No. 20 Penn State field hockey (4-3, 0-1 Big Ten) defeated Michigan State (3-4, 0-1 Big Ten) at home Friday, 2-0.

The Nittany Lions dominated the stat sheet with shots and corners, but it took until the final frame to beat Spartans goalie Lyra Gavino.

How It Happened

Penn State nearly opened the scoring early when Katelyn Strasser fired just wide 83 seconds into the game. Michigan State responded with pressure of their own, forcing Aby Deverka into back-to-back saves on Tatum Johnson and Bianca Pizano less than six minutes in.

The Nittany Lions’ best look of the quarter came from Joji Purdy, who was denied by Lyra Gavino. Neither side could break through in the opening frame.

Penn State generated momentum to start the second quarter, earning a penalty corner. Ella Jennes and Anok Knuvers each saw their shots get blocked before Strawser let another shot go wide.

Michigan State answered with a corner of its own, but Caro Schafer’s attempts sailed wide of the net. The Nittany Lions carried the bulk of possession but couldn’t find a cage before half.

Penn State came out aggressive in the second half. Aubrey Semler fired wide I’m the 32nd minute before Lara Pyle forced Gavino into a save a minute later.

The Nittany Lions earned back-to-back corners, with Jennes and Semler both getting denied by the Spartans. Strawser followed it up with another wide look at 36:29.

At 37:46, Purdy tested Gavino with two shots, while Olivia Marthins added another chance shortly after. All the shots were saved, and Morgan Snyder missed wide on a penalty stroke at 39:04.

The quarter closed with more Penn State pressure, including another corner and shot from Natalie Freeman, but Gavino stood tall.

After three scoreless quarters, the Nittany Lions kept pressing in the fourth. Freemnan lifted a shot over the net, and Olivia Marthins came close moments later but pushed her shot wide.

Marthins wouldn’t miss again, though. In the 55th minute, the forward buried a goal to put Penn State in front 1-0.

Penn State continues to press late, earning a pair of corners. With just 40 seconds remaining, Jennes sealed the win by buying a goal off a setup from Freeman and Strawer, doubling the Nittany Lions’ lead to 2-0 right before the buzzer sounded.

Takeaways

• After missing a chance earlier in the game, Marthins delivered the only goal of the game for Penn State.
• Snyder’s missed penalty stroke in the third quarter was costly, leaving the Nittany Lions scoreless until the offense finally found a rhythm.
• The Nittany Lions outshot Michigan State by a wide margin, yet Gavino kept her team in it until the final buzzer

What’s Next?

The Nittany Lions will head to New York for a Big Ten matchup against No. 6 Syracuse at 12 p.m. on Sunday, September 28. The game will be available on ESPN+.