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News for 06 March 2021

All the news for Saturday 6 March 2021


2020 FIH Pro League (Men) - 6 March

Times GMT+1


6 Mar 2021 16:30     NED v GER (RR)
7 Mar 2021 16:30     NED v GER (RR)

Keep up to date with all the latest news on the FIH Hockey Pro League via the Watch.Hockey app, event website and through FIH social media channels - Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Live streaming and full game replay on the Watch Hockey App (May be Geo blocked if there is TV coverage)

Pool Standings

Rank Team Played Wins SO Win Draws SO Loss Losses Goals For Goals Against Goal Difference Points
1 Belgium 13 9 2 0 1 1 40 22 18 32
2 Netherlands 9 4 2 0 2 1 25 22 3 18
3 Australia 8 3 1 0 3 1 27 20 7 14
4 India 6 2 2 0 0 2 17 15 2 10
5 Argentina 8 2 1 0 2 3 22 24 -2 10
6 New Zealand 8 2 1 0 0 5 15 25 -10 8
7 Spain 10 2 0 0 1 7 21 32 -11 7
8 Germany 4 1 2 0 0 1 9 10 -1 7
9 Great Britain 8 1 0 0 2 5 13 19 -6 5

FIH Match Centre



2020 FIH Pro League (Women) - 6 March

Times GMT +1

6 Mar 2021 14:00     NED v GER (RR)
7 Mar 2021 14:00     NED v GER (RR)

Keep up to date with all the latest news on the FIH Hockey Pro League via the Watch.Hockey app, event website and through FIH social media channels - Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Live streaming and full game replay on the Watch Hockey App (May be Geo blocked if there is TV coverage)

Pool Standings

Rank Team Played Wins SO Win SO Loss Losses Goals For Goals Against Goal Difference Points
1 Netherlands 8 6 1 0 1 27 6 21 23
2 Argentina 8 5 1 0 2 23 12 11 17
3 New Zealand 8 4 0 2 2 19 14 5 14
4 Great Britain 8 2 2 1 2 10 10 0 11
5 Australia 6 1 1 1 2 6 9 -3 9
6 Belgium 9 1 1 2 5 10 21 -11 7
7 Germany 2 2 0 0 0 5 1 4 6
8 China 2 0 0 0 2 2 7 -5 0
9 United States 5 0 0 0 5 5 27 -22 0

USA v NED (26.01.2020) worth double points because of the match cancelled on 24.01.2020
AUS v GBR (01.02.2020) worth double points because of the match cancelled on 02.02.2020

FIH Match Centre



The Netherlands and Germany set for FIH Hockey Pro League clashes

By Michael Houston


Germany and The Netherlands are set to face off in four matches over the next two days ©Getty Images

The Netherlands and Germany are set for two double-headers in the men's and women's International Hockey Federation (FIH) Hockey Pro League over the next two days.

Two women's and two men's matches between the neighbouring countries are set to be played at the Wagener Stadium in Amstelveen tomorrow and Sunday (March 7).

The games are the latest in a coronavirus-affected 2020 Hockey Pro League season, carried over to this year ne

The Netherlands have played nine of their 16 matches in the men's competition and sit second behind rivals Belgium.

Germany have only played a quarter of their matches, with a 6-1 reverse Belgium in September their solitary defeat.

The Netherlands' sole loss in normal time was in their opening match with India, which they lost 5-2.

"It will be made more difficult as we haven’t had a FIH Pro League game since September last year, but we have used the last couple of months to train really hard and to put focus on our defence," said Germany's veteran striker Florian Fuchs.

"We know the Dutch team is very good at countering.

"They have a lot of pace in the team so whenever they make a turnover they move the ball very quickly.

"But when we have the ball, we are going to move very confidently and offensively."

In the women's competition, the Dutch team are top of the standings and have the opportunity to extend their lead with no other Hockey Pro League matches being played this month.

However, they face a German team with a 100 per cent record so far, albeit they have played only two matches.

A victory for the visitors in either match could set them up well for the rest of the campaign.

Inside the Games



SA Men’s hockey team start crowdfund with Matchkit to achieve Tokyo 2021 dream


Rising South African goalkeeper Siya Ntshulunga. Photo: Supplied

JOHANNESBURG - The South African Men’s hockey team is pulling out all the stops to make their Tokyo 2021 Olympic dream a reality during a difficult financial climate for the federation. The team has been boosted by a partnership with award-winning platform, Matchkit.co, to further commercialise and grow their brand as they step up their preparation for the showpiece expected to be held in July this year.

