UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The Penn State Nittany Lion field hockey team (6-8, 2-5 B1G) lost a tough 3-1 home game to Indiana (7-7, 2-3 B1G) at Char Morett Curtiss Field on Sunday. Natlie Freeman scored the first goal of the game for Penn State, but IU pulled away late for the conference victory.
Penn State’s Aubrey Semler forced the game’s first penalty corner at the 11:06 mark. Indiana’s defense broke up the play to keep the game scoreless early on. The Nittany Lions maintained control on offense. Semler fed the ball from the left side, connecting with Natalie Freeman who found the back of the cage to put Penn State up 1-0 at 9:13. Penn State forced another corner at 5:02. Indiana keeper Sadie Canelli made the save on the Joji Purdy shot that followed. Indiana then tied the game up with Ines Garcia Prado scoring unassisted at 2:52. Penn State picked up a corner with 2:11 on the clock but the shot off the set was blocked. The game moved to the second period tied 1-1.
Indiana began the second period with a quick push into the Lion circle, forcing Penn State goalie Aby Deverka into an early save at 14:14. Indiana then forced a penalty corner at 10:43, then another at 10:38. The shot off the second corner was wide and the game continued tied 1-1. Indiana continued to pressure Penn State. The Hoosiers nearly connected on a fast break, but Lion defender Cooper Cutchins was clutch with a defensive save at 5:45, followed by a Deverka save on the rebound to keep the game tied 1-1. Penn State gave up a green card at 5:00. Penn State picked up a corner at 3:36. Canelli made a diving save on the Penn State shot to keep the game tied as the clock moved below the 3:00 mark.
Indiana forced a penalty corner early in the third at the 14:12 mark and the Lion defense forced a turnover on the play. Penn State gave up another green card at 12:47 but the Lions easily killed off the player advantage. Indiana kept the ball on the Penn State side and Deverka made a kick save on a Hoosier shot at 8:55, keeping the game tied. Deverka made another save at 8:22 but IU was awarded another corner on the play. Morgan Snyder made a defensive save on the corner, Deverka a save on the rebound shot and IU was given another corner at 7:50. The Lion defense blocked the first shot, Deverka made a save on the second and Penn State moved the ball downfield at 7:30. Indiana was hit with a green card at 7:18. The Hoosiers worked the penalty off as the clock dipped to 4:00. Indiana forced a corner at 3:31 and the Lion defense held once again. Deverka made another save as IU continued to pressure the Lion cage as the third period wound down. Indiana was able to take the lead, however, with Garcia Prado scoring with just 1:24 on the clock to give the Hoosiers a 2-1 lead heading into the final period.
Penn State pressed action into the Hoosier circle early in the fourth quarter but the Hoosier defense was able to keep the Nittany Lions from getting off a shot. Indiana returned action to the Lion side of the field and force a corner at 12:10. Hooser Charlotte Glasper scored off a Mijntje Hagen assist at 12:01 to give IU a 3-1 lead. Penn State forced a quick corner after that, getting the call at 9:47 but Canelli made a save on the PSU shot. Penn State quickly forced another corner at the 8:56 mark. Canelli once again made a save on a solid PSU shot to keep the Hoosiers up by two. Penn State battled its way to a penalty corner at 1:48 but the Hoosiers blocked the ensuing shot and were able to run out the clock to post the 3-1 win.
“I felt like we came out and played a good first period and then lost our composure,” said head coach Lisa Bervinchak Love. “After a solid start, we did not come back in the second half and play to the level we need to. Offensively and defensively, we just weren’t disciplined, and you cannot do that against a good opponent like Indiana.”
Indiana outshot Penn State 17-9, including an 11-3 edge in the second half. Penn State had an 8-7 lead in corners. Deverka had nine saves for the Nittany Lions while Canelli had five for Indiana.
Penn State is now 6-8 overall, 2-5 in the conference. Indiana improves to 7-7, 2-3 B1G. The Nittany Lions hit the road for two non-conference games next weekend. Penn State is at Lock Haven on Friday, Oct. 24, at 3 p.m. The Nittany Lions then travel to Princeton for a game on Sunday, Oct. 26, 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 FINALS
Penn State 1 0 0 0 1
Indiana 1 0 1 1 3
STATS: PSU IND
Shots 9 17
Corners 8 7
SCORING SUMMARY (goal/assist) – TIME
1st: PSU – Natalie Freeman (Aubrey Semler); 9:13
1st: IND – Ines Garcia Prado (unassisted); 2:52
3rd: IND – Ines Garcia Prado (Hannah Riddle); 1:24
4th: IU – Charlotte Glasper (Mijntje Hagen); 12:01
GOALKEEPERS: MIN GA S
PSU: Aby Deverka 60:00 3 9
IND: Sadie Canelli 60:00 1 5