UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.; February 28, 2021 – The Penn State Nittany Lion field hockey team (0-1, 0-1 B1G) dropped a close game to Iowa (2-0, 2-0 B1G) in the season opener for the Nittany Lions. A fourth period Hawkeye goal was the difference as Iowa won 1-0 over head coach Char Morett-Curtiss' squad in a game played in Virginia Beach, Va.
The teams traded possessions over the first few minutes of the game. Iowa managed to push the ball down into Penn State territory and maintained possession until pushing the ball into the Penn State circle. The Hawkeyes kept the ball down on the Lion side of the field for the next five minutes. But the Nittany Lion defense kept Iowa from any real threat on the cage and the game remained scoreless midway through the first period. Freshman Sophia Gladieux (Boyertown, Pa.) worked midfield possession into the Iowa zone and Penn State set up on offense at the 5:30 mark. Senior Abby Myers (Hartland, Wis.) nearly got off Penn State's first shot of the game with 3:40 left in the period but the Iowa defenders deflected the effort. The first period ended in a scoreless tie.
The start of the second period started with Penn State grabbing early possession and pressing the Hawkeye defense. Meghan Reese (Coopersburg, Pa.) and Grace Wallis (Blue Bell, Pa.) pushed the ball downfield early, forcing Iowa's defense to step up and push back on the attack. With Iowa countering Penn State's early pressure, the Nittany Lion defense quickly turned away a brief Hawkeye possession. The Nittany Lions regained possession and moved the ball downfield, picking up the game's first penalty corner at the 9:43 mark. Junior Anna Simon (Hanau, Germany) had her shot off the corner blocked by a Hawkeye defender before the ball reached the goal. Emma Spisak (Boiling Springs, Pa.) worked on offense to keep the ball in front of the Iowa cage but the Hawkeye defense held firm. Penn State picked up its second corner with 6:30 left in the half but could not get off a solid shot. Iowa countered, moved the ball downfield, and picked up its first corner with 3:42 on the clock. Penn State's defense, led by Madison Hutson (Gloucester Point, Va.), forced a wide shot. The first half ended tied 0-0.
Neither team had a shot in the first period and Iowa outshot Penn State 3-2 in the second stanza. Both teams had two penalty corners in the second period as well and neither goalie had a first half save.
The two teams traded early possessions in the third with Iowa finally gaining an advantage and pushing the ball into Penn State territory, forcing a penalty corner just 2:30 into the third period. Penn State's defense, with Brie Barraco (Allentown, Pa) guarding the cage, was equal to the task and the Hawkeye corner was for naught. Iowa kept the pressure on Penn State, however, and the ball remained in or near the Lion circle for the next 3:00-plus. Iowa pushed the ball to within feet of Barraco and the Lion cage with 6:40 left in the period but Penn State's defense was able to push the ball out of its circle. Penn State regained control of the tempo as the clock moved below the 5:00 mark, pushing the ball down to the Iowa side of the field. But the Hawkeyes countered the Penn State press and regain control of the action. A long Hawkeye shot was turned away by Barraco to keep the game scoreless. Iowa had a fast break rolling with under a minute left, but Hutson was deft defensively, stealing the ball from the Hawkeye forward as the third period hit its final seconds.
Penn State's defense was once again called to action as the fourth period began with Iowa gaining control early in the final stanza. Penn State's offense made a push a couple minutes into the period with Spisak taking a long pass from Bree Bednarski (Wyoming, Pa.) and working the ball down to the right of Iowa's cage. The Lions worked to shift momentum, keeping Iowa on defense, but the Hawkeyes quickly regained possession of the ball. Iowa's Ellie Holley worked the ball from midfield down into the Lion circle and pushed the ball past the Penn State defense for the game's first goal at the 8:10 mark of the fourth quarter. Penn State worked furiously to keep control of the ball as it worked to tie the game. Iowa was unable to get the ball out of its own zone as the Nittany Lion offense kept the pressure on. Penn State was able to secure a penalty corner in the final minutes. Penn State's first corner of the period was defended but led to a second. Bednarski worked the ball into Hutson and a penalty stroke was called with just under 2:00 left to play. Hutson's penalty shot was blocked by Iowa keeper Grace McGuire and the Hawkeyes kept their 1-0 lead and secured the early-season victory.
Penn State had five shots over the course of the game while Iowa had six. Both keepers Barraco and McGuire had a save a piece and Penn State held a 4-3 penalty corner edge in the game.
"I'm proud of how we improved throughout the game, but we were a bit frantic early," said Morett-Curtiss. "I felt Iowa was a bit more composed over the course of the game and you could see the benefit of them having a game under their belt. You either win or learn, and we will learn from this game."
"This was a great opportunity for us and the Big Ten Conference to compete down here in Virginia Beach," Morett-Curtiss continued. "We are being treated very well and we area all very grateful of the chance to play here and get the season started."
The Nittany Lions are now 0-1, 0-1 B1G. Iowa improves to 2-0, 2-0 B1G. Penn State returns to Virginia Beach for two more games next weekend. The Nittany Lions battle Northwestern on Friday, Feb. 5, at 12:45 p.m.; and Iowa once more on Sunday, Feb. 7, at 12:45 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 3 4 FINAL
PENN STATE 0 0 0 0 0
Iowa 0 0 0 1 1
STATS: PSU IOWA
Shots 5 6
Corners 4 3
SCORING SUMMARY (goal/assist) – TIME
4th: IOWA – Ellie Holley (unassisted), 8:10
GOALKEEPERS: MIN GA S
PSU: Brie Barraco 60:00 1 1
IOWA: Grace McGuire 60:00 0 1