Mathckit.co has enabled the team to set up a crowdfunding campaign, with a plea to all corporates, fans and the public to get behind the team as they look to raise the 3.5million Rands needed to fulfil their Olympic dream.

Team Head coach, Garreth Ewing, says the partnership will give the players and staff a vital commercial boost in a sporting code that has struggled for support.

“We are running a highly professional environment with very little financial support,” he explained. “All of the teams who are ranked above us on the rankings have full-time resources including players and staff. All of our players and staff have full-time jobs, every bit of support will go a long way.

“We are ranked 14th and the goal is for us to play the top six teams in the world to test ourselves against the best. We have been invited to a few tournaments overseas in preparation for Tokyo, but the challenge remains the ability to meet the financial demands required of us to participate.

“Getting to the Olympics is a dream come true, especially considering how difficult it is to qualify. We have done the hard work and deserve to be there; it would be heart-breaking if we are unable to go. We hope as many beneficiaries as possible will come out in support of our dream,” he concluded.

MatchKit.co was awarded Gold for best mobile app at the MMA Smarties awards due to the mobile web app’s immediate traction.

Matchkit’s growth since its launch in June 2020 has given athletes unprecedented access to a growing global digital environment. Co-founder, Mike Sharman, says the move to team up with the Men’s hockey team is inspired by his team’s commitment to continue shaping the future of South African sports.

“Our purpose is to help athletes better commercialise their careers” he said. “In 10 months we’ve created partnerships with Red Bull, South America’s 6 rugby playing nations and the USA Olympic swimming team, but the project most close to our heart is SA Men’s Hockey.

“They are fully transformed with 50% black team members at player level and 60% black representatives at management level, yet there is still zero support from SASCOC. We are offering our tech up for free to help the hockey team raise the R3.5-5m to get them to Tokyo. We know sport can change lives and we are committed to see every colour and creed of South African represented on the global stage.”

The Men’s squad features an exciting blend of experience, youth and diversity; a glowing representation of the talent South Africa has to offer. Rising goal-keeper Siya Ntshulunga - who currently juggles a full-time job while living his dream- hopes the platform will grow his profile as he looks for sponsorship opportunities.

“It is very difficult finding sponsorship opportunities so any platform that can help grow my profile and brand will be beneficial towards getting that support,” he said.

“The challenges of working full-time, playing sport and representing your country is never an easy task, it comes with great responsibility. It comes with sacrifices; from waking up extra early in the morning to push yourself in training to then fulfilling your KPI's at work during the day.

“Not many people have the opportunity to represent their country so we have to make sure we make the most of all the opportunities and resources we get. I’m so thankful to Matchkit for offering us this platform, I hope the supporters will get behind us,” he concluded.

Interested beneficiaries can pledge their support for the team on the crowdfunding link on the profile below: https://matchkit.co/springdog

Independent Online



Men’s National Program pursues success now and into the future

Identification and Carding Camp serves dual purpose



The countdown to Tokyo 2020 is on and with carding camp finished, the coaching staff, led by Pasha Gademan, will shift their focus to performance at the Olympic Games.

The Men’s National Program wrapped up its five-day identification and carding camp this week. The camp featured multiple on-field and in-gym training sessions as well as full games on Saturday and Sunday. For the coaching staff, the chance to see everyone in one place for an extended time was valuable for making decisions moving forward.

“Having a camp like this really gives me a chance to get the full picture; get a full overview of what we have. Right now, the goal is short term, but having the NextGen guys in here can give us the overview and show what we need to work on, long term,” Gademan said.

At this point, the coaching group will start to pare down the numbers at training and start focusing attention on the Olympic-bound squad. Coaches and athletes alike agree that finding safe competition elements is the next step. For Gademan, he wants to see the team perform under pressure against quality opponents.

“What I really want to do now, is work with the smaller group so we can make huge steps forward. I can’t wait to really get my hands dirty with this group moving forward.” Gademan said. “As Field Hockey Canada, we will do everything we can to get to safe games and get some competition.”

