Penn State continued Big Ten play on the road Friday against the 11th-ranked Northwestern Wildcats (7-2, 2-0 Big Ten), who were riding a four-game win streak heading into Friday night’s contest. Char Morrett-Curtiss’ Nittany Lions (8-1, 1-1 Big Ten) bid to remain undefeated fell short against a strong Wildcat defense that stuffed Penn State in a 5-3 loss.

How It Happened

Neither team was willing to give an inch in the first half. Both teams traded shots sparingly over the course of the first half until Shay Cannon broke the deadlock in the 33rd minute with a goal in front off a scramble. Cannon’s ninth goal of the season was assisted by Gini Bramley.

Penn State went into the break with a 1-0 lead, but it didn’t last long, as the Wildcats came out firing in the second half. Dominique Masters opened the second-half scoring with a tip-in off the entry in the 40th minute for her seventh goal on the year. Puck Pentenga and Saar de Braij tacked on a pair of goals for the Wildcats only 46 seconds apart in the 42nd minute to give Northwestern a commanding 3-1 lead early in the second half.

Moira Putsch answered back for the Nittany Lions with her eighth goal of the season in the 47th minute to cut it to 3-2 in favor of Northwestern. Pascale Massey scored for the Wildcats in the 55th minute to push their advantage back to two midway through the half.

Isabel Flens scored another goal for Northwestern in the 65th minute only to be followed up a minute later by Putsch for her second goal of the game to bring the score to 5-3 in favor of the Wildcats. The last push by the Nittany Lions wasn’t enough to pull off the comeback as they fell to Northwestern by a final score of 5-3.

Player Of The Game

Puck Pentenga | Midfielder | Sophomore

Pentenga, a sophomore from the Netherlands, was an integral part in helping Northwestern knocking off the previously unbeaten Nittany Lions. Pentenga scored a goal and had three assists for the Wildcats en route to their 5-3 victory.

What’s Next?

Penn State will remain on the road Sunday when they travel to Ann Arbor to face the No. 8 Michigan Wolverines. The game is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m.