UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.; September 14, 2018 – The Penn State Nittany field hockey team (4-2, 1-0 B1G), ranked No. 6 in the NFHCA Coaches Poll, scored twice in the final ten minutes to beat No. 22 Ohio State (4-3, 0-1 B1G) in the Big Ten opener for both teams. The Nittany Lions posted a 3-2 victory over the Buckeyes in the Friday afternoon contest, played in Columbus, Ohio.
Penn State had an early chance to score at the 31:00 mark with the ball moving around in front of the Buckeye cage. But Ohio State keeper Aaliyah Hernandez pushed the ball away and out of bounds, giving Penn State an early corner. The Buckeyes blocked Penn State's opening corner and then Hernandez notched a save on a shot by Aurelia Meijer (Hattam, Netherlands). The Nittany Lions midfield, anchored by Meijer and senior Cassie Kline (Millersville, Pa.), dominated the early going before Ohio State mounted its first offensive charge with Kelsey Nolan taking the ball down field only to be stopped cold by Lion keeper Jenny Rizzo (Hershey, Pa.). Rizzo notched a quick second save that started a Penn State fast break. Penn State missed on the first shot but Lion senior Emily Klingler (Selinsgrove, Pa.) found the back of the cage on a second shot and Penn State led 1-0 at the 27:49 mark.
Anna Simon (Hanau, Germany) nearly scored on another Penn State corner at the 21:50 mark but Hernandez held firm on two Lion attempts. Ohio State was unable to connect on a slight offensive charge shortly thereafter as the Penn State defense controlled the Penn State backfield. Senior Cori Conley (Oak Park, Ill.), classmate Lauren McNally (Marmora, N.J.) and Simon anchored the Penn State defense, turning the Buckeyes over, feeding the Penn State midfield and keeping Ohio State from mounting any consistent offensive pressure in the opening 20:00 minutes. Hernandez made solid kick save on a nice Klingler shot at the 15:00 mark to keep the score at 1-0.
Ohio State then moved the ball downfield after the save and knotted the game at 1-1 off a Sina Schwinn goal at the 15:35 mark. Penn State had outshot the Buckeyes 8-3 at that point but found itself tied 1-1. Hernandez kept the game tied with a couple more saves off Penn State corners and the game continued tied 1-1 as the clock moved towards the 10:00 mark. Ohio State was able to control the action for the bulk of the final 10:00 and the first half ended with the game tied 1-1.
The Nittany Lions outshot Ohio State 10-3 but Hernandez's five saves kept the game tied. Rizzo had two saves. Penn State had a 5-0 advantage in penalty corners as well.
The second half began in similar fashion as the first with Ohio State controlling possession for the opening minutes. Penn State's Moira Putsch (Media, Pa.) had a chance on a quick breakaway at the 31:20 mark but Hernandez was solid in the cage for the Buckeyes. Ohio State took a 2-1 lead at the 28:25 mark when Kelsey Nolan scored on a rebound. Ohio State got a green card at the 26:18 mark, giving Penn State a 2:00 advantage. The Nittany Lions could not turn the advantage into a goal and action resumed even-up. Gini Bramley (Elizabethtown, Pa.) nearly tied the score at the 23:00 mark but Ohio State's defense kept the Lions out of the cage and the Lions trailed 2-1 as the clock neared the 20:00 mark.
As the game moved below 20:00, Penn State countered a quick Ohio State press, turned the Buckeyes over and then set up a solid possession in the Ohio State backfield. But the Buckeyes answered with good defense, moved the ball down the field and nearly took a two-goal lead before Rizzo was able to push the Buckeyes effort aside and keep Penn State close. Penn State got hit with a green card at the 18:00 mark, giving Ohio State a 2:00 advantage. Penn State worked to move the ball downfield but the Ohio State defense was able to answer every Penn State push and the Buckeyes held the one goal lead at the 15:40 mark.
Rizzo notched an outstanding save at the 13:33 mark that lead to Ohio State's first penalty corner of the game. The Lion defense was strong, however, and Penn State was able to keep the Buckeyes from improving their lead. That defense stand proved critical as Penn State moved the ball downfield and tied the game 2-2 when Alexis Horst (Port Trevorton, Pa.) scored off a Bramley assist at the 9:52 mark. Ohio State countered with a set of penalty corners at the 7:30 mark but Rizzo and the Lion defense was equal to the task, keeping the game tied 2-2 at the 7:00 mark.
Putsch pushed the ball in front of the Buckeye cage at the 4:40 mark, forcing a penalty corner. Putsch pushed the ball to Simon, who's shot was blocked. Katie Dembrowski (Palmyra, Pa.) found the rebound and quickly pushed the ball past Hernandez to give the Nittany Lions a 3-2 lead at the 3:51 mark. Ohio State pulled its goalie after the Dembrowski goal, but Penn State's defense was up to the task. Penn State regained possession and worked the clock down below 2:00. Penn State then managed to the ball down on the Ohio State side of the field all the way to the 1:00 mark before Ohio State grabbed possession. The Buckeyes took one last run but Bramley was able to steal the ball and push the ball down to Ohio State's end of the field, effectively killing the clock and securing the 3-2 Lion victory.
"It was good to see us play competitively and with composure late in the game when we were behind," said head coach Char Morett-Curtiss. "Ohio State played very well and they are a great defensive team. Moira Putsch had a really good game for us and she put us in a position to score late when she forced the penalty corner that led to Katie's goal. Any time you can get a Big Ten win on the road, against a good team like Ohio State, you take it. We need to do a better job controlling some of our possessions but I'm pleased we were able to answer late."
Penn State outshot Ohio State 16-12, with the Buckeyes hold a slim 9-6 edge in the second half. Rizzo and Hernandez each posted six saves while Penn State had a 6-3 advantage in corners (but took only one in the second half).
The Nittany Lions move to 4-2 overall, 1-0 in the Big Ten, while Ohio State falls to 4-3, 0-1 in the conference. Penn State will now head to College Park, Md., to battle No. 21 Boston University in a game played at the University of Maryland on Sunday, Sept. 16, at 1 p.m.
Fans are encouraged to follow the Nittany Lion field hockey team online at www.GoPSUsports.com (click teams, click field hockey), on twitter @pennstateFH and on facebook at www.facebook.com/pennstatefieldhockey.
GAME BREAKDOWN
SCORING: 1 2 FINAL
#6 Penn State (4-2, 1-0 B1G) 1 2 3
#22 Ohio State (4-3, 0-1 B1G) 1 1 2
STATS: PSU OSU
Shots 16 12
Corners 6 3
SCORING SUMMARY (assist) -- TIME
1st: PSU – Emily Klingler (unassisted), 27:49
1st: OSU – Sina Schwinn (unassisted), 15:35
2nd: OSU – Kelsey Nolan (unassisted), 28:25
2nd: PSU – Emily Horst (Gini Bramley), 9:52
2nd: PSU – Katie Dembrowski (unassisted), 3:51
GOALKEEPERS: MIN GA S
PSU: Jenny Rizzo 70:00 2 6
OSU: Aaliyah Hernandez 66:09 2 6
Team 3:51 0 0
