UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The Penn State Nittany Lion field hockey team (10-3, 3-2 B1G), ranked No. 5 in the NFHCA Coaches Poll, used a fourth quarter burst to grab a road win at Lafayette (10-3) on Friday night. The Nittany Lions scored all their goals in the final period for a 3-1 non-conference victory.
The Nittany Lions opened up the game taking control on offense. Sophia Gladieux (Boyertown, Pa.) got off a quick shot just 1:30 into the game, forcing Lafayette keeper Hailey Abbott into an early save. Mackenzie Allessie (Mount Joy, Pa.) and Emma Spisak (Boiling Springs, Pa.) each got off shots on goal in the opening period, but Abbott kept the Lions off the board with three early saves. Brie Barraco (Allentown, Pa.) made a first period save on a Molly McAndrew shot and the Nittany Lions were tied 0-0 with the Leopards.
Penn State continued to dominate the ball, forcing a handful of penalty corners early in the second period but unable to get the ball past Abbott. Lafayette was able to pick up its first corner midway through the second period, but Barraco was equal to the task, making a good save on a Audrey Sawers shot at the 6:36 mark. An even battle over the last portion of the second period included a Nittany Lion shot from Bree Bednarski (Wyoming, Pa.) and another Gladieux effort that Abbott saved. The teams entered the halftime break tied 0-0.
Penn State outshot Lafayette 9-3 in the first half and had a 5-1 lead in penalty corners. Barraco had three saves for Penn State and Abbott kept the game tied with nine for Lafayette.
The third period opened with Lafayette forcing a corner that Penn State defended. The Lions answered with a corner of their own with both Anna Simon (Hanau, Germany) and Spisak getting off shots to no avail. Gladieux had a shot off a corner saved by Abbott at the 5:58 mark in the third as well. Despite Penn State dominating the ball throughout the game, Lafayette got on the board first in the third period when Simone Hefting scored off a penalty corner to give the Leopards a 1-0 lead with 2:53 left in the third period. Lafayette carried that lead into the fourth period.
Spisak quickly tied the game for the Nittany Lions to start the fourth quarter. The senior scored off a Lion penalty corner with an assist from Gladieux just over 1:30 into the final stanza, tying the game at 1-1. Gladieux then gave the Nittany Lions the lead less than a minute later, scoring after another penalty corner 2:30 into the fourth. Lafayette forced a corner with just over 10:00 left in the game but Barraco's save of a Sawers shot kept Penn State in the lead. Brianna O'Donnell (Lansdale, Pa.) had a shot knocked away by Abbott a bit after that and the clock moved below the 7:00 mark with Penn State still leading 2-1. Penn State's fourth quarter burst continued, however, at the 6:18 mark when Simon knocked in a goal to put Penn State up 3-1, giving the Lions some breathing room. The Lion defense, with Elena Vos (Grave, The Netherlands), Kelsey Love (State College, Pa.), Gery Schnarrs (Camp Hills, Pa.) and freshman Anouk Knuvers ('s-Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands) anchoring it, held Lafayette off for the remainder of the game and Penn State posted the 3-1 victory.
"I thought we played some of our best field hockey of the year in this game," said head coach Char Morett-Curtiss. "We were great in our passing game and so much fun to watch. Lafayette came at us hard with their speed and quickness. Anna (Simon) and Elena (Vos) really anchored us in the midfield and kept us in the game early. They both played a strong game."
The Nittany Lions outshout Lafayette 23-6 and had a 12-4 edge in penalty corners. Barraco had four saves for Penn State while Abbott kept Lafayette in the game with 13 saves.
Penn State is now 10-3 overall, 3-2 in the Big Ten. Lafayette falls to 10-3. The Nittany Lions are at No. 16 Princeton on Sunday at 12 p.m. in the second of two road games this weekend.
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 3 3
Lafayette 0 0 1 0 1
STATS: PSU LAF
Shots 23 6
Corners 12 4
SCORING SUMMARY (goal/assist) – TIME
3rd: LAF – Simone Hefting (India Ralph, Filine Gerbrandij); 2:53
4th: PSU – Emma Spisak (Sophia Gladieux); 13:21
4th: PSU – Sophia Gladieux (unassisted); 12:36
4th: PSU – Anna Simon (unassisted); 6:18
GOALKEEPERS: MIN GA S
PSU: Brie Barraco 60:00 1 4
LAF: Hailey Abbott 57:53 3 13
Felicitas Hannes 2:07 0 0