UNIVERSITY PARK – The Penn State Nittany Lion field hockey team (7-9, 2-5 B1G) lost a 6-1 game at No. 5 Princeton (12-3) in non-conference field hockey action on Sunday in New Jersey. Princeton broke open a close game with a four-goal third period to post the win in New Jersey.

Princeton came out and pushed the ball downfield to force a penalty corner at the 14:15 mark to open the game. The Nittany Lion defense held, and Penn State moved the ball back to midfield. Princeton worked the ball back into the Lion circle and Penn State keeper Aby Deverka picked up her initial save of the game in the second minute of play. The Nittany Lion defense continued to hold off the Tigers through the midpoint of the period, keeping the score tied at 0-0. Penn State worked the ball into the Tiger circle in the final 1:30. Joji Purdy had a shot blocked at the :25 mark and the first period ended in a 0-0 tie.

The Penn State defense pushed back on an early Tiger push to start the second period. Penn State battled through the midfield and worked the ball into the Princeton zone at the 10:00 mark. Princeton stopped the Lion effort and then Penn State gave up a green card at the 9:08 mark. Princeton took advantage of the penalty. The Tigers got a goal from Caitlin Thompson at the 8:27 mark to give the Tigers a 1-0 lead. Princeton forced a corner at the 5:47 mark. Deverka made a save on the shot and the game continued with the Tigers up 1-0. Freshman Cooper Cutchens stopped a Tiger drive in the final 1:30 to give Penn State a late chance.

Princeton had another initial push into the Penn State zone to begin the third period. Deverka and the Nittany Lion defense held early. The Tigers forced a corner at 11:21. Deverka made a save and the Tigers got another corner seconds later. Princeton took a 2-0 lead on a Beth Yeager goal at 11:07. Penn State then gave up a green card at the 10:00 mark. The Lions killed the penalty well, but Princeton forced a corner at 7:05. Deverka and defender Madison Britton fought off a series of Princeton passes to keep the score at 2-0 through the 6:20 mark. Princeton picked up another corner and the Tigers took a 3-0 lead with a goal from Tabby Vaughan at 5:45. The Tigers scored just over a minute later on another corner set with Clem Houlden scoring at 4:19 and then again off another corer at 2:53 with Ottillie Sykes getting the goal to put the Tigers up 5-0 after three.

Princeton scored quickly in the fourth period with Izzy Morgan scoring at the 13:49 mark. Penn State then got on the board when Joji Purdy scored unassisted at 10:27 to cut the Tiger lead to 6-1. Princeton forced another penalty corner at the 8:17 mark. A Deverka save, another corner, another save and a third corner followed but the Lion defense held through 7:30. Penn State worked its way into the Tiger circle and picked up a corner at 2:49. The Nittany Lions were awarded three more quick corners from the Tiger defense before the home team took over possession at 2:05 and worked the clock down to 0:00, giving Princeton the 6-1 win.

Princeton outshot Penn State 21-7 and had an 11-5 advantage in penalty corners. Deverka ended the game with seven saves for the Nittany Lions while Libby Smith had two for Princeton.

Penn State is now 7-9 overall, 2-5 in the conference. Princeton improves to 12-3. The Nittany Lions close out the regular season next weekend, hosting Rutgers on Friday, Oct. 31, at 5 p.m. in Big Ten action.

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 FINALS

Penn State 0 0 0 1 1

Princeton 0 1 4 1 6

STATS: PSU PRIN

Shots 7 21

Corners 5 11

SCORING SUMMARY (goal/assist) – TIME

2nd: PRIN – Caitlin Thompson (Anny Faulstcih); 8:27

3rd: PRIN – Beth Yeager (Pru Lindsey); 11:07

3rd: PRIN – Tabby Vaughan (Beth Yeager); 5:45

3rd: PRIN – Clem Houlden (unassisted); 4:19

3rd: PRIN – Ottillie Sykes (Pru Lindey, Anna Faulstich); 2:53

4th: PRIN – Izzy Morgan (Saylor Milone); 13:49

4th: PSU – Joji Purdy (unassisted); 10:27

GOALKEEPERS: MIN GA S

PSU: Aby Deverka 60:00 6 7

PRIN: Olivia Caponiti 45:00 0 0

Libby Smith 15:00 1 2