UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The Big Ten Network will be taking viewers back to the 2013 Big Ten Tournament semifinals for a battle between the Nittany Lions and the Iowa Hawkeyes at 9 p.m tonight. Penn State was coming off a bye week and entering the tournament with high confidence as the No.1 seed, ready for the excitement. Head coach Charlene Morett-Curtiss, along with some of the 2013 alumni, reflected back to that exact day.
"I remember it like it was yesterday. I don't remember all the games, but that game I do because we totally dominated the play even just looking back at the stats, but also Iowa never gave up," Morett-Curtiss said. "Our games are always a full 70-minute battle. You can't go into the Big Ten Tournament complacent — every team is ready, competitive and well coached."
The first 35 minutes of the game was controlled by Penn State, outshooting Iowa 11-3. The game was all tied up when time ran out in the second half, but soon ended in a devastating loss for Penn State in overtime. The final score reflected the brawl that was this game, ending 4-3 in Iowa's favor. A couple of Nittany Lion players from this game, such as Natalie Buttinger, Brittany Grzywacz and Lauren Purvis can still feel the emotion of this matchup today.
"It is always exciting to compete against teams in the Big Ten, but when it comes to Iowa, it is slightly different and more of a competitive atmosphere." Purvis said.
"It never matters who you play in the Big Ten Tournament, everyone has a chance! I do remember every game I played in against Iowa, it was always a battle" Buttinger said.
Brittany Grzywacz showed great execution under pressure as she scored on a penalty stroke with only 1:11 remaining in the game. She was a senior in the 2013 season and had started in all 19 games. Grzywacz was named the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year.
"It was a game that went back and forth, back and forth. Our Iowa games have and still always come down to a goal or two and I am still upset with the outcome of that game." Grzywacz added.
Although looking back and watching this game may be different than watching a victory, Morett-Curtiss made her team understand the high level of competition they were playing because the stakes were higher and so was the adrenaline. As Morett-Curtiss remembers, this team was a close group of girls that had each other's backs on and off the field. They had played as one with each player's strengths and weakness, which made Morett-Curtiss love watching and coaching them even more.
After the loss, Penn State had to shake it off and get ready to earn their way into the NCAA Tournament with a clear and new mindset. Unfortunately, the season ended soon after with a loss to No.8 Princeton in the first round.
"I think we did a good job of looking forward and putting the past behind us. We do learn from it and we think about our missed opportunities and how we can correct those. It is important to rewatch these games and have the current team understand every play." Morrett-Curtiss said.
Penn State was able to do exactly that as they focused on the next season ahead. They fought their way back into the Big Ten Tournament in 2014, making it to the semifinals.