The Men’s National Team uses Carding Camp to make selections for upcoming tours and competitions. Photos: Blair Shier

For MNT veteran forward, James Kirkpatrick, having the NextGen athletes at camp has opened up the opportunities to play full games. He noted the injection of youth is a nice motivator and good for the program as a whole.

“The trainings have been great; the games have been great. It’s really good to see the young guys coming up. It’s similar to the exposure I had when I was younger,” he said. “We have a culture on this team and it’s important that everyone buys in. Getting the NextGen guys here so we can lead by example is a good start to getting them into the program.”

Kirkpatrick, who wasn’t on the 2016 Rio Olympic Team but will be pushing for a final roster spot this year, is looking forward to the next several months as the team makes its preparations and push for the Games. He understands that given the circumstances with restricted travel and a lack of competition, the team has to use every opportunity they can to improve.

“Anytime you are on the pitch, you can get better. At this point, we are just trying to control what we can, and do whatever we can to make the team better,” Kirkpatrick said. “It’s been a really weird year. Things felt in limbo for a long time, but now it really feels real. Having Andre [Henning] and Pasha here, offers a fresh outlook.”

The Men’s National Team will continue to train in Vancouver and prepare to tour and secure international test-matches when safe. The final Olympic-bound roster will be named at the beginning of July before the team travels to Japan. They will stage, train and compete in Japan prior to the games.

Preparing the Next Generation for International Hockey

Canada’s National Junior Coaches Indy Sehmbi and Geoff Matthews were on hand to coach during the camp scrimmages. Many of the NextGen athletes taking part in camp are eligible for the upcoming Junior Pan American Cup and subsequent Junior World Cup. Sehmbi said the opportunity to train and play alongside the senior men was invaluable for the junior-aged athletes.

At the same time, having the young players nipping at the senior’s heels showed that the separation may not be as big as they thought. Sehmbi said that the NextGen athletes can push the senior team players from below, resulting in a better overall level.

“It’s great to show the MNT players that there are young guys below them chasing them. It’s good to show that physiologically and technically, the gap might not be as big as they think it is,” Sehmbi said. “In this group here [at camp], there are 15-18 guys that are eligible for the Junior World Cup, so it’s a competitive group that can hang with senior men’s players.”

Sehmbi said that finding competition is one of the biggest challenges during the COVID-19 times. Getting these full games at identification camp with the senior national team is a great opportunity for the junior-aged players.

“Any time we can get games, it’s great. We’ve had a lot of our guys training in the MNT environment for the past month and even more here at camp. It’s good from a coaching standpoint to see them all together.”

The Next Generation of Canada’s superstars get a chance to train with the MNT at the 2021 Carding Camp. Photos: Blair Shier

Zach Coombs, from Chelsae, Quebec, is turning 20 in April and is one of athletes that is eligible for the upcoming Junior World Cup. He has been training full-time in the MNT environment since the fall and he said he can notice his own improvement, drastically over the past few months.

“I could tell you certain aspects of my improvement and my stand-up game. But, really, learning, watching video and being here training with the national team, has helped me improve in my understanding of the game. I’m stopping the ball more than I was a year ago,” he laughed.

Coombs, a goalkeeper with international aspirations, remembers watching Canada’s Men’s National Team qualify for the Olympics in 2015, citing David Carter’s shootout performance as a particular memory that inspired him.

“Now coming out here and actually training with them, knowing what they have been through, hearing the stories, it’s a surreal and humbling experience. Just seeing them play ups my level and inspires me.”

For 19-year-old Nicolas Cain, this week was one of the first chances he’s had to step on the field with the senior national team. He said the biggest difference is the pace of the game. It takes some time getting used to but knows it will benefit him when he shifts into the junior level.

“The first few minutes, it’s hard to adjust. But once I got used to it, I started to feel better. I know when I go back to junior environment, I can bring the speed there and bring the whole pace up.”

Cain scored two goals in Sunday’s scrimmage at Rutledge Field, showing his knack for the goal crosses over into the senior game. Cain, who plays with Hawks Field Hockey Club in Vancouver and has recently shifted to the club premier team, has looked up to players like Gordon Johnston since he started playing.

“It’s so cool. I play club hockey with some of them. I’ve known Gordie and [Mark] Pearson since I started playing. They are both idols and I try to watch and follow the forwards like Iain [Smythe]. It’s been amazing being on the field with them. I learn so much every time I’m out there.”

