No. 16 Penn State Field Hockey Falls 2-1 to No. 10 Syracuse – Penn State

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.; September 1, 2024 – The Penn State Nittany Lion field hockey team (0-2, 0-0 B1G), ranked No. 16 in the National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) Coaches Poll, dropped a tough 2-1 contest to No. 10 Syracuse (2-0) to close out the first weekend of the 2024 season. Nittany Lion senior Phia Gladieux scored for Penn State as the Lions opened up the season with two home games.

Penn State worked the ball into the Syracuse circle, with Ella Jennes feeding Natalie Freeman. Freeman’s shot was blocked but it forced an early corner for Penn State. Penn State ticked off three shots with Syracuse goalie Louise Pert saving two and the third just wide, all in the first two minutes. Penn State maintained possession through the 11:00 mark before Syracuse was able to briefly work the ball into the Penn State zone. The Orange forced their first penalty corner at 9:49 but the shot off the set was wide of freshman Lion keeper Aby Deverka. Willemjin Boogert took the incoming pass, shifted ride atop the circle and scored unassisted at 8:57 to give SU an early 1-0 lead. Tambroni forced a turnover for the Lion defense at the 2:03 mark. Phia Gladieux drove the ball downfield for the Lions, forcing a penalty corner with :33 on the clock. Gladieux’s forehand shot was blocked off the set and the Lions trailed 1-0 after one.

Syracuse began the second period by pushing the ball into the Penn State circle. True freshman Morgan Snyder, anchoring the Lion defense, stole the ball, pushing it outside left to cut the Orange pressure short. Syracuse was called for a green card at 12:13, giving Penn State a player advantage. Sophia Mannino worked the ball from midfield towards the SU circle as the card ended and the Nittany Lions forced a penalty corner at 10:09. Jennes’ shot was knocked aside by Pert on the play. Lion defender Julienne van Bekkum and Deverka broke up a brief Syracuse push at the 8:00 mark and Nittany Lion Aubrey Semler drove the ball down the rights side, working the ball into the Syracuse circle. But the Orange held on defense as the clock hit 7:00 with SU still leading by one. The teams traded possessions for the next few minutes before Penn State was called for a green card at 4:58. The Penn State defense was able to kill the penalty to even up the sides. Deverka made a diving save on a Rivian Rowan shot at 1:20 and the Lions drove fast down the field. But Syracuse stifled the break and Penn State trailed 1-0 at intermission.

Penn…