No. 20 Penn State shutout Michigan State 2-0: field hockey
Olivia Marthins scored her second college field hockey goal of the season against Michigan State University. Photo Mark Selders, Penn State Athletics
With five minutes left in the game, Penn State field hockey freshman Olivia Marthins gained possession of the ball at the top of the circle and pushed it into the cage as the goalie fell.
The goal, her second of the season, broke the scoreless tie between the Nittany Lions and Michigan State University. The late fourth quarter point made the score 1-0 Penn State.
The No. 20 ranked Penn State Nittany Lions then struck again a few minutes later. The final score was 2-0 in Happy Valley. Penn State are now 5-3 overall, 1-1 in Big Ten Conference. Michigan State are 3-5 overall, and 0-2 in Big Ten Conference play.
Off their ninth penalty corner of the game, Penn State’s Elle Jennes tallied her third goal of the season, assisted by Natalie Freeman and Katelyn Strawser, to claim the 2-0 dub.
The match carried an extra storyline, as Penn State and Michigan State each featured a member of the Tambroni family, adding a sister-rivalry twist to the contest.
The first half was evenly balanced, with both defenses standing strong. The Spartans tallied four shots and two penalty corners throughout the first 30 minutes, while Penn State managed just two shots and one penalty corner.
Penn State’s goalkeeper, Aby Deverka, made two key saves in the first quarter to keep the game even.
Michigan State’s Serena Mailhe was whistled for both a green and a yellow card in the second quarter, but the Nittany Lions still weren’t able to break through with the extra player advantage, and the teams went into halftime tied 0-0.
Penn State’s attack came alive in the third quarter, firing five shots and drawing six penalty corners. The Lions had a scoring opportunity when they were awarded a penalty stroke at 5:56, but Morgan Snyder’s attempt hit the post.
Michigan State managed only two shots over the quarter, with goalkeeper Lyra Gavino making five saves to keep her team level.
The Lions’ offense cracked Michigan State’s defensive code in the fourth, when they were able to capitalize on on two attack penalty corners in front of a packed crowd at the Penn State Field Hockey Complex.
The No. 20 Penn State field hockey team faces No. 6 Syracuse on Sunday, Sept. 28. Michigan State is at Bucknell today.
Thank you for reading Female Athlete News. Sydney Madden is a student-intern at Penn State University.