied the game in the waning seconds with Alexa Michielsen scoring unassisted to send the game into overtime.
Overtime began with Penn State pushing the ball into the Hen zone. But Delaware forced a turnover and took possession with 8:20 on the clock. Pyle intercepted a deep pass in front of the Lion cage at 7:50 to allow the Lion defense to reset and regain the ball. The teams traded possessions as the clock moved below the 4:00 mark. Delaware drove the ball into the Penn State zone with 2:30 left. Penn State’s held through the 1:00 mark until the Lions regained the ball at :35. The game moved into a second overtime period tied 2-2.
Penn State pressed the UD cage early in the second overtime but could not score. Delaware returned the ball to the Lion zone and Penn State stopped the charge at 6:48. Martins had a shot at 5:06 knocked away by the UD keeper. Penn State pressured the Delaware cage and Marthins forced a corner at 3:49. Jennes’ shot was blocked and Penn State picked up another corner. The Nittany Lions ended the game seconds later when Elle Jennes scored unassisted after the corner, giving Penn State the 3-2 (2OT) win with 3:33 on the clock.
“I am so proud of this team,” said head coach Lisa Bervinchak Love. “We’ve been telling them to believe in themselves and to have confidence in themselves. Tonight, it paid off. They played Penn State Field Hockey, they played with heart and outworked their opponent. They stuck together and picked up the win.”
Penn State outshot Delaware 16-10 and had a 12-6 edge in penalty corners. Deverka had six saves for Penn State and Prentice had four for Delaware.
Penn State is now 1-1, 0-0 B1G. Delaware falls to 0-3. Penn State returns to action at home once again, hosting St. Joseph’s on Sunday, Sept. 7, 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 OT OT FINAL
PENN STATE 0 0 1 1 0 1 3
Delaware 0 0 1 1 0 0 2
STATS: PSU UD
Shots 16 10
Corners 12 10
SCORING SUMMARY (goal/assist) – TIME
3rd: PSU – Joji Purdy (Morgan McMenamin); 8:26
3rd: UD – Kate Fiest (Iris Bekker, Livia van’t Hek); 8:00
4th: PSU – Joji Purdy (unassisted); 2:19
4th: UD – Alexa Michielsen (unassisted); 0:43
2OT: PSU – Elle Jennes (unassisted); 3:33
GOALKEEPERS: MIN GA S
PSU: Aby Deverka 76:27 2 6
UD: Gabby Prentice 74:27 3 4