Entering Sunday’s showdown, the Penn State Field Hockey Complex was a fortress for opposing teams. The Nittany Lions were 6-0 in front of home fans and were the only Big Ten team not to lose at home this season.
That streak stood until Indiana defeated Penn State 3-1 behind a strong defensive performance in the second half. The Hoosiers gave up only three shots in the fourth quarter and did not allow a shot in the third frame.
Sophomore goalkeeper Sadie Canelli backed up one of her better performances of the season last game. Canelli stopped five shots from Penn State on target after collecting seven saves in a 2-1 shootout win over No. 10 Maryland on Friday.
Indiana’s offense also had a big performance. The Hoosiers outshot the Nittany Lions 17-9, with 12 of those shooting attempts on goal. Junior midfielder Inés Garcia Prado scored Indiana’s first two goals in the contest. Then, a 48th-minute goal by sophomore forward Charlotte Glasper put the game out of reach for Penn State.
The Cream and Crimson were on the defensive to start the game after Penn State drew a penalty corner in the fourth minute. The Nittany Lions could not capitalize on their early chance, but opened the scoring in the sixth minute.
A turnover by Indiana’s back line set Penn State up on the transition offense on the Hoosiers’ side of the field. A shot from the left side of the shooting circle by Penn State’s senior forward Aubrey Semler was deflected by junior midfielder and forward Natalie Freeman. The ball lifted over Canelli and into the back of the net.
The Nittany Lions had more chances on goal in the middle of the first quarter, but their shots did not score. Garcia Prado scored the game-tying goal for Indiana in the 13th minute. A takeaway saw her move the ball from midfield into the shooting circle, with her attempt from the right side deflecting off a Penn State defender and into the net.
Indiana received its first penalty corner in the 20th minute. The Hoosiers gave up three corners in the first quarter before conceding two more in the second frame. Junior forward Theresa Ricci inserted both attempts, but the two shots from Indiana were not on goal.
The Hoosiers almost took the lead in the 24th minute from a shot by freshman forward Celia Arroyo Cabezudo. Her chance went past sophomore goalkeeper Aby Deverka — who finished the game with seven saves — but freshman midfielder and defender Cooper Cutchins was able to stop the ball before it went into the goal.
Coming out of halftime, the Indiana offense started to heat up. The Cream and Crimson had 10 shot attempts and four penalty corners in the third quarter. However, Indiana did not score until its last shot of the quarter.
Junior back Hannah Riddle was able to find Garcia Prado in the shooting circle. After making a move on Deverka, Garcia Prado slid the ball past the goalkeeper to give Indiana a 2-1 lead in the 44th minute.
The Hoosiers drew their seventh and final penalty corner of the game in the 48th minute. Glasper inserted the ball and sophomore forward Mijntje Hagen’s shot was tipped into the back of the net by Glasper to give Indiana breathing room.
The Hoosiers needed that advantage in the fourth quarter due to Penn State having three penalty corners. However, Canelli and Indiana’s defense stood firm on the Nittany Lions’ three shots off the corners. The Hoosiers wasted time to close out the game and pick up their second conference win this season.
With only three games remaining on the schedule for Indiana, the Hoosiers stand at 2-3 in the Big Ten standings. Indiana will finish its home games this season with a Friday matchup against No. 12 Ohio State and a Sunday contest against Michigan State. The Hoosiers are 0-2 at home in Big Ten play.
Follow reporter Sean McAvoy (@sean_mc07 and semcavoy@iu.edu) for updates throughout the Indiana field hockey season.
