UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The Penn State Nittany Lion field hockey team (3-3, 3-1 B1G), ranked No. 7 in the NFHCA Coaches Poll, rallied from a two-goal deficit to beat Michigan State (1-5, 1-4 B1G) in a Big Ten road game on Friday. The Nittany Lions scored five unanswered goals in the second half and head coach Char Morett-Curtiss' team notched a 5-2 road win.
In instances where teams are scheduled to play each other twice during this year's Big Ten season, only the first game between the two squads is considered for the Big Ten regular season standings. Given that, today's game counts in both the conference and overall ledgers.
The Nittany Lions controlled the ball at the onset of the game, working the action down to the Spartan circle quickly. Penn State forced its first penalty corner just 2:30 into the game. The first corner led to a second and a blocked shot from Anna Simon (Hanau, Germany). The Spartans defended the second shot to keep the game scoreless early. Michigan State earned it's first penalty corner with 6:55 on the clock and the Spartans connected for a 1-0 lead, with Celina Riccardo notching the goal. Penn State forced a series of corners with just over 2:00 left in the period but could not work the ball into the cage.
The teams traded possession in the second period with Penn State dominating the action. The pressured Michigan State and keeper Jade Arundell for much of the period but the Spartan keeper was able to keep the Nittany Lions off the board. Freshman Sophia Gladieux (Boyertown, Pa.) had two shots on goal batted away in the first half and the Nittany Lions trailed by one at intermission.
Penn State outshot Michigan State 8-3 in the first two quarters and had a 7-1 advantage in penalty corners. Arundell had five saves for Michigan State while Brie Barraco (Allentown, Pa.) had two for the Nittany Lions.
Michigan State scored quickly in the third period, turning an early penalty corner into a 2-0 lead less than a minute into the stanza. Ellie Wheatley scored off a scramble after the corner to give the home team a two-goal lead. But Lion freshman Gladieux quickly answered, getting Penn State back in the game with a goal of her own just four minutes later. Gladieux then tied the game with a brilliant drive into the MSU circle, taking the ball by herself and scoring from the outskirts of the MSU circle at the 8:30 mark, just ninety seconds after her first score. The flashy freshman made it a three-for-third period with another unassisted goal with just 1:10 left in the period.
Penn State continued to pour it on in the fourth period. Madison Hutson (Gloucester Point, Va.) took an assist from Bree Bednarski (Wyoming, Pa.) to put Penn State up 4-2, scoring the Lions' fourth straight goal just 2:24 into the final period. Gladieux was not done, however. The Lion freshman notched a fourth unassisted goal with just 1:48 left in the game to spark Penn State to the 5-2 victory. Gladieux's four scores is just one shy of the all-time Penn State record of five held by Morett-Curtiss (in 1977) and Dawn Lammey (in 1999).
Penn State outshot Michigan State 15-7 over the course of the game and had a 9-2 advantage in corners. Arundell ended the game with six saves while Barraco had two, both in the first half.
"We talked about coming out in the second half and getting our backs and middies to get our numbers up," said Morett-Curtiss. "The pressure that brough really freed up our forwards and Phia (Gladieux) took advantage. After we fell behind early, we did a very nice job of keeping our composure and we did not panic."
Penn State is now 3-3 overall, 3-1 B1G. Michigan State falls to 1-5, 1-4 B1G. Penn State visits Michigan State next weekend for two games. The Nittany Lions and Spartans battle again on Sunday, March 21, 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 twitter @pennstateFH and on facebook at www.facebook.com/pennstatefieldhockey.
GAME BREAKDOWN
SCORING: 1 2 3 4 FINAL
PENN STATE 0 0 3 2 5
Michigan State 1 0 1 0 2
STATS: PSU MSU
Shots 15 7
Corners 9 2
SCORING SUMMARY (goal/assist) – TIME
1st: MSU – Celina Riccardo (unassisted); 6:45
3rd: MSU – Ellie Wheatley (unassisted); 14:08
3rd: PSU – Sophia Gladieux (unassisted); 10:01
3rd: PSU – Gladieux (unassisted); 8:30
3rd: PSU – Gladieux (unassisted); 1:10
4th: PSU – Madison Hutson (Bree Bednarski); 12:36
4th: PSU – Gladieux (unassisted); 1:48
GOALKEEPERS: MIN GA S
PSU: Brie Barraco 60:00 2 2
MSU: Jade Arundell 60:00 5 6
