No. 5 Penn State field hockey (1-2) picked up its second loss of the year, falling Cal (1-3) 3-2 in a double-overtime slugfest. The match was a tied contest for the majority of the game, and over 73 minutes of field hockey was needed to decide a winner.

Cal struck first with an early goal before Penn State answered back. After over 45 minutes of no offense, Cal scored to take the lead before losing that lead 12 seconds later after another game-tying goal. In double overtime, the Golden Bears found the back of the net first ending the game.

How It Happened

It didn’t take long for a goal to be scored, as the Golden Bears took an early lead less than three minutes into the first quarter. After two failed shot attempts by Cal, it was awarded the first penalty corner of the game. Cato Geusgens set up Kitty Baccanello for a great shot on goal and it found its way past Brie Barraco into the back of the net for a goal.

Trailing 1-0, the Nittany Lions quickly answered the Golden Bears’ goal and it was done by none other than Sophia Gladieux. Gladieux was able to break away from the Cal defenders and went one-on-one with the Golden Bears’ goalie Tina Jolly and scored a beautiful goal to tie the game at one.

Despite not scoring for the rest of the quarter, Cal dominated by getting multiple penalty corners and just nearly missing on several shots on goal.

The second quarter lacked offense from either team. Both Penn State and Cal each had a penalty corner and a few shots on goal but other than that not much offense as they went into the half tied at one.

Like the second quarter, the third saw little offense from both teams as Penn State only recorded one shot. With five minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, Cal finally broke the scoreless streak with a goal by Baccanello for her second goal of the game.

However, Penn State answered yet again just 12 seconds later. Once again, it was Gladieux tying the game at two with less than five minutes to go.

Penn State threatened with less than a minute to go in regulation, however, Cal held on for overtime. In overtime a back-and-forth contest with both goalies making multiple incredible saves to keep the game tied after the first overtime.

In double overtime, Cal finally ended the game with a goal by Daniella Rhodes a little over three minutes into the period.

Takeaways

• Gladieux continues to show why she was Big Ten Player of the Year. Gladieux scored both goals for the Nittany Lions in the loss being the real only source of offense Penn State could produce.
• The second consecutive overtime game for the Nittany Lions did not turn out as good as the first one. A heartbreaking goal on the 17th shot of the game by Cal in double overtime ended the game making Penn State 1-2 on the year.

What’s Next?

Penn State will remain out west and battle Stanford for its next matchup. The game is set to take place at 3 p.m. on Sunday, September 3.