Penn State field hockey’s senior posse was able to fully enjoy its celebratory “senior day” Sunday with a 2-1 win against Iowa.
The No. 16 Nittany Lions agitated a younger No. 5 Hawkeye team. The Big Ten matchup was Penn State’s last home conference contest of the season.
Iowa scored first. Alex Wesneski, a senior, scored with 1:34 left in the first quarter, and was assisted by Miranda Jackson, a freshman.
Penn State then reflected the same action and scored late in the second when Phia Gladieux, senior, smashed the ball toward cage, which deflected off an Iowa stick into the net.
There were under three minutes left to play in the first half.
And, if the over 800 fans watching thought the start of the game was thrilling, it’s breathless mystery continued into the second half. Iowa has a roster full of hotshot rookies, blended with senior experience. Penn State has an edge of experience with it’s heavyier upper-classman presence.
Pairing two different styles of play, both trying to demand capitalizing the use of the right side, neither team showed signs of fatigue that would give their opponent the right of way. The center and middle of the field was a sweet passageway that was best utilized by Iowa.
It wasn’t until the third quarter that the game-winner was scored…again by glitzy Gladieux. Somehow she was able to eliminate two defenders, dribble her way out of a jam, and put a little lift on the ball into the cage.
That would be the last goal of the game and enough for Penn State to knock down Iowa.
The fourth quarter was a back and forth bitter battle amongst friends. But, to keep it friendly, in total, there were nine cards given throughout all 60 minutes – four yellow warnings in the second half.
Penn State is 8-7 overall, and 3-4 in the Big Ten. Iowa is 12-4 overall, 3-4 in the Big Ten.
The teams were even with the number of shots taken, but Penn State held the edge in penalty corners. Penn State’s keeper Brie Barraco was clutch recording 11 saves.
Penn State 0-1-1-0: 2
Goals: Gladieux, 2
Assists: Madison Tambroni and Ella Jennes, 1
Shots: 15
Penalty Corners: 6
Saves: Barraco, 11
Iowa 1-0-0-0: 1
Goals: Wesneski
Assists: Jackson
Shots: 15
Penalty Corners: 3
Saves: Mia Magnotta, 8
