Penn State field hockey (6-7, 2-4 Big Ten) beat No. 11 Iowa (8-4, 1-3 Big Ten) 1-0 on the road Friday evening in a Big Ten matchup.

The teams were deadlocked at 0-0 for over 74 minutes until Olivia Marthins scored the game-winning goal in double overtime.

How It Happened

After Penn State started with the ball, Iowa controlled possession for the first three minutes with an opportunity to score, but the Hawkeyes weren’t able to get a shot on goal.

Penn State’s first real chance to score came six minutes into the game when Joji Purdy sent a shot on net that was tipped by Natalie Freeman, but Iowa goalkeeper Mia Magnotta came up with the save. Possessions flipped back in fourth for a few minutes until Morgan Snyder found Sophia Mannino in the shooting circle for a solid shot that was saved by Magnotta’s kick save.

Frederique Van Cleef got the first opportunity for the Hawkeyes with just over five minutes to go in the opening quarter. Cleef found herself in a one-on-one with Aby Deverka, but sent the shot just right of the net.

As possessions flipped between teams, Brooke Weaver turned the ball over, then ran down Iowa’s midfielder, Gia Whalen, and fouled her inside the shooting circle. Iowa was then awarded the first penalty corner with 34 seconds to go in the first quarter. Iowa’s shot was blocked by Penn State’s defense, and the Hawkeyes retained possession until the quarter ran out, tied 0-0.

To open play in the second quarter, Brooke Weaver led the offense’s attack, and Penn State was able to induce a pair of turnovers that created a shot on goal. Ella Jennes fired the ball into the shooting circle to Natalie Freeman, who wailed a shot that was saved by Magnotta. Iowa then marched down the field, and Felicia Zonnenberg fired a shot on net that was kick-saved by Deverka.

Penn State’s next offensive opportunity occurred when Weaver intercepted a pass and dished the ball to Purdy. Purdy ripped a hard shot to the top of the net that was saved by Magnotta’s blocker.

Cleef dribbled the ball into the shooting circle and set up Dionne Van Aalsum for a downhill shot that sailed over the net. Iowa’s offensive pressure continued with a scrum of midfielders fighting for the ball by the penalty shot marker. The Nittany Lion defense was able to flip the field, although possession wasn’t maintained for long.

With 52 seconds to go in quarter two, Penn State was awarded a corner. Freeman passed it to Purdy, whose shot was blocked by Aalsum. A second corner was awarded, and after Freeman passed it, there was a scrum that ended up with Iowa knocking the ball out of bounds. The Nittany Lions continued pressure in the final seconds when Marthins’ shot on goal went a few feet wide right.

Iowa opened the second half with possession and traded the ball with Penn State for the first five minutes until the Nittany Lions established their offense.

Halfway through the frame, Whalen was set up a few feet outside the net and fired a shot that was body blocked by Deverka. Following Whalen’s shot, there wasn’t much offense; Iowa managed a shot on goal with three minutes remaining that was quickly recovered by Penn State’s defense.

Iowa opened with possession in the fourth quarter, and three minutes into play, the Hawkeyes were awarded a corner. Aalsum got a feed off the corner but fired a shot a few feet to the left of the goal.

As things got chippy in the fourth, the crowd started getting into it. An Iowa crowd broke out a Hawkeyes chant but was quickly silenced by a “We Are” chant.

Iowa got another corner at the seven-minute mark when Aalsum dribbled the ball into the shooting circle and was fouled. The ball was fed to Aalsum for a shot that was blocked by Cooper Cutchins. The rebound went to Rachel Herbine, who fired a shot that Deverka laid out to save.

Possession flipped to Penn State shortly after, and the Nittany Lions were awarded a corner just 30 seconds after Iowa had theirs. Purdy was passed the ball, and after missing her shot, Snyder was awarded a penalty stroke. Her shot was saved by the diving Magnotta.

The Hawkeyes took the pressure to the other side of the field as Aalsum fired off her seventh shot of the game. It was blocked by Marthins, and then resulted in a corner. She was fed on the ensuing corner but missed wide left.

With two minutes remaining, the Hawkeyes had their best scoring opportunity. Aalsum was fed by Cleef within the shooting circle with an open look at the goal, but her shot was blocked by a horizontal Deverka. Regulation came to an end with a 0-0 score.

Overtime opened with Penn State’s possession, but Iowa put the pressure on the Nittany Lions first. Three minutes into the frame, Cleef was passed the ball for a one-on-one with Deverka. Her shot sailed over the net.

Momentum flipped when Iowa’s inbound went out of bounds behind their net. Penn State was awarded a corner, and Purdy was able to fire off a shot that flew over the net. Iowa broke out a fastbreak that ended when Cutchins intercepted a pass, and Penn State’s offense ran down the field and was later given a corner. Freeman found Jennes on the inbound, and the Penn State midfielder scored, but it was waved off.

Another scoring opportunity occurred with a minute remaining in the first overtime. Weaver set up Lara Pyle over the middle, but Pyle whiffed it.

Two minutes into the second overtime, Jennes forced a turnover and found Aubrey Semler, who set up Mannino downfield with just Magnotta standing in her way. Mannino spun a shot that went a few feet wide of the net.

With 5:30 left in overtime, Marthins ripped a shot that beat Magnotta, who was a few feet out of the net for the game-winner.

Takeaways

• Although the Nittany Lions didn’t score in the first half, they kept offensive pressure on Iowa by outshooting them 6-4 (5-1 on goal) and maintaining possession for most of the half.
• Both teams’ defenses and goalies came up with big turnovers and saves throughout the game. Deverka and Magnotta combined for 11 saves in goal.
• As teams traded shots in double overtime, Marthins was able to deliver the nail in the coffin as she dribbled in the shooting circle and fired the game-winner into the back of the net.

What’s Next

The Nittany Lions will have a day off before another Big Ten matchup against Indiana at 11 a.m. on Sunday, October 19. The game will be available on BTN+.