UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The Penn State Nittany Lion field hockey team (7-8, 2-5 B1G) rolled to an 8-0 shutout win at Lock Haven (0-16) in non-conference field hockey action on Friday afternoon. Nittany Lion Ella Jennes scored three times to lead Penn State to its first road win of the season.
Penn State picked up a penalty corner just :36 seconds into the contest. Jennes scored right off the play, putting Penn State on top less than a minute into the contest. Penn State scored less than a minute later when Natalie Freeman found the back of the cage to put Penn State up 2-0 less than ninety seconds into the contest. The Nittany Lions continued to roar on offense, with Jennes scoring again at the 11:00 mark. Freeman made it 4-0 less than a minute later with her second goal of the game, all within the game’s first five minutes. Penn State began rotating in a host of younger players as the first period wound down and led 4-0 after the opening period.
Penn State had two early chances to add to its lead, but the Lock Haven defense held. The Bald Eagles then moved downfield, forced Penn State goalie Aby Deverka into her first save, and picked up a penalty corner at 10:39. The LHU shot off the set missed wide and Penn State maintained its four goal lead. Penn State picked up a penalty corner at 7:25, Lock Haven blocked the shot and Penn State was awarded another quick corner. Lock Haven keeper Kelsey Felix made the save and the game continued with Penn State up by four. Lock Haven forced a corner at 6:21. The Lock Haven shot off the corner was blocked by Penn State. Olivia Marthins charged into the LHU circle and forced a corner at 3:07 but a PSU foul ended the effort. The Nittany Lions carried a 4-0 lead into the halftime break.
Aubrey Semler scored quickly to open up the third period, putting Penn State up 5-0 just :22 into the third period. The Nittany Lions then forced a quick penalty corner at 12:39. True freshman Joji Purdy then scored unassisted at 11:49 to give the Lions a 6-0 lead early in the third. The Nittany Lions continued to pour on the offense with Jennes notching her third goal of the game at the 9:28 mark to give Penn State a 7-0 lead. Penn State forced a penalty corner at 5:18 but the Haven defense held. Penn State carried the seven goal lead into the fourth period.
Lock Haven moved the ball into the Lion circle to start the fourth period. The Bald Eagles forced a penalty corner at the 13:55 mark early in the stanza. Deverka made a couple saves on the play and LHU picked up another quick corner, then a third. The pass off the third corner was wide and Penn State took over possession. The Lions worked the ball downfield and forced a corner at 12:28. Taryn Dolka made the save for Lock Haven to keep the score at 7-0. But Penn State continued to pressure LHU and Olivia Marthins got on the board at 10:56 to give Penn State an 8-0 lead. Lock Haven keeper Dolka made three good saves in succession at the 5:00 mark before Penn State picked up a corner at 4:58. The Haven defense held on the corner and Penn State picked up another at 4:30, then a third at 4:12. Lock Haven held then moved the ball downfield to force a corner at the 1:58 mark. Penn State defended the final Lock Haven corner and walked away with the 8-0 victory.
Penn State outshot Lock Haven 31-7 and had a 13-5 lead in penalty corners. Nittany Lion keeper Aby Deverka picked up her third shutout of the season with two saves. Felix had eight and Dolka had six for Lock Haven’s team total of 14.
Penn State is now 7-8 overall, 2-5 in the conference. Lock Haven falls to 0-16. 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 4 0 3 1 8
Lock Haven 0 0 0 0 0
STATS: PSU LHU
Shots 31 7
Corners 13 5
SCORING SUMMARY (goal/assist) – TIME
1st: PSU – Ella Jennes (Natalie Freeman, Madison Tambroni); 14:18
1st: PSU – Natalie Freeman (Aubrey Semler); 13:40
1st: PSU – Ella Jennes (Madison Britton); 11:01
1st: PSU – Natalie Freeman (Sophia Mannino); 10:12
3rd: PSU – Aubrey Semler (unassisted); 14:38
3rd: PSU – Joji Purdy (unassisted); 11:49
3rd: PSU – Ella Jennes (unassisted); 9:38
4th: PSU – Olivia Marthins (Natalie Freeman); 10:56
GOALKEEPERS: MIN GA S
PSU: Aby Deverka 60:00
LHU: Kelsey Felix 45:00 7 8
Taryn Dolka 15:00 1 6