Oct. 1, 2011
Site: University Park, Pa. (Penn State Field Hockey Complex)
Score: Penn State 4, Northwestern 3 (OT)
Records: PSU (8-3, 2-0 Big Ten), NU (10-4, 1-2 Big Ten),
Next NU Event: Friday, Oct. 7 vs. Michigan Evanston, Ill. 3 p.m.
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- Facing a 3-1 deficit midway through the second half, No. 16 Northwestern scored the next two goals of the contest at No. 7 Penn State to force an overtime period, but a Nittany Lions scored held strong on their home turf, ultimately edging the 'Cats, 4-3.
Northwestern started things off on the right foot offensively as senior Claire Thompson got a shot off just 21 seconds into the contest, but it was Penn State who got on the scoreboard first with a Kelsey Amy goal off a penalty corner close to the eighth minute of action.
The Wildcats responded, however, as sophomore Maria Kovalchuk subbed into the game, and scored her fifth goal of the season after stealing the ball from the defender in the circle and tying things up at one.
Little action transpired for the next six minutes until the Nittany Lions reclaimed the lead with yet another Kelsey Amy goal. Soon after, Penn State earned a penalty corner -- one of their nine on the day -- and Brittany Grzywacz converted to extend PSU's lead, 3-1, before threatening for more. With the clock ticking down in the opening half, Penn State reeled off five-straight shots, but NU's defense flexed their muscles as Maddy Carpenter got her pads on two of the shots while the defense blocked two more.
To begin the second half, Penn State earned two penalty corners in a row, but couldn't convert, allowing the 'Cats to seize momentum and convert it to an offensive attack. NU registered three corners in a row, and it took until the third effort for Chelsea Armstrong to convert for a score. At the 41-minute mark, the junior fired in her 18th goal of the year, cutting the Nittany Lions' lead to 3-2.
In an intense game with two green cards and a pair of yellow cards, the two teams traded offensive possessions, going shot-for-shot in the second half. After a Regan Mooney attempt, Northwestern got another corner and Armstrong converted once more to erase the deficit and deadlock the affair at three with 15 minutes remaining.
Penn State was fouled in the circle at the 62-minute mark, earning a penalty stroke -- essentially a one-on-one scenario, but Carpenter stood tall and saved the potential go-ahead goal, preserving the tie game. Again, the teams traded shots, but neither side could convert the opportunities to take the lead, forcing an overtime period, the 'Cats' first overtime game this year.
Northwestern was able to get two quick shots off early in the extra period, one coming from a corner, but Penn State's Ayla Halus stopped both, giving the Nittany Lions the ability to take over on offense. Back-to-back shots for PSU sealed the deal as Taylor Herold slid one past Carpenter for the game-winner making the final score, 4-3.
Next up for the 'Cats is a final return trip home, playing all six of their remaining games at the comforts of Lakeside Field. First up in that stretch is a date with No. 14 Michigan at 3 p.m. Friday. At noon on Sunday, the Yale Bulldogs come to Evanston and the Wildcats will be supporting "Stick It to Cancer," giving out t-shirts to the first 100 fans in attendance.
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