Penn State field hockey wins first game of the 2026 season 8-0 over Lock Haven
Penn State field hockey outscored and outplayed Lock Haven on Sunday. Photo: Penn State Athletics
Penn State field hockey dominated the pitch in Happy Valley on Sunday, scoring five goals in a third-quarter surge and putting on an offensive clinic against Lock Haven.
It was the first win for Nittany Lions head coach Hannah Prince. She and Lock Haven head coach Valerie Clarke were hired earlier this year. Prince was formerly head coach at St. Joseph’s in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and Clarke was head coach at Converse in Spartanburg, South Carolina.
Penn State is 1-1 at home and on the season. Lock Haven is also 1-1 on the season, with one home win on opening day of the NCAA Division I field hockey season.
Lock Haven beat Mercyhurst 5-2 on Friday, Aug. 28.
Sunday’s final score told a different story for both teams.
Penn State was able to start strong, controlling the first half with nine shots on goal, a much different offensive approach from its previous game against No. 5 Virginia on Friday.
On defense, Penn State especially worked on high pressure with major interceptions executed by Joji Purdy.
Penn State started the second quarter with straight fire, as Olivia Marthins scored the first goal of the game, her second goal of the 2026 season.
With 30 seconds left in the first half, Lock Haven’s Maggie Moylan received a yellow card.
With Moylan already out for the beginning of the second half, Lock Haven was in trouble when Rylee Wassmer also received a green card.
Penn State took advantage of the Bald Eagles’ low moment as it was awarded a penalty stroke, leading to Sienna Dunn’s first goal of the season.
Adding onto the Nittany Lions’ rapid-fire streak, Chloe D’Hage scored her second goal of the season 40 seconds later, with an assist by Lara Pyle.
After a solid five-to-six minutes of the Nittany Lions continuing to assert control, an impressive long sweep by Lilly Holmes ended up on Hope Russo’s stick, and Russo had the final touch inside the circle in front of Lock Haven’s goalie.
With three minutes left in the half, Penn State was up by four, but it was nowhere near satisfied.
A penalty corner was granted, leading to Purdy swiftly knocking the ball back with help from Dunn and Cam Standish. The Purdy-and-Dunn duo added yet another goal with one minute left in the half, the fifth goal of the quarter.
Captain Natalie Freeman added to the score with a quick shot to start the fourth quarter.
The Nittany Lions scored their eighth goal in the eighth minute off a penalty corner, thanks to Gaitan with assists from Lara Pyle and Kerry O’Donnell.
Penn State was awarded more than 10 penalty corners in the game, double the amount Lock Haven received.
This was a huge blowout compared to the team’s defeat against Virginia a few days prior.
Reflecting on her approach for this match, Prince explained that “the past is what it is and it’s all about looking ahead to whatever our next task at hand is.”
Prince also emphasized how proud she was of the team, specifically how “every single person on our roster that was cleared to play got to play.”
Penn State hosts Villanova Friday, Sept. 4, and Lock Haven hosts Georgetown on Sunday, Sept. 6.
Goals
Penn State: 0-1-5-2
Lock Haven: 0-0-0-0
Penalty Corners
Penn State: 1-2-6-3, 12
Lock Haven: 2-1-1-0, 4
Saves
Penn State: 0-1-2-0, 3
Lock Haven: 4-4-3-3, 14
*Simmie Samra is a student-intern at Penn State University.
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