No. 11 Penn State field hockey (3-2) defeated No. 19 Delaware (3-3) 4-1 in the Nittany Lions’ first win against a ranked opponent this season. It was a hard-fought victory for Penn State, which battled with Delaware for the full 60 minutes.

After allowing an early goal by the Blue Hens, the Nittany Lions rallied for four goals, highlighted by Sophia Gladieux’s first hat-trick of the season, to come from behind and win their second consecutive game.

How It Happened

Right away, the Blue Hens put the pressure on the Nittany Lions with a goal less than five minutes into the game. Delaware forward Kiki Del Oudshoorn smoked a ball past Brie Barraco into the back of the net for a 1-0 lead. Delaware kept the energy and dominated the entirety of the first 15 minutes.

The Nittany Lions improved in the second quarter, thanks to Gladieux. On the first penalty corner of the game for Penn State, Mackenzie Allessie set up Gladieux for a beautiful game-tying goal.

First goal of the game: Phia Gladieux #WeAre pic.twitter.com/m0i0aCSdxt

— Penn State Field Hockey (@PennStateFH) September 10, 2023

After a missed penalty corner later in the quarter by the Nittany Lions, Aubrey Semler’s rebounded shot found its way past Kylie Walber into the net for her first goal of the season and for a 2-1 Penn State lead heading into the half.

In the second half, Penn State increased its lead with another goal off Gladieux’s stick. After Allessie’s shot hit the post, Gladieux got the rebound and scored her second goal of the afternoon.

Phia G strikes again! #WeAre pic.twitter.com/tWSRKecRbx

— Penn State Field Hockey (@PennStateFH) September 10, 2023

The final 15 minutes were all dominated by Penn State. Gladieux added another goal off a penalty corner for her third of the game, making the score 4-1.

SHEEEE FIRES AGAIN #WeAre pic.twitter.com/J0SExVqVDG

— Penn State Field Hockey (@PennStateFH) September 10, 2023

The Blue Hens had a few penalty corner opportunities at the end of the game, but the Nittany Lions held on for the win.

Takeaways

• It was a gritty back-and-forth matchup between the two ranked opponents, but after a rough first quarter, the Nittany Lions were able to rally with three unanswered goals. Barraco played great as well, racking up seven saves after allowing the early goal.
• Gladieux just continues to score. She scored her seventh, eighth, and ninth goals of the season, putting Penn State on her back. It’s also the fifth consecutive game with a goal.
• It was a day for firsts, with Aubrey Semler scoring her first goal of the season in the second quarter that gave the Nittany Lions the lead.

What’s Next

The Nittany Lions will open up Big Ten play versus Rutgers on Friday, September 15, at the Field Hockey Complex. The game can be streamed on BTN+.