UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.; November 9, 2018 – The Penn State Nittany field hockey team (12-6) lost to Harvard (17-1) in the first round of the 2018 NCAA Field Hockey tournament. The Nittany Lions lost 6-1 in the game played at Princeton University in Princeton, N.J. For Penn State, this marks the 12th time in the last 14 years the team has made an appearance in the NCAA tournament. Harvard used a three-goal burst in a 5:00 span early in the game to open up a lead that Penn State could not come back from.
Penn State came out hot, forcing a penalty corner just three minutes into the game. The Nittany Lions got off two solid shots but Harvard goalie Ellie Shahbo was able to make good saves on both to keep the game scoreless early. Penn State dominated the early action, keeping the ball down in front of the Harvard cage for the opening five minutes, but Harvard was able to limit any scoring chances and regained possession, moving a fast break downfield and picking up its first corner at the 28:00 mark. Lion keeper Jenny Rizzo (Hershey, Pa.) made a nice save and Harvard's shot off a second corner was too high.
Harvard controlled the ball into the tenth minute of the game, putting pressure on the Lion defense, anchored by senior Cori Conley (Oak Park, Ill.). The Penn State defense was strong, forcing a turnover at the 23:00 mark. But Harvard's midfield began to assert itself and the Crimson's ball control paid off. Maddie Earle scored off a crossing pass from Kathleen Young at the 22:54 mark. Harvard kept the pressure on, gaining possession right away and scoring just 0:23 later when Bente van Vlijmen scored off a Tessel Huibregtsen pass at the 22:31 mark to put Harvard up 2-0 in a quick flourish.
Penn State looked to rebound but a turnover gave the ball back to Harvard and the Crimson took advantage. Harvard moved the ball down field and Rachel Greenwood connected at the 18:02 mark, unassisted, and a game that was back and forth early was now 3-0 in Harvard's favor. Looking to stay within reach, Penn State got a spark from freshman Anna Simon (Hanau, Germany), who scored off a sweet pass from senior Moira Putsch (Media, Pa.) and knocked in a goal to cut Harvard's lead to 3-1 with 16:17 left in the first half. Penn State was sparked by the goal and began to pressure Harvard's defense. But Crimson keeper Shahbo made a good save on a Lion corner with under 10:00 left allowed Harvard to maintain its two goal lead.
Harvard drove the ball down field and with 8:00 left in the half, forced a penalty corner as it looked to extend its lead. Rizzo made an outstanding save on the Crimson shot but Harvard maintained possession on the rebound. Penn State was able to clear the ball and the game continued into the 30th minute with Harvard up 3-1. The Crimson took advantage of a Penn State turnover at the 4:00 mark and pushed the ball downfield, picking up a penalty corner with 3:57 left. Rizzo made an outstanding save on a hard Crimson shot from the top of the circle. Harvard misfired on a second corner, Penn State stopped a third Harvard corner and then a fourth. Harvard maintained possession and with just 0:40 left, set up for yet another penalty corner. But Rizzo was superb, going to the ground and keeping her body between the ball and the cage for an extended time as the clock moved to 0:00.
Harvard outshot Penn State 7-6 in the first half and doubled up the Nittany Lions on corners, 8-4. Rizzo had four saves for the Nittany Lions while Shahbo had five for Crimson. Harvard's three goals came in a span of 5:00, allowing the Crimson to carry the two goal lead into intermission.
Penn State took possession early in the second half and Putsch forced a penalty corner on the right side of the Harvard circle just 2:30 into the half. Simon's shot almost bounced in, but Shahbo was equal to the task and her save allowed the Crimson to maintain its two goal lead. Harvard's frontline turned Penn State over twice early and it paid off as the Crimson took a 4-1 lead when Huibregtsen scored at the 30:24 mark. Harvard opened up the game just three minutes later when Olivia Hoover found the back of the cage with 27:19 left in the half and the Crimson found themselves leading 5-1
The Nittany Lions looked to cut into the lead minutes later, forcing a penalty corner with 26:00 left to play. Harvard blocked the first, the Lions misfired on a second and Shahbo made a great save on a sizzling shot from senior Katie Dembrowski (Palmyra, Pa.) to keep the score at 5-1.
Harvard kept the pressure on the Lion backfield over the next five minutes, keeping the Lions from mounting any serious comeback charge. With 17:00 to play, Harvard regained possession and moved the ball down to the Lion side of the field. The Lions continued to work to come back over the next 5:00 but the Harvard defense was able to push back on any Lion press. Harvard added to its lead with a goal from Kathleen Young at the 10:56 mark to put the Crimson up 6-1. The Lions tried to cut into the lead with a series of corners as the clock moved below 10:00 but could not connect on any in a three-minute span that watched the clock move under 7:00.
The two teams traded possessions over the next three minutes until the Lions forced a corner with 4:00 left to play. Harvard blocked the effort and then the Crimson regained possession and moved the ball downfield. The Crimson held firm for the final minutes and walked away with the 6-1 victory, ending Penn State's season.
"This is a hard way to end the season, particularly for this outstanding group of seniors," said head coach Char Morett-Curtiss. "I cannot thank these young women enough for everything they've done for Penn State field hockey. As a group, they were a joy to coach and really embody what Penn State field hockey is. I know this isn't the way they wanted to go out, but nothing can take away from the impact this group of players has had on our program. They are Penn State."
Penn State owned a slight 19-17 shot advantage but Harvard had a 12-9 advantage in shots on goal. The Lions had a 13-8 corner advantage. Rizzo ended the game with six saves while Shahbo had eight for Harvard. This game marked Morett-Curtiss' 28th appearance in the NCAA tournament as Penn State's head coach and the Lions' 33rd overall as a program, second all-time in NCAA history.
The loss ends Penn State season with the Lions posting a 12-6 mark during the campaign. Harvard, now 17-1, advances to the NCAA quarterfinals on Sunday to take on Princeton.
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
Penn State (12-6) 1 0 1
Harvard (17-1) 3 3 6
STATS: PSU HAR
Shots 19 17
Corners 13 8
SCORING SUMMARY (goal/assist) -- TIME
1st: HAR – Maddie Earle (Kathleen Young), 22:54
1st: HAR – Bente Vlijmen (Tessel Huibregtsen), 22:31
1st: HAR – Rachel Greenwood (unassisted), 18:02
1st: PSU – Anna Simon (Moira Putsch), 16:17
2nd: HAR – Huibregtsen (unassisted), 30:24
2nd: HAR – Olivia Hoover (unassisted), 27:19
GOALKEEPERS: MIN GA S
PSU: Jenny Rizzo 70:00 6 6
HAR: Emily Shahbo 70:00 1 8
