Penn State field hockey (7-8, 2-5 Big Ten) dominated Lock Haven (0-16, 0-5 A-10) 8-0 on Friday afternoon.

While Penn State has struggled offensively in some games this season, it had no trouble against Lock Haven. It scored four goals in the first five minutes of the game, before picking up another four in the second half to secure the win.

How It Happened

The Nittany Lions started out strong on the attack, earning a corner. They sent the ball up the middle to steady, and Ella Jennes swept into the right corner to go up 1-0, only 42 seconds into play.

Their defense bullied Lock Haven, winning the ball back immediately and pushing through, running down the sideline to cross it towards the near post for Natalie Freeman to win the ball before the goalie, spinning around her and chopping it in to go up by two less than a minute later.

Both teams traded fouls for about two minutes before Lock Haven gave one away in front of the shooting circle. Penn State slipped the ball between defenders towards the goal, and Jennes deflected it in to keep the scoring streak.

Penn State wasted no time going back on the attack, sweeping the ball towards goal from the 25-yard line for Sophia Mannino to push towards Freeman as the goalie fell, and she grabbed her second goal of the day.

After Penn State picked up four goals in just under five minutes, play started to settle down for the rest of the quarter. Olivia Marthins had a chance on goal, but was saved by the Eagle’s goalie, Kelsey Felix.

Penn State and Lock Haven both made a multitude of subs before Marthins saw another shot go wide. It continued to take shots on goal and subs, but could not pass Felix. It won another penalty corner, taken by Morgan McMenamin. Penn State tried to run around the defenders, but was foiled.

It got off one more shot, saved, and ended the first quarter up 4-0.

The Nittany Lions continued to try to find more goals, getting off three shots to start the second quarter. Lock Haven continued fouling them in attempts to stop their momentum and prevent another goal, which worked for the first seven minutes, with only three shots.

The Eagles earned themselves a penalty corner, but failed to get a shot off as they sent the ball wide.

Both teams traded possession, with Penn State unable to claim momentum again. It found a big chance with a breakaway halfway through the second quarter. Aubrey Semler ran down the field and beat the goalie, but defender Molly Lynch was on the goal line to make the stop and give away a penalty corner.

The Nittany Lions’ penalty was blocked by Lynch again for a second corner. Joji Purdy’s strong hit was stopped by Felix, but Lock Haven turned the ball back over for another corner. The hit was misplaced as the ball rolled under the Nittany Lions’ sticks, and Lock Haven went on the counter-attack.

Lock Haven sent the ball up to the half circle and tried to sweep it in, but the ball was deflected before it hit wide.

Marthins tried to take the ball all the way herself, before colliding with Felix, and the ball went off of Lock Haven for a Penn State corner. The Nittany Lions could not get a real shot off, and the half ended with them still in the lead, 4-0.

Penn State took the ball straight downfield to start the second half, with Selmer scoring just 22 seconds in. It stayed on the attack, winning a corner sent in by Freeman, but Morgan Snyder’s shot was blocked.

Penn State fought and won the ball back from Lock Haven around the 25-yard line, and Purdy picked up the ball, breaking into the half circle. She chopped it into the far corner to extend Penn State’s lead, 6-0, under three minutes into the third quarter.

The Nittany Lions made a slew of substitutions before picking up their seventh goal through Jennes. Marthins cut through defenders before Felix got to the ball, sweeping it away right to Jennes, who went right back in and cut the ball into the air to score.

Play was mostly traded for the rest of the third quarter, with Penn State picking up two shots and one corner, but failed to capitalize on any.

Lock Haven started on possession for the fourth quarter, taking a quick shot that went high. It earned a penalty corner soon after, nearly scoring, but Penn State stood strong to deny it and give another penalty corner. The ball went off Penn State’s foot to give away a third corner. This time, Lock Haven’s shot went wide and gave possession back to Penn State.

The Nittany Lions took the ball out wide on offense before cutting in and winning a penalty corner in the run. Their shot was blocked by the goalie, and they could not hop on the rebound. The Nittany Lions quickly won the ball back, sending the ball in for Freeman to push around the goalie, but defender Lynch was there for the stop again. The ball dribbled into the goal off her stick after the stop, but did not count as a goal.

Penn State ran through the midfield on attack with 11 minutes left in the game, sending the ball to Jennes right in front of the goalie. She turned around, sending it to the post where Marthins was waiting to tap it in and increase Penn State’s lead to eight.

The blue and white made substitutions, before getting off three quick shots by Katelyn Strawswer, all saved. They won three quick corners in a row, getting a shot off on the third that was blocked.

Penn State controlled the tempo for most of the quarter, but couldn’t find a breakthrough before the Eagles had a strong attack with under three minutes to play to try to get on the scoreboard.

They took the ball down the sideline, crossing it in, but their shot was deflected for a penalty corner. They sent it up top, but the sweeping shot went just wide of the goal. Penn State secured its dominant win and clean sheet, 8-0.

Takeaways

• This is a big comeback win for Penn State after falling to Indiana 3-1 in a tough game. It has been struggling in Big Ten play, so out-of-conference games help it regain momentum.
• Natalie Freeman and Ella Jennes both picked up braces on the day, combining for half of Penn State’s goals in a dominant offensive showing.
• Penn State’s offense just dominated today. The team took 31 shots, 24 on goal, compared to Lock Haven’s seven shots. It never gave Lock Haven a real chance to compete, earning 13 corners and giving away only five.

What’s Next?

Penn State will close out its regular season on Friday, October 31. It will host Rutgers on Halloween at 5 p.m.