Penn State field hockey (6-4, 1-1 Big Ten) lost to No. 10 Iowa (6-3, 1-2 Big Ten) 1-0 in Iowa City on Friday night.

The Nittany Lions gave up an early goal on a Hawkeye corner and struggled to create offensive chances throughout the rest of the game. Sophia Gladieux accounted for eight of the Nittany Lion’s 11 shots during the loss.

How It Happened

Both teams took some time to settle in before the Nittany Lions were first to crash the net with just under 10 minutes left in the first quarter. The Hawkeyes tried to organize a counterattack, but the Nittany Lions regained possession at midfield.

Both defenses clamped down on the opposing offense at the midline as neither team got to the circle consistently as the clock ticked past the midpoint of the first quarter.

The Hawkeyes got to the front of the Penn State net where goalkeeper Aby Deverka made a save before a penalty halted play. Annika Herbine sent the ball to the top of the circle and Dionne van Aalsum sent the shot past the Nittany Lion defense as the Hawkeyes opened the scoring and went up 1-0.

The Nittany Lions’ next chance came as Gladieux ran down the sideline but was trapped by the Iowa defense on the baseline in the waning minutes of the first quarter.

The first frame came to a close with another save from Deverka as the Hawkeyes carried a 1-0 lead into the second.

Penn State had a chance at the beginning of the second quarter, but the Iowa defense held strong and jumped in front of a pass to regain possession. The steal led to a chance at the opposite end as Deverka made her third save of the night.

The Hawkeyes continued to hold possession but couldn’t get to the circle as Penn State’s defense held. A shot from outside the shooting line by Iowa led to a Gladieux breakaway, but she sent the shot high of the goal at the opposite end.

After a steal at midfield, the Nittany Lions once again found Gladieux open inside the circle, but Iowa goalkeeper Mia Magnotta made the stop on the Penn State try.

The Nittany Lions sustained pressure on the Iowa net but couldn’t get a shot around the defense as the half entered the final five minutes.

Iowa was awarded another penalty corner after a lot of contact from the Penn State defense in the circle. Van Aalsum once again took the shot off of the penalty, but the ball went wide with just two minutes left in the half.

After a Penn State push into the circle, both teams battled for possession without any scoring chances as the half ended with Iowa up 1-0.

The second half started much like the first, with neither team able to gain possession at the end of the field.

Drew Taylor made her way into the shooting zone with just over five minutes gone in the third quarter but got trapped on the baseline as the Hawkeyes took possession. Penn State continued to create shooting opportunities but couldn’t find the target as Natalie Freeman followed up the chance from Taylor with a shot that sailed high over the goal.

The Hawkeyes grabbed possession back and, after a battle at midfield, ended up at the Penn State baseline. Madison Tambroni got in front of the centering pass, though, and cleared the ball back out of the circle.

Gladieux was sent off for two minutes after a check in the back, and the Hawkeyes quickly earned another penalty corner. The shot off the corner was sent wide by the defense and Penn State reset.

Despite a free hit near the circle, the Iowa defense prevented any shooting chances as the third quarter ended with Iowa nursing its 1-0 lead.

The fourth quarter began with a pass into the circle from Penn State that was broken up by the Hawkeyes and taken the other way. Nothing came of the chance for Iowa, and the teams battled for possession.

The Nittany Lions had their first penalty corner of the night early in the fourth quarter, but Gladieux’s shot was saved by Magnotta on what was the best chance for Penn State to that point.

Less than two minutes later, the Nittany Lions were given another corner, but the pass went over the stick of Tambroni and out of the zone. Gladieux eventually recovered the ball and entered the circle but missed the net wide.

The Hawkeyes took the ball back up the field but missed the far post before Penn State got back to its offensive end and Gladieux was denied again by Magnotta.

The Hawkeyes established possession and drained the clock down to six minutes before the Nittany Lions were able to grab the ball. After taking possession, Gladieux got to the Iowa goalie but sent another shot high as the Hawkeyes slowed down play once again.

Iowa continued to play keepaway and Penn State couldn’t respond until Gladieux once again found herself with the ball in the circle, but Magnotta made the save as play rolled on.

With just over a minute left in the game, Penn State was given another corner. The pass was sent to Gladieux but went just wide as the Hawkeyes had the ball with a minute left in the game.

A shot on the open net from van Aalsum went just wide, but Penn State couldn’t mount a counterattack and the Nittany Lions fell 1-0.

Takeaways

• Neither team was able to consistently create chances during the defensive battle Friday night. Penn State recorded 11 shots in the loss.
• Of the 11 shots, Gladieux accounted for eight of them as the forward continues to be an integral part of the Penn State offense.
• Deverka was solid when the defense allowed shots on Friday and kept the game close throughout. The goalie had three saves on the night.

What’s Next?

The Nittany Lions continue their road trip as they take on No. 2 Northwestern at 1 p.m. on Sunday, October 6, in Evanston, Illinois.