Both Coombs and Cain are eligible for the Junior Pan American Cup scheduled for August. Coombs understands that the current NextGen group is the future of the national program. He is setting his sights on success at the Junior Pan Ams and developing quality relationships with his cohort.

“I want to bond with these players. We are considered ‘the future,’ so I want to get along well with them and go to these major competitions and do well. I want us to be proud of ourselves and how we play,” he said.

The Pan Am Cup serves as a qualifier for the Junior World Cup currently projected to take place in 2022. Sehmbi and Matthews will make selections in June in the year leading up to the competition. Field Hockey Canada’s Men’s Junior National Team last participated in the 2016 Junior World Cup.

Field Hockey Canada media release



EHL confirm ABN AMRO FINAL4 schedule



The Euro Hockey League (EHL) and the European Hockey Federation (EHF) have confirmed the match schedule for the ABN AMRO EHL FINAL4 which will take place from April 3-5, 2021 at the Wagener Stadium in the Netherlands.

It follows clearance from the Dutch government to run our Easter festival in accordance with local guidelines due to the ongoing pandemic situation.

It means, after 18 months of frustration, the world’s best club hockey will return to action in a unique and safe manner, an exciting proposition to emerge from the most difficult circumstances.   

The event begins on Saturday, April 3 when Spanish champs Club de Campo meet German number one side Club an der Alster in an historic first ever EHL Women’s match-up at 11.30h.  

It is part of the EHL’s move to become #EquallyAmazing with the world’s best club competition showcasing the Men’s and Women’s tournaments on an equal basis.

Next on the turf sees the Dutch battle royale between host club AH&BC Amsterdam and HC ‘s Hertogenbosch at 14.00h. The pair are at the forefront of the Hoofdklasse at the moment while their last European showdown came in 2019 when Amsterdam edged a tense 1-0 FINAL4 encounter en route to ultimate glory.

At 16.15h on April 3, the men’s competition begins with Dutch pace-setters HC Bloemendaal meeting Belgium’s Royal Léopold for the first time in the EHL.

The second Men’s FINAL4 battle pits Germany’s HTC Uhlenhorst Mülheim against Spain’s Atlètic Terrassa at 18.45h. Uhlenhorst won their only previous EHL meeting 4-2 back in 2011 but their history goes back even further, meeting in the 1992 European Cup final as well as in Atlèti’s run to the 1998 Cup title.

Sunday, April 4 will see the BRONZE MATCHES take place with the Women’s contest on at 13.30h and the Men at 16.00h.

Monday, April 5 is GRAND FINAL day – the men’s decider is first up at 13.30h before the women’s contest gets underway at 16.00h, where a first EHL Women’s winner will be determined.

The tournament will be played on a strictly “behind closed doors” basis. All games will be available for broadcast worldwide. We will announce further details of where you can watch the EHL FINAL4 in your region in due course.

**To read more about the ABN AMRO FINAL4, click here

EHL 2020-2021 Match schedule EHL Men and Women FINAL4

April 3-5, 2021 (Wagener Stadium, AH&BC Amsterdam, Netherlands)  

Saturday 3 April 2021  

M1 11.30h WOMEN’S FINAL4: Club de Campo de Madrid – Der Club an der Alster
M2 14.00h WOMEN’S FINAL4: AH&BC Amsterdam – HC ‘s-Hertogenbosch
M3 16.15h MEN’S FINAL4: HC Bloemendaal – Royal Leopold Club  
M4 18.45h MEN’S FINAL4: HTC Uhlenhorst Mülheim – Atletic Terrassa HC  

Sunday 4 April 2021  

M5 13.30h WOMEN’S BRONZE MATCH: Loser M2 – Loser M1  
M6 16.00h MEN’S BRONZE MATCH: Loser M4 – Loser M3  

Monday 5 April 2021  

M7 13.30h MEN’S GRAND FINAL Winner M4 – Winner M3

*prizegiving ceremony directly following the Men’s Final  

M8 16.00h WOMEN’S GRAND FINAL: Winner M2 – Winner M1  

*prizegiving ceremony directly following the Women’s Final

Euro Hockey League media release



Back pocket support for Ayanna



As we celebrate International Women's Day with a series of interviews from a cross the international community, this is an inspirational and heart-warming interview from the Caribbean island of Trinidad and Tobago.

