No. 17 Penn State field hockey (4-1, 0-0 Big Ten) took down Kent State (1-4, 0-0 Mid American Conference) at home on Sunday, 5-2.

The Nittany Lions wrapped up their five-game home stand by improving to 4-1, their best start since the team’s 2022 season.

How It Happened

Kent State opened with possession, but after the Nittany Lions forced a turnover 32 seconds in, Morgan Snyder was awarded a penalty stroke. She wasted no time pushing Penn State out in front, beating Allison Wood for the game’s first goal.

The Golden Flashes looked to fire back immediately, throwing multiple shots on net at Penn State goalie Aby Deverka. She was able to stop the first two balls thrown on net, but Maybritt Duwel found the back of the net on the third attempt, tying the game at 1-1, just over a minute later.

The next few minutes were slow, but Penn State broke through with a chance at 4:55 remaining in the quarter. Sophia Mannino’s shot was saved by Kent State goalie Wood, but the play led to a penalty corner. Morgan McMenamin looked to find Joji Purdy, but the forward was unable to get off a solid look on net.

With under a minute to play, Katelyn Strawser broke free for a one-on-one with the goalie. She spun past the defender to create space for a shot, but was unable to beat Wood.

The Golden Flashes took back possession and generated a penalty corner with 3.9 seconds remaining in the opening frame. Cooper Hutchins blocked the ensuing shot, and the buzzer expired with the teams knotted at 1-1.

To start the second quarter, both teams exchanged possessions, forcing each goalie to step up with early saves.

Penn State would have its only real chance of the second quarter, five minutes in. Aubrey Semler found herself on a breakaway with Purdy also ahead of the pack. She decided to take it herself and beat Wood to give the Nittany Lions their second one-goal lead of the game.

The Nittany Lions controlled most of the possession in the quarter, but were unable to find the net again to come out of the half.

Kent State opened the second half with possession, but immediately turned the ball over. Semler drove to the net, baiting the Golden Gophers into yet another penalty corner. She was rewarded with the feed off the corner, but missed the net wide right. Less than a minute later, Lara Pyle tried to add onto Penn State’s lead, but missed her shot, hitting the outside of the net.

With 5:42 left in the third quarter, Penn State once again found itself with a golden opportunity in the form of a penalty corner. McMenamin found Anouk Knuvers, who then hit Morgan Snyder, who found Purdy for a beautiful sequence and goal.

Penn State earned back-to-back penalty corners, where Snyder and Ella Jennes both got off good shots, but neither could put the ball past Wood. Kent State would force the ball back into the circle one more time before the third quarter expired, but wasn’t able to get off an attempt.

Kent State opened the fourth quarter with a bang. Eva Usoz found herself with a great opportunity two minutes in, and wasted no time putting the ball past Deverka. The Nittany Lions tried to respond on the other end, but Natalie Freeman’s shot squeaked just past the outside post.

With 9:44 left in regulation, a penalty corner was awarded to Penn State. The chance was smothered by the Golden Flashes, but the Nittany Lions were then given another corner. With traffic in front, Jennes fired a shot, beating Wood to put Penn State up 4-2.

Back on offense, Freeman would finally get her chance. Inside the circle with six minutes to go, she fired a shot past the Golden Flash defense and into the back of the net. After a replay review, the goal was overturned, but Penn State was rewarded with a penalty corner. After three ensuing corners, Penn State was not able to add on to the lead.

Kent State decided to pull the goalie with six minutes left, and Purdy found Freeman, who immediately scored to extend the Nittany Lion lead to 5-2. Kent State would try to scrape together a comeback, but the final buzzer expired, giving Penn State its fourth win of the season.

Takeaways

• Penn State dominated the stat sheet, tripling Kent State in shots and keeping constant pressure on the Golden Flashes’ defense from start to finish.
• Semler was everywhere, whether it was finishing plays, driving towards the net, forcing penalty corners, or creating chances for teammates. Nearly every dangerous look for Penn State ran through her in the first half.
• The Nittany Lions cashed in on two of their four goals off penalty corners, getting their money’s worth on the team’s best chances.

What’s Next?

The Nittany Lions will head on the road for the first time this season to face Maryland at 5 p.m. on Friday, September 19, at the Field Hockey and Lacrosse Complex. The game can be streamed on BTN+.