OT Heartbreak for Spartans at PSU, 2-1

East Lansing, Mich. - Michigan State fell in heartbreaking fashion at No. 16 Penn State on Sunday, as Ella Jennes scored with just 32 seconds remaining in the first overtime period for a 2-1 victory for the homestanding Nittany Lions.

Ella Jennes scored the golden goal for Penn State (8-7, 2-4 B1G) with just 31 seconds remaining in the first overtime period, working her way with the ball to the front of the net and beating Gavino for the game-winner. It capped an aggressive 10 minutes for the home team, as Sophia Gladieux had PSU's best first chance 90 seconds into the first extra period. She came in on a breakaway, but her offering was turned away by keeper Lyra Gavino. She had two more opportunities by the three-minute mark, and then Gavino turned away another two-shot scramble in front of the cage at the halfway mark. Ellie Rutherford had MSU's only shot on goal of the first extra period.

No. 16 Penn State (8-7, 2-4 Big Ten) peppered the Spartans with 35 shot attempts on the day, including seven in overtime. The difference in the game for MSU was sophomore keeper Gavino, who made six saves in both the third quarter and the OT period to finish with a career-best 17 saves.

You know what we don't post enough? Big saves by Lyra Gavino. pic.twitter.com/Rt5kcVkbXX
— Michigan State Field Hockey (@MSU_FieldHockey) October 20, 2024

Gladieux, the leading scorer in the Big Ten, had 11 of Penn State's 11 shots on goal in the game, and 17 attempts overall. Julienne van Bekkum and Jennes had the scores for the Nittany Lions, while Lauren Delgado made four saves.

Carmen Pucheta put the Spartans on the board before the game was four minutes old. She possessed the ball well beyond the 23-meter line, dribbled into the circle on the right side, and put a shot on net saved by PSU keeper Lauren Delgado. Delgado had laid out for the save, and Pucheta was able to rescue the ball before it went over the end line, spun, and put home her third goal of the season.

Great second effort from Carmen Pucheta to get the Spartans on the board four minutes into the game! #GoGreen pic.twitter.com/4FhmXPft21
— Michigan State Field Hockey (@MSU_FieldHockey) October 20, 2024

Just under 20 minutes into the game, Penn State looked like it had an equalizing tally, but it was called back after review and the Nittany Lions got a penalty corner instead – and the Spartan defense was up to the task. PSU had five corners to MSU's three in the first half of action, and each keeper had to make three saves to preserve MSU's 1-0 lead after 30 minutes.

Gavino was the story of the third quarter – the Nittany Lions had eight of 18 penalty corners, and the sophomore keeper turned away six shots.

The Nittany Lions finally broke through with an equalizing goal at 52:24 – on their 14^th corner attempt of the afternoon. Sophia Gladieux took the initial shot which was saved by Gavino, but Julienne Bekkum was there to pop home the rebound on the left side. A yellow card against the Spartans put the squad down a player for most of the final five minutes of the game – it forced MSU into a more defensive posture. The result was just one shot attempt for the home team – blocked by the Spartans – and the team went into the overtime period back at full strength.

MSU has a pair of home dates on the calendar next weekend – MSU hosts Iowa on Friday (3 pm) before its home finale on Sunday at 1 pm against No. 2 Northwestern.

NOTES

Sunday's game was the sixth overtime game for the Spartans this season, and MSU is 2-4 in those contests.
MSU has scored- and surrendered – 31 goals this season.
The Nittany Lions had significant advantages in shot attempts (34-7) and shots on goal (19-5). They also had a commanding lead in corners (18-4). PSU had eight corner attempts in the third quarter and an additional three in OT.
Lyra Gavino established a new career best with 17 saves – her previous high of 10 came earlier this season in an overtime victory over Miami.
Gavino made six saves in both the overtime and the third quarter, and six saves is more than she had in nine complete games this season.
Gavino improved her save percentage to .707 on the year, and has just a 2.00 goals against average.
Carmen Pucheta's first-quarter score was her third of the season. She is the seventh player to reach three goals, and no Spartan has more than five.
Brynn Shaffer earned her third assist of the season on Pucheta's score.

Players Mentioned

Lyra Gavino

Carmen Pucheta

Ellie Rutherford

Brynn Shaffer

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