Ayanna McLean is well known across the international hockey community as a leading umpire and video umpire. What may be less well-known is that she is following in her mother’s footsteps.

In this, the fifth interview celebrating women across the five hockey-playing continents, we catch up with mother and daughter team Ayanna and Cherill McLean as they talk about their respective hockey journeys.

“We are here to celebrate the achievements of women in their own space, be it culture, social, economic and, obviously in our case, sport,” says Ayanna.

“My physical education teacher at school invited me to join the school hockey team and, at that age, I would do anything rather than go home,” says Cherill. That first involvement led to Sheryl becoming first a player and then an umpire at international level.

There is very little surprise that Ayanna has followed a path into hockey. She says she was “virtually born on hockey pitch”, but she also joined her mother as a member of the Ventures Hockey Club, the oldest women’s sports club in Trinidad and Tobago.

“I’ve always been surrounded by really strong women in my life,” says Ayanna.

Cherill was also one of the first female sports writers in Trinidad and Tobago. She says: “There never used to be anything about hockey in the newspapers, so I said one day ‘I am going to the newspaper to find out why there’s nothing about hockey’.”

The newspaper editor invited Cherill to write about hockey, but two months later, she found herself at the start of a 30-year sports writing career that saw the journalist writing about every sport, not just hockey.

“That is the thing about my mum’s career,” says Ayanna, “she has always been travelling and I quickly got used to dropping her off at the airport and getting gifts when she returned. I think that was inspirational and showed me to go after what I want. I’ve never sat down and thought about what advice mum has given me, it was more through her experiences and the fact that she allowed me to make my own decisions from an early age.”

Looking back at the role her mother has played in her life as an athlete and an umpire, Ayanna says, “I didn’t make it onto the U21 national team and I was one of the last people to get cut from the squad. I was crying my eyes out when I came home.”

Cherill takes up the story. “I could see she had been crying and I said: ‘Ayanna, this is not going to be the end of your career, it is going to be your biggest disappointment. There will be other disappointments, but you will never forget this one.”

Several years on and Ayanna is on the verge of umpiring at her first Olympic Games. She says that, while it is a proud personal achievement, it is also something that she feels she is doing for her club, her country and for the PAHF region. And, she says: “All the support and shoulders I have got from my mother, now going into an Olympic Games, having someone like this in my back pocket has always been inspirational.”

#IWD2021
#ChooseToChallenge
#StrongerTogether

FIH site



Maryland field hockey edges Ohio State, 2-0

 Shane Connuck


Goalkeeper Noelle Frost mans her net during Maryland field hockey's 5-1 win over Michigan State on Oct. 25, 2019. Gabby Baniqued/The Diamondback)

Ohio State fired off countless shots against Maryland field hockey throughout Friday afternoon’s match. The Buckeyes constantly found the ball on their side, pressuring Terps’ goalkeeper Noelle Frost.

But not a single one would cross the line. And as the sun set and cast shadows over the Virginia Beach Sportsplex, Maryland — powered by goals in the first and final minutes in the match — pulled off a stout shutout of Ohio State, 2-0.

“I think our corner defense was outstanding,” coach Missy Meharg said. “I think our deep defense played well. I think our counter defense in the midfield is a bit sloppy, and that’s something we’re going to definitely need to have more discipline and more urgency … in and around the circle edge.”

With the win, the Terps continued their unbeaten streak against the Buckeyes. And they did so with relatively minimal offense, as stellar defense and play from Frost in the cage kept Ohio State’s strong attack away from the goal.

And the Buckeyes (0-3) showed that push early. They drew three penalty corners in the first three minutes of the match. However, they couldn’t convert.

But that momentum shifted quickly. As soon as Maryland (2-1) gained possession, it charged up the field from left to right.

Kyler Greenwalt handled a pass on the far side of the 23-meter line from Emma DeBerdine. The senior dashed toward the cage and fired a shot that sailed to the left of goalkeeper Aaliyah Hernandez, and the Terps quickly celebrated the match’s first goal.

This was the senior’s second goal of the young season. She continues to impress in her return from a torn ACL that sidelined her for most of her sophomore year.

