Penn State field hockey (3-4, 0-1 Big Ten) lost to No. 19 Monmouth (6-1, 1-0 CAA) 2-1 on Sunday afternoon at So Sweet a Cat Field in West Long Branch, New Jersey.

Both squads were scoreless through the first half, though a string of Penn State fouls allowed Monmouth to snatch a 2-0 lead. Olivia Marthins scored the Nittany Lions’ lone goal to close the third quarter.

How It Happened

Penn State earned its first scoring opportunity with a penalty corner just under five minutes into the game. Natalie Freeman passed it in, and Sienna Dunn took the shot. Monmouth’s Charlie Bowman made the save in goal, but Dunn collected the rebound and fired another shot, which was deflected away.

The teams exchanged possessions and plenty of fouls before the first quarter came to a close at 0-0.

The second frame started with another penalty corner, this time only a minute into the frame. Freeman passed it in again, and Ella Gaitan, the team’s leading scorer, took the shot for Penn State. Bowman made another save, keeping Penn State scoreless on its two penalty corners.

Monmouth recorded its first shot on goal with two minutes remaining in the half. Ava Zerfass was responsible for the shot, though Aby Deverka was there for the save to keep the game even at zero.

The half came to a close with neither team on the board.

To open the second half of play, Gaitan was given a green card, leaving Penn State down one man. The Hawks capitalized on the opportunity with the first goal of the game, scored by Éabha Curran and assisted by Claire Campen.

Just over a minute later, Monmouth earned back-to-back penalty corners but couldn’t convert, though it earned a penalty stroke. Milla Frye took the penalty stroke for the Hawks and tallied another goal, giving the Hawks a 2-0 lead.

The Nittany Lions responded in the last few minutes of the frame, starting with a penalty corner. Dunn took the shot and Marthins scored on the rebound.

Penn State earned a penalty stroke of its own with a minute remaining in the third, but Dunn failed to score.

Both teams exchanged penalty corners in the first five minutes of the frame, though Deverka and Bowman stood strong, not allowing a goal.

Penn State pulled Deverka with five minutes remaining, though it wasn’t enough as Monmouth held on for a 2-1 victory.

Takeaways

• Penn State fouls helped Monmouth’s offense ignite in the second half. Ella Gaitan’s green card may have been the difference-maker in Monmouth striking first, and another foul allowed Milla Frye to score on a penalty stroke.
• The Nittany Lions have lost four consecutive matchups against ranked opponents. The week featured two losses: one against No. 5 Maryland on Thursday and Sunday against No. 19 Monmouth.
• Aby Deverka posted a 50% save percentage in Sunday afternoon’s contest.

What’s Next?

The Nittany Lions will have a full week to recover after back-to-back ranked matchups. They’ll travel to Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, to take on the Bucknell Bison at 6 p.m. on Monday, September 28. The game will be streamed on ESPN+.