Piscataway, New Jersey—The 17th-ranked Penn State Field hockey team was shut out by the Scarlet Knights of Rutgers 1-0 in a very tough game. It was Rutgers’s third straight shutout, and it was a big victory for Rutgers on their senior day.
Rutgers forced an early penalty corner and put lots of pressure throughout the first quarter on Nittany Lion goalkeeper Lauren Delgado who came up big defending her cage. The game went into the second quarter with Rutgers mainly in control forcing three penalty corners. With 39 seconds left in the second quarter, the Nittany Lions were awarded their first penalty corner. The inbound pass did not connect and Rutgers moved the ball downfield quickly and received another penalty corner.
The inbounds pass was blocked but Rutgers Puck Winter knocked the rebound into the cage with only 14 seconds left in the half giving them the 1-0 lead. It was Winter’s first goal of the season.
In the second half, both teams came out strong and had many opportunities. But Rutgers continued forcing the Nittany Lion’s defense and received more penalty corners but Delgado came up strong stopping everything they threw her way.
Rutgers took the 1-0 lead into the fourth quarter and Penn State didn’t get its first shot on goal until early in the fourth Phia Gladieux blasted a rocket of a shot on the goal but Rutgers goalkeeper Sophia Howard knocked it away. The Nittany Lons received a corner and Gladieux got a hard shot on goal again, but Howard came up with the big save again.
Rutgers moved the ball downfield real quick and were awarded three penalty corners in a row but Delgado again came up with big stops. But Rutgers was able to keep the ball in play and keep the Nittany Lons offense at hand until the end of the game. After the game, Rutgers honored their 8 elated seniors.
Rutgers posted an 18-3 shot edge and had an 8-3 lead in corners. Delgado had eight saves to keep the Nittany Lions close throughout the game. Howard had two for Rutgers.
The three-game win streak is the longest of the season for Rutgers. It was also Rutger’s third victory over a ranked team this season.
Penn State is now 8-8 overall, 2-5 B1G. Rutgers moves to 7-7, 4-4 B1G. The Nittany Lions close out the regular season at home next weekend. Penn State hosts No. 6 Maryland on Friday, Nov. 1, at 4 p.m. at the Penn State Field Hockey Complex. Rutgers will travel to Lowell, Massachusetts on November 1st to end the regular season against UMass Lowell.