“Kyler’s such a spirited player. Such a smart player. She’s still getting strong,” Meharg said. “This is probably the healthiest she has been since she’s been here.”

Maryland drew a Big Ten-leading 18 penalty corners through its first two games. It took 10 minutes for the Terps to earn one on Friday.

About eight minutes into the second quarter, Ohio State — which drew 10 total corners against Maryland’s two — picked up another one. The ensuing shot from Louise Fobe required a dive from Frost, who smothered the attempt.

“Today was definitely the most we faced in defense on the corners,” Frost said. “Everyone in the unit was just very collected. And I think it was just perfect.”

The Buckeyes’ surge continued. They drew eight penalty corners in the first half alone, but Frost took care of every shot. And Maryland held a narrow lead at halftime.

Ohio State opened the second half with another pair of corners, bringing it to 10 on the day. Throughout the third quarter, it continued to pressure the Terps’ defense and test Frost. But not a single shot crossed the line.

Meharg’s squad stayed strong on defense. Despite the Buckeyes’ continuing command of possession, Ohio State couldn’t breach Maryland’s net.

And with under a minute to play in regulation, the Terps made it pay. Maryland — which earned just two penalty corners — picked up a rare penalty stroke.

And Riley Donnelly converted, sealing a win that the Terps had to battle for.

“Riley Donnelly’s just one of the best at putting that away,” Meharg said. “Really proud of the women.”

The Diamondback



Penn State Field Hockey Downs Northwestern in Shootout

Nittany Lions victorious in first of two games to be played this weekend in Virginia Beach



UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.  – The Penn State Nittany Lion field hockey team (1-1, 1-1 B1G) took down Northwestern (2-1, 2-1 B1G) this afternoon in a Big Ten contest. Head coach Char Morett-Curtiss' squad battled over 80:00 and through a shootout to beat the Wildcats 2-1 in a game played in Virginia Beach, Va.
 
Northwestern had an early penalty corner that Penn State defended. The Lions got off two close shots on goal that ended in a high save and a wide shot, both coming before the 11:30 mark of the first period.  Freshman Sophia Gladieux (Boyertown, Pa.) forced a penalty corner at the 8:01 mark. Elena Vos (Grave, The Netherlands) had her first shot off the corner blocked but the Lions followed up with a second.  Madison Hutson (Gloucester Point, Va.) appeared to score off a rebound on the second corner but the goal was waved off by the officials.  Northwestern had a player advantage after a Penn State green card but Penn State still controlled the action, with Jemma Punch (McDowall, Australia) getting off a solid shot at the 4:00 mark.  Northwestern keeper Annabel Skubisz was able to knock the shot aside.  Northwestern picked up a green card, evening the sides, and the first period ended in a scoreless tie.
 
Penn State looked to control the tempo to start the second period.  The Nittany Lions kept the ball down on the Northwestern side of the field for the opening few minutes but could not find the cage as Penn State continued to pressure the Wildcat defense. Northwestern countered Penn State and worked the ball down to the Penn State circle. Sabrina Solomen connected at the 10:47 mark to give Northwestern a 1-0 lead early in the second period despite Penn State's consistent pressure.  Grace Wallis (Blue Bell, Pa.) moved the ball down the sideline at the 7:00 mark and Penn State picked up a penalty corner with 6:48 left in the quarter.  Emma Spisak's (Boiling Springs, Pa.) shot was blocked away.  Northwestern was able to move the action down to Penn State's side of the field with under 3:00 left in the period and forced a penalty corner with 2:34 on the clock. Penn State's defense held firm on the corner but Northwestern maintained possession. Lion keeper Brie Barraco (Allentown, Pa.) was able to keep Penn State within one with a diving save during the flurry. Penn State trailed 1-0 at halftime.
 
Penn State outshot Northwestern 12-3 in the first half but found itself down by a point.  Wildcat keeper Skubisz had five saves to keep the Lions off the board early.
 
Northwestern withstood some early Penn State pressure in to start the third period and gained possession three minutes in.  The Wildcats picked up a series of penalty corners that the Lion defense was able to withstand, keeping the score close at 1-0.  The Nittany Lions pushed the ball down to Northwestern's circle at the 7:30 mark and made the offensive push pay off.  Senior Bree Bednarski (Wyoming, Pa.) scored Penn State's first goal of the young season, tying the game at 1-1 with 7:23 on the clock with an assist from Abby Myers (Hartland, Wis.).  Northwestern countered by forcing a penalty corner at the 5:28 mark.  Vos made a good defensive save on the corner to keep the game tied with under 5:00 to play in the third stanza.  Penn State defended two more Northwestern corners later in the period and entered the fourth tied 1-1.
 
