No. 16 Penn State field hockey (7-7, 1-4 Big Ten) took down Michigan State (7-7, 0-4 Big Ten) 2-1 at home on Senior Day.

Both teams traded chances through the majority of the game, but neither could find the back of the net consistently. Ella Jennes scored the game-winner with time winding down in the overtime period.

How It Happened

Lauren Delgado was tested with less than a minute gone in the game for the Nittany Lions but made a quick save before Penn State grabbed possession back and was able to clear the ball.

The Nittany Lions maintained possession but couldn’t get the ball to the circle through the first three minutes of the game. The Spartans cleared the ball back towards the Penn State end of the field as Carmen Pucheta beat Delgado and opened the scoring as Michigan State earned a 1-0 lead.

The Nittany Lions finally got into the crease and sent a ball across in front of the net but Sophia Gladieux couldn’t beat Spartan goalie Lyra Gavino.

A penalty corner was awarded to the Nittany Lions with just over six minutes left in the first quarter, but Galdieux couldn’t put away the pass from Morgan McMenamin. The Nittany Lions sustained pressure until the Spartans cleared the ball with three minutes left in the quarter.

The first quarter ended with a battle for the ball at midfield, but no chances came as the quarter closed with the Spartans up 1-0.

An early chance didn’t result in a goal for the Spartans as the Nittany Lions began the period on their heels again.

Jennes pushed the ball to the baseline and centered the ball for Gladieux, but the ball was redirected and found the back of the net, but the goal was taken off the board upon review, and Michigan State regained possession.

The Nittany Lions had another chance on a penalty shot with eight minutes to go in the quarter. McMenamin sent the ball to Julienne van Bekkum but her shot was blocked as Penn State was awarded another corner. Van Bekkum took the shot from the top of the circle again but was blocked in front as the Spartans regained possession.

Michigan State had a corner of its own on the next possession but the save was made by Delgado. The Nittany Lions organized a counterattack but Gladieux’s shot at the opposite end went wide. The chances kept coming though as Julia Lamb’s shot also went wide.

The next penalty chance came with a little over four minutes left in the half, but the Spartan defense held once again and the Nittany Lions couldn’t break through.

McMenamin had another opportunity as the Nittany Lions continued to crash the net but still couldn’t beat Gavino.

Penn State held the edge in possession and besides a penalty chance for the Spartans, neither team put together chances on goal as the first half ended with the Spartans leading 1-0.

The first chance of the second half came with just under 13 minutes left in the third quarter as Delgado played the ball and made a great save to keep the game at 1-0.

A Michigan State corner followed but the shot was sent wide as Penn State regained possession. A penalty corner for Penn State was saved by Gavino but deflected wide and set up another penalty corner.

Gladieux missed the next corner chance and set up a third straight penalty chance. The shot was blocked and the third chance was also unsuccessful.

Michigan State pushed the ball back to its end but couldn’t generate a chance before Penn State brought the ball back to their side of the field and was set up with another penalty corner.

Gladieux couldn’t put the first chance away and missed her rebound opportunity. Another penalty attempt was unsuccessful before Michigan State was awarded a free hit and possession.

Michigan State got into the circle, but the Nittany Lions didn’t need Delgado as the shot went wide. Penn State took the ball the opposite way and was awarded yet another penalty corner.

Gladieux decided to pass when she got the ball at the top of the circle but couldn’t find her target and the ball carried out of the circle.

The Nittany Lions kept possession and fired another shot on goal but it didn’t get past Gavino.

Gladieux had another chance as the quarter expired as she broke down the sideline but Gavino managed a kick save as the frame came to an end.

Both teams traded possession at the midfield line to start the fourth quarter as the Nittany Lions were desperate for some offense. McMenamin sent a shot high above Gavino nearly two minutes into the fourth quarter in the first chance of the last period.

Four minutes later, Penn State had another penalty chance and this time, van Bekkum got past Gavino for the equalizer with less than seven minutes left in the game.

Gladieux had another chance two minutes later, but Gavino deflected the shot wide. Penn State kept the pressure on and Lamb also sent a shot high over the net nearly thirty seconds later.

With time ticking down, Penn State was given its 16th penalty corner of the game with a chance to take the lead. The try was unsuccessful as the pass was deflected out of the zone and Michigan State took possession with just under two minutes to go.

Both teams went back and forth for the final minute with Penn State threatening at the very end of regulation, but no chances emerged.

Gladieux opened overtime with a shot on Gavino while Gladieux was all alone, but Gavino sent the shot wide. The forward charged the net again on the next possession and was awarded another penalty corner for the Nittany Lions.

Gladieux took the pass at the top of the circle but didn’t take a shot, instead dribbling to the middle of the circle and forcing another penalty corner. She also got the next corner pass, but her shot was thrown aside by Gavino.

Drew Taylor produced the best look for the Nittany Lions all game when she dribbled into the circle and found Gladieux in front of the net. Gavino denied Gladieux, but Taylor picked up the rebound and sent it toward Gavino, who stopped that shot too.

A bad pass on the next clear from Penn State gave the Spartans an offensive possession on their offensive side of the field, but Delgado shut down any chances with a save and a clear.

Natalie Freeman poked the ball away from the Spartans and closed in on the net with Gladieux but her shot went wide. Jennes took the inbound pass toward the net and beat Gavino with time winding down in the overtime period as Penn State took the victory 2-1.

Takeaways

• Penn State had 18 penalty corners during the match against Michigan State but only found the back of the net once on the chances.
• Gladiuex was again the star of the offense on Sunday, registering 17 shots in the win.
• Delgado wasn’t tested often but was still solid when she needed to be. The goalie had four saves in the overtime victory.

What’s Next?

The Nittany Lions hit the road to take on Rutgers at 2 p.m. on Friday, October 25, for their final road game of the regular season.