UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The Penn State Nittany Lion field hockey team (1-1, 0-0 B1G), ranked No. 5 in the National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) Coaches Poll, came back from a two-goal deficit to beat American University (1-1) in a non-conference road game on Sunday. Senior Mackenzie Allessie scored the game's final two goals, including the game winner in overtime, to lift Penn State to the 3-2, come-from-behind win.
The teams battled through an even four minutes before Penn State forced the game's first penalty corner at the 10:26 mark. Allessie's entry pass led to a Sophia Gladieux shot that missed just wide, keeping the game scoreless early on. Penn State got hit with a green card at the 9:15 mark allowing American to move the ball down field where Sarah Steinman had the Eagles' first shot blocked. Penn State retook possession, moved the ball downfield where both Ella Jennes and Natalie Freeman had shots saved by AU keeper Bryn Underwood. Penn State forced a corner, Allessie had one shot saved and another miss just wide with 4:31 left in the first period and the game moved to the second stanza tied 0-0.
Gladieux had an early shot for Penn State, forcing Underwood into a save less than two minutes into the period. American had a shot blocked at the 11:24 mark as well, and the close game continued towards the 10:00 mark of the second. Underwood made another save on a Penn State shot at the 8:34 mark. American regained possession and Rebecca Bonness forced Penn State keeper Brie Barraco into her first saves of the game with 7:16 left in the half. American received a penalty corner right after and the Eagles took a 1-0 lead when Alyssa Freeman scored with 7:06 on the clock. Penn State looked to tie the game late in the period, with a pair of penalty corners late. The Lions had a shot sail wide with :50 on the clock and Penn State trailed 1-0 at intermission.
Penn State outshot American 9-5 in the first half and had a 5-1 edge in corners. Barraco had two saves for the Nittany Lions while Underwood had five for the Eagles.
American took a 2-0 lead quickly in the third period when Emilia Winkler scored unassisted just over two minutes into the period. Penn State immediately worked the ball down field after the reset and forced a penalty corner, but the ensuing shot was blocked. American followed with a couple corners, two shots and two Barraco saves that kept Penn State close. Underwood made a nice save on a Gladieux shot midway through the third period. Penn State maintained possession, picking up two quick corners. Underwood continued to push back Penn State's efforts, making another save on an Allessie shot with 7:13 on the clock. Another Allessie effort was blocked with 6:16 left in the period but the Nittany Lions picked up a penalty corner on the play. Underwood made two saves and a third Lion shot was blocked during flurry in front of the Eagle cage, leaving the Lions still down 2-0 at 5:50. Penn State got on the board with 2:51 left in the third period when Gladieux pushed the ball past Underwood to cut the Eagle lead to 2-1. Penn State had two late shots blocked and the Nittany Lions trailed by one after three periods.
The Nittany Lions tied the game up early in the fourth period when Allessie scored off a penalty corner just 1:26 into the final stanza. The goal evened up the scoreboard 2-2 with the bulk of the final period yet to play. Barraco made a nice save on a Megan Hoffman shot with just over 10:00 to play but the Nittany Lions were hit with a green card shortly thereafter, giving the Eagles a player advantage. The Penn State defense held, however, and the game moved to the final eight 8:00 knotted at 2-2. The Nittany Lions had a pair of corners with just over 6:00 to play but had a shot blocked. The Nittany Lions nearly grabbed the win with a late shot from Gladieux, but Underwood made the save and the game moved to overtime.
Sophia Mannino had a shot blocked early in the extra period to set up Allessie's game winner. Allessie scored off the rebound to give Penn State a 3-2, come-from-behind victory at the 8:09 mark of overtime.
"I am very proud of the way this team stayed together and strong during the second half of this game," said Bervinchak Love after her first win as head coach. "We started the game very well but American scored and we got a little flat. But in the second half we came out with energy and poise, pushed the pace and worked our way back from a 2-0 deficit to get the win. That's not easy to do, even more so on the road. The girls believed in each other, and their efforts paid off."
Penn State outshot American 27-9 and had a big 13-3 edge in penalty corners. Barraco had five saves for the Nittany Lions while Underwood had 11 saves for the Eagles.
Penn State is now 1-1 overall while American falls to 1-1. Penn State will continue a four-game road stretch to begin the 2023 season next weekend with a West Coast swing. The Nittany Lions visit the University of California on Friday, Sept. 1, for a 7 p.m. Eastern game (4 p.m. local) and then trek to Stanford on Sunday, Sept. 3, for a 3 p.m. Eastern game (12 p.m. local).
Fans are encouraged to follow the Nittany Lion field hockey team online at www.GoPSUsports.com (click teams, click field hockey), on X/Twitter @pennstateFH and on facebook at www.facebook.com/pennstatefieldhockey.
GAME BREAKDOWN
SCORING: 1 2 3 4 OT FINAL
PENN STATE 0 0 1 1 1 3
American 0 1 1 0 0 2
STATS: PSU AU
Shots 27 9
Corners 13 3
SCORING SUMMARY (goal/assist) – TIME
2nd: AU – Alyssa Freeman (Tayla-Jade Weiss); 7:06
3rd: AU – Emilia Winkler (unassisted): 11:42
3rd: PSU – Phia Gladieux (unassisted); 2:51
4th: PSU – Mackenzie Allessie (unassisted); 13:34
OT: PSU – Mackenzie Allessie (unassisted): 8:09
GOALKEEPERS: MIN GA S
PSU: Brie Barraco 61:51 2 5
AU: Bryn Underwood 61:51 3 11