Penn State picked up an early penalty corner to start the fourth period but the Lions shot went high. The Lions had a number of opportunities near the Wildcat circle but the NU defense was able to hamper Penn State just enough to force a turnover as the clock hit 10:00.  The Wildcats could not put together a sustained offensive push for the first half of the final period.  With 8:30 on the clock, Northwestern moved the ball into the Penn State circle briefly but the Lion defense, anchored by freshman Kelsey Love (State College, Pa.), was equal to the task and the game remained tied 1-1.  With just under 7:00, Northwestern found itself in the Lion circle again and Love once more forced an NU turnover and Penn State pushed the ball down the sideline and out of its own territory. Barraco knocked away a high Northwestern shot with 5:20 left to keep the game tied as the Wildcats began to sustain some momentum.  Penn State's defense was pressed over four minutes and held its own.  The Lions moved into Northwestern territory for a corner at the 3:08 mark but the Lion shot went wide. The Lions kept the ball on NU's side for the final minutes, forcing the Wildcat keeper into a couple saves to send the game into overtime.
 
Penn State took the opening possession in sudden victory and pressured the Wildcat defense right away.  But Northwestern pushed the Lions back,  regained possession themselves and looked to move the ball into the Lion circle  With the teams trading barbs in the midfield, Northwestern took a hard shot that Barraco knocked aside with 7:22 on the clock.  Barraco had another save shortly after that and a subsequent NU shot went just wide with 6:40 left.  Meghan Reese (Coopersburg, Pa.) helped Penn State regain possession as the clock hit 5:00. Northwestern took a player advantage on a Nittany Lion green card with just under 5:00 and forced a penalty corner with 4:08 left in overtime. Barraco defended the initial shot and the rebound effort from Northwestern.  Penn State killed off the penalty and took possession of the ball as the clock moved to the 2:00 mark.  Penn State picked up a penalty corner with 1:11 left.  Anna Simon's (Hanau, Germany) shot off the corner was blocked and the game moved to a second overtime.
 
Northwestern had possession to start the second extra period and moved the ball down into the Lion circle.  Penn State defended the effort and regained possession, pushing the ball downfield as the clock moved to the 7:51 mark.  Myers moved deep into the NU circle only to have the ball roll over the end line.  Northwestern countered and Barraco knocked back a point-blank Northwestern shot, keeping the game tied 1-1 at the 6:12 mark.  Another Northwestern effort ended in a shot just wide off the Lion cage with 4:27 left as well. Hutson broke up a Northwestern fast break with 3:00 on the clock and Penn State countered.  Emma Spisak (Boiling Springs, Pa.) took the ball the length off the field but the Wildcats pushed back on her drive and the clock moved under the 2:00 mark. The final minutes were scoreless as well and the game moved to a shootout.
 
Sophia Gladieux (Boyertown, Pa.), Simon and Reese each connected on their shootout efforts while Barraco had saves on three of Northwestern's five efforts to help Penn State win the shootout by one and secure the 2-1 victory.
 
Penn State had 18 shots in the game while Northwestern had 24.  The Lions had six penalty corners to nine for NU.  Barraco gave Penn State a chance to win in the shootout, totaling 12 saves in the game, including 10 in the second half and overtime periods.
 
"We played so well in the first half and Northwestern took control in the third period," said Morett-Curtiss.  "From that point on it was a pretty even game and both teams had opportunities.  I am so proud of our leadership on the field with Abby (Myers), Emma (Spisak) and Madison (Hutson) really bringing unity to our structure out there.  Brie (Barraco) was simply outstanding and kept us in the game.  We elevated our level of play and improved from last week and that's a very positive step for us."
 
The Nittany Lions are now 1-1, 1-1 B1G.  Northwestern falls to 2-1, 2-1 B1G. Penn State closes out its Virginia Beach contests when it battles Iowa once more on Sunday, Feb. 7, at 12:45 p.m.

Go PSU Sports

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