No. 17 Penn State field hockey (3-1, 0-0 Big Ten) jumped out to an early lead and held on at the end, outlasting Bucknell (3-2, Patriot League) by a score of 2-1.

The Nittany Lions dominated early and took a two-goal lead into the half, and didn’t surrender a single shot attempt for the first 39 minutes of the match, holding on after a late charge by their in-state foes.

How It Happened

The game started off slow, with neither team seriously threatening in the first six minutes. Penn State mostly controlled possession in the early going, with Natalie Freeman getting an early stuff-in attempt smothered. The ice was broken at the halfway point of the first quarter, with the loose ball deflecting to Katelyn Strawser in front of the net, which she buried for an early 1-0 lead for the Nittany Lions.

Penn State threatened to take an early two-goal lead after being awarded a penalty stroke about a minute later, but Ella Jennes had her shot saved by Bucknell goalkeeper Sarah Althouse. They kept the pressure on to draw a penalty corner with under five minutes to play in the quarter, but Jennes’ shot was blocked.

Bucknell finally put pressure on the Nittany Lions with 3:30 to go in the first, but Aby Deverka was able to prevent a shot from being taken inside the shooting circle. Penn State went the other way shortly after and once again drew a penalty corner with 2:35 to go, but the shot by Morgan Snyder went wide of the net.

Bucknell wasn’t able to break any momentum entering the second quarter, allowing a third penalty corner just 33 seconds in. Strawser again took the shot, which was deflected onto the top of the net. Bucknell broke in deep after several minutes of persistent Penn State pressure about three and a half minutes in, but once again couldn’t threaten the net. After flipping the field for the next few minutes, they got their best chance of the game thus far on a centering pass with just over seven minutes left, but there was nobody home.

Penn State got back in control and, about a minute later, had a shot in tight by Olivia Marthins that got smothered by the keeper. With 2:30 to go, Strawser got another golden opportunity in front of the net, but shot it wide.

Shortly after, the dam broke on a howitzer by Cooper Cutchins, who ripped a shot past Althouse in net for her first goal of the season to make it 2-0 just before the half, a half which saw the Nittany Lions hold Bucknell without a shot attempt.

The second half opened with a reinvigorated Bucknell team coming out more aggressively than they had played through 30 minutes, but the first shot attempt of the half went to Penn State, as Aubrey Semler sprinted up the left side and shot one wide about a minute in. Strawser, who’s been all over the Bison tonight, had a shot go off the left foot of Althouse. With Bucknell feeling the pressure once again, Penn State drew a penalty corner four minutes into the half, but a great defensive play broke up any shot attempt.

Finally, 39 minutes into the game, Bucknell got the consistent pressure they needed to earn their first penalty corner. While they got their first shot and shot on goal of the game off the stick of Kira Leclercq, it was stopped by Deverka in the net.

After finally getting their first shot, they seemed more confident. They controlled play for an extended period and drew another penalty corner with under five minutes to go in the third quarter, but the shot was smothered after it took too long to set up.

From there, the Nittany Lions retook control. A centering pass by Morgan McMenamin got through and deflected out of play with under two minutes to play, while another centering pass was broken up a minute later. Despite their least dominant quarter of the day, Penn State maintained a two-goal advantage.

Penn State opened the fourth quarter with a penalty corner 28 seconds in, which saw Semler get a shot on net, but Bucknell defended it well. In the span of 25 seconds, with just under eleven minutes to go, Bucknell got four consecutive penalty corners, the fourth of which finally generated a shot on goal, and the team’s first goal of the game, off the stick of Leclercq, to make it 2-1.

The Nittany Lions were getting sloppy and no longer had a stranglehold on the game. All of a sudden, Bucknell was charging. Despite that, the defense remained stout and stifled their momentum. Every time Bucknell made a move, they would be denied a real chance to tie the game. The final buzzer sounded after an uneventful final ten minutes, with Penn State holding on.

Takeaways

• The first half was as dominant as it gets. Penn State controlled play for nearly the entirety of the half, holding the Bison without a shot for the first 39 minutes of the game.
• The defense relaxed in the second half with the multi-goal lead and the team looked sloppy for extended periods in the fourth quarter. It didn’t help that Bucknell was awarded four consecutive penalty corners in a bizarre sequence.
• Katelyn Strawser was dominant for the Nittany Lions. The sophomore was all over the Bison defense all night, scoring a goal and repeatedly peppering the net while looking for a second.

What’s Next?

Penn State field hockey continues its non-conference slate, hosting Kent State on Sunday, September 14th at 12 p.m. The game will be broadcast on Big Ten Plus.