Penn State field hockey earns first home win with upset over No. 15 Princeton

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Penn State won their third straight game after an electrifying 3-2 victory over the No. 15 Princeton Tigers.

Talia Schenck got things going for Princeton after scoring within the first three minutes of the game. The goal was assisted by Beth Yeager after an original deflection by Penn State goalie Aby Deverka.

Penn State had early opportunities to score as well, with three consecutive penalty corners in the first quarter, but could not get past the Tiger defense.

Both teams were lethal on the defensive end, causing the contest to remain 1-0 in Princeton’s favor following the conclusion of the opening quarter.

The start of the second quarter was sluggish for both teams until a Phia Gladieux breakaway goal allowed The Nittany Lions to tie the game.

Penn State had another golden opportunity to score and take the lead on a Phia Gladieux look to Aubrey Semler, but the pass fell just out of Semler’s reach.

Princeton’s Molly Nye answered with a fast break goal of her own that gave the Tigers the lead going into the half. The two goals that Princeton scored in the first half were equivalent to the total amount of goals they had scored all season coming into this match.

The pace of the game from the first half compared to the second half was like night and day. The first half was slowed down with lots of good defense. The second half was amped up and action-packed, with fiery offense.

Princeton was able to get five shots off in the third quarter but came up short thanks to sensational goal-keeping by Aby Deverka. However, the Tigers continued to hold their own on the defensive end allowing only one Penn State shot in the third quarter.

Still in defeat as the fourth quarter rolled in, Penn State needed some heroics. Who better to step up, than Olympian Phia Gladieux?

After a great defensive possession, a flaring Gladieux flew down the field to tie the game for the Nittany Lions.

With less than two minutes left, this game had all the likings of seeing extra time. That was until Penn State got another opportunity for a penalty corner

It was no surprise that the pass was going to head in the direction of Phia Gladieux. The ball was deflected off Gladieux’s stick, which appeared to be a missed shot. That was until Sophia Mannino laid down her stick and knocked the ball into the goal.

The Nittany Lions hope to continue their win streak when they travel to Lewisburg to take on Bucknell on Sept. 22.

Gianna Dowling is a second-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact her please email gmd5738@psu.edu.