Lady Lions fall to No. 1 Wildcats, 4-0
UNIVERSITY PARK – The Penn State Nittany Lion field hockey team (5-7, 1-4 B1G) lost a 4-0 road game at No. 1 Northwestern (11-0, 3-0 B1G) in Big Ten field hockey action. Nittany Lion goalie Aby Deverka had a season-high ten saves in the contest.
Northwestern picked up a pair of penalty corners early in the game and the Lion defense pushed the Wildcats back. Northwestern kept the ball on the Penn State side of the field through the 12:00 mark. Penn State was able to force action down to the NU zone for a bit, but the Wildcats were able to force a turnover, drive the ball down to the Lion circle and score. Ashley Sessa scored at the 8:58 mark for Northwestern to give the Wildcats a 1-0 lead. Penn State goalie Aby Deverka made a save on another NU shot at 6:00. Sessa scored quickly after that, however, getting a second goal at 4:10. Lara Pyle drove the ball down the field for Penn State as the clock hit 2:00, forcing the Lions’ first penalty corner of the game at 1:57. Morgan Snyder’s shot off the inbound was saved by NU keeper Juliana Boon and Penn State trailed 2-0 after one.
Sophia Mannino nearly put the Lions on the board early in the second period, dribbling to the left and launching a backhand that nearly got by Boon. But the Wildcat keeper was able to tip the ball aside to keep Penn State scoreless. Northwestern countered by forcing a penalty corner shortly after at the 11:15 mark. The Penn State defense held on the play, forcing the NU shot wide. Deverka and the Nittany Lion defense continued to hold off Northwestern’s offensive pressure as the clock moved past 7:00. Northwestern gave up a green card at the 5:45 mark. But NU was able to kill the player edge and then forced a corner at 2:59. The Wildcat shot on the play was wide.
Northwestern controlled action early in the third period, moving the ball into the Lion circle and eventually finding the back of the cage once more. Maddie Zimmer scored unassisted at the 10:34 mark to put NU up 3-0. The Wildcats had another goal overturned on review shortly after that and then had a penalty corner overturned on review seconds later at 7:44. Katelyn Strawser worked the ball into the NU circle and forced a corner at 6:23 for Penn State. Joji Purdy’s shot off the inbound was blocked by the Wildcats. The game moved to the fourth period with the Nittany Lions trailing 3-0.
The Wildcats began the fourth period by working the ball into the Nittany Lion circle, forcing a penalty corner at 12:07. The Lion defense blocked the initial shot, but Northwestern picked up another corner. Deverka made a stick save on the ensuing shot to keep the score at 3-0. Penn State’s defense continued to hold off the Wildcat offense as the clock moved below the 9:00 mark. Deverka kicked an NU shot back with 7:50 left in the game and Penn State was able to briefly move action to the NU side. The teams traded possession through the 7:00 mark. Northwestern picked up a penalty corner with 5:51 on the clock. The Wildcats scored on the play with Grace Schultze knocking in the rebound to give NU a 4-0 lead at 5:40. Penn State’s Olivia Marthins had a shot saved by Boon at 4:50. The Wildcats controlled action for the remainder of the game and Penn State dropped the 4-0 contest on the road.
Penn State was outshot by Northwestern 24-7 in the game, and the Wildcats had an 8-3 edge in penalty corners. Deverka had a season-high 10 saves in the contest, Boon had four saves for the Wildcats.
Penn State is now 5-7 overall, 1-4 B1G. Northwestern improves to 11-0, 3-0 B1G. Penn State returns home for two conference duals next weekend. The Nittany Lions host Iowa on Friday, Oct. 17, at 6 p.m. and Indiana on Sunday, Oct. 19, at 12 p.m.
Fans are encouraged to follow the Nittany Lion field hockey team online at www.GoPSUsports.com (click teams, click field hockey), on X and IG @pennstateFH and on facebook at www.facebook.com/pennstatefieldhockey.
GAME BREAKDOWN
SCORING: 1 2 3 4 FINAL
Penn State 0 0 0 0 0
Northwestern 2 0 1 1 4
STATS: PSU NU
Shots 7 24
Corners 3 8
SCORING SUMMARY (goal/assist) – TIME
1st: NU – Ashley Sessa (Piper Borz); 8:58
1st: NU – Ashley Sessa (Maddie Zimmer); 4:10
3rd: NU – Maddie Zimmer (unassisted); 10:34
4th: NU – Grace Schulze (unassisted); 5:40
GOALKEEPERS: MIN GA S
PSU: Aby Deverka 60:00 4 10
NU: Juliana Boon 60:00 0 4