Field hockey team 'saves the split' in Pennsylvania

The IU field hockey team’s trip to Pennsylvania this weekend illustrated the team’s mental strength as the Hoosiers earned a split in its two contests.

IU fell 1-0 to No. 15 Penn State in its Big Ten opener. The Hoosiers were outshot 28-3, and the Nittany Lions accumulated a 14-2 advantage in penalty corners, which is how Penn State caged the game’s only goal in the 14th minute — a rebound off a penalty corner.

“The game was a lot more even than the penalty corners indicate,” IU coach Amy Robertson said. “I thought our team’s corner defense is excellent. They held really tough, and our goalkeeper has had a couple of tremendous performances this weekend.”

Junior goalkeeper Becky Pany established a new career high with 11 saves.
The Hoosiers bounced back Sunday, defeating Bucknell, 2-1. IU captured the victory by winning 7-6 in penalty strokes.

Pany prepared for those penalty strokes with two minutes to go, she said.

“We had a corner that we saved, and I realized that we weren’t going to get another shot,” Pany said. “I had confidence in us. We practice strokes every day. I knew that we should be fine. It’s more pressure on them.”

In the first half, the Hoosiers and the Bison played to a scoreless draw. Bucknell got on the board first in the 38th minute when midfielder Rachel Misko scored off a save by Pany.

Nearly 20 minutes later, senior forward Lena Grote drew the Hoosiers even for a second time.

“When we tied it, we were a little bit, to say the least, frustrated, because one of the goals we had scored was taken back from us,” senior forward Lena Grote said. “We could have won in regular time. The referee took back the goal and didn’t explain to us why.”

Robertson offered a different reaction once Grote tied the game.

“I think it was relief,” Robertson said with a chuckle.

Grote said the team relished the extra session.

“We were excited because we had been playing well, playing together as a team, and we were all supporting each other,” she said. “We knew we could come out with a victory, but it was going to take a lot of work.”