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McCarthy, Copeland Goals Not Enough as Princeton Falls to Penn State, 5-2
September 12, 2014 | Field Hockey
BOX SCORE
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. – Despite goals from Ryan McCarthy and Maddie Copeland, the 14th-ranked Princeton University field hockey team dropped to 0-3 on the season with a 5-2 loss at No. 6 Penn State.
Down 1-0 at the intermission, the Nittany Lions netted five second half goals, including four over a span of 9:42 to improve to 4-1 overall. Taylor Herold turned in her first career hat trick to lead all scorers, while Jenna Chrismer had a goal and two assists. Carly Celkos accounted for PSU's other score.
With just over 20 minutes left in the first half, Princeton won its first penalty corner. Eventually ending up with a Cassidy Arner insert on the left side, Sydney Kirby ripped a hard shot that was deflected wide by a Penn State defender. Moving into the attacking third in the 17th minute, the Nittany Lions' Laura Gebhart put a shot on target that found the pad of Princeton goalkeeper Anya Gersoff.
Just shy of the 22nd minute, McCarthy put away her first collegiate goal to give Princeton its first lead of 2014. Tracking down a loose ball on the right side, Lexi Quirk played it back into the circle toward the Penn State cage. Beating goalie Kylie Licata to the near post, McCarthy tapped it home to break the scoreless deadlock at 21:59.
Hoping to add to the Princeton margin early in the second half, Teresa Benvenuti carried it into the offensive zone. Catching up to a through-ball, McCarthy found open space on the left side of the circle, but fired a shot just wide of the far post.
Pushing forward, Penn State began to apply pressure in the 39th minute. Getting to a loose ball in the middle of the circle, Chrismer quickly turned and fired toward goal to force a Gersoff save. Moments later, Herold tested the Tiger keeper with a close range shot at the right post.
Keeping Princeton pinned in its defensive zone, PSU broke through in the 40th minute. Corralling a rebound in front, Chrismer put in her third of the season at 39:26. Capitalizing on a corner less than two minutes later, Herold received an Emilee Ehret insert on the left side before rifling a long shot into the near corner.
Just 2:01 later, Celkos extended the Nittany Lion margin, scoring on a centering pass from Chrismer. Padding the home team's cushion in the 50th minute, Herold netted her second of the game to make it 4-1.
Looking to get back into it, Princeton got one back in the 55th minute. Getting the play started, Cat Caro made a nice run up the middle of the field. With a PSU defender poking it away from Caro inside the circle, Copeland ended up with the loose ball at the left post, tapping it in at 54:17. Minutes later, the Nittany Lions capped off the scoring with Herold notching her third of the game at 60:49.
Penn State finished with an 18-10 shot advantage with both teams earning three corners. Gersoff made seven saves for the Tigers in net, while Licata collected three stops.
Princeton returns to action on Sunday, Sept. 14 against Bucknell in what will be the team's home opener on Bedford Field.