No. 8 Penn State field hockey (4-1) defeated No. 24 University of Delaware (1-4) 4-2 on Sunday afternoon, as two goals from Mackenzie Allessie pushed the team over the edge.

The victory marks the Nittany Lions’ third consecutive win while they continue to fight for a top spot in the national rankings.

How It Happened

Penn State started with the hot hand against Delaware. The Nittany Lions took the first shot of the game one minute into play and scored the first goal four minutes later. Allessie found the net from a penalty corner, giving her side the early lead.

Eight minutes later, Penn State doubled its lead, with a goal from Anna Simon a few moments before the end of the first quarter. With Simon’s score, the Nittany Lions had a two-goal lead before allowing the Blue Hens to register a single shot.

The Nittany Lion offense continued to push, with two more shots just before the end of the first quarter, but Delaware hung on to stay behind by a double.

Delaware came out of the gate firing in the second half, forcing Penn State goalie Brie Barraco to make her first save of the match, with three shots in the opening minutes. All the same, the Nittany Lions’ offense stayed on pace with their opponents, though they weren’t able to score before halftime.

The Blue Hens took control of the game early in the second half, with two quick scores to tie the game. Julia Duffhuis and Noelle Sabbagh found the net less than two minutes apart, and just like that, Delaware was back in the game.

A familiar face of the Nittany Lions’ offense responded for Penn State when Sophia Gladieux scored two minutes later to restore the visitors’ lead.

Gladieux’s goal gave Penn State a boost, as it slowed down Delaware’s attack while boosting its own. Early in the fourth quarter, Allessie scored her second goal to give her team a 4-2 lead with 12 minutes remaining in the game.

Allessie’s score finished off Penn State’s road opponent, and the Nittany Lions continued to improve their record and remain one of the best in the nation.

Takeaways

• After a quiet start to her season offensively, Allessie’s two goals against the Blue Hens were massive. Her two scores put her back on pace to contribute generously to the Nittany Lions’ attack as they begin Big Ten play.
• Penn State’s offense is hot. The offense has pushed the team to three straight wins, scoring 12 goals across those contests. In total, the group’s 17 goals in five games have solidified itself as one of the more dynamic programs in the NCAA and will continue to be difficult for opponents.

What’s Next

The Nittany Lions remain on the road as they open Big Ten play against Michigan on Friday, September 16 at 5 p.m.