By Victoria Ebner
Following their 3-2 double overtime loss to Maryland last month, the Nittany Lions were finally able to get revenge on the Terps with a 3-2 victory of their own.
Right off the line, both teams were out for blood. The first five minutes saw aggressive steals on both sides, as the ball continuously shot up and down the field.
Penn State worked to match Maryland’s speed, resulting in scrappy breakaways on both ends. Junior forward Linnea Gonzales led the offense into the circle while sophomore defender Bodil Keus made key interceptions on the other side of the fifty.
The game remained evenly matched throughout most of the first half. When Penn State was able to work into the circle to secure Penn State’s first goal, Maryland junior forward Sabrina Rhodes answered right back with a high reverse chip past the goalie.
Penn State had the last word of the half with a rebounded goal with 15 minutes left. Although the Terps attempted to level the score again with two corners and shots on goal by Gonzales and senior midfielder Lein Holsboer, the buzzer rang with the score stuck at 2-1.
The counts for the half were 13 shots for Maryland with Penn State totaling four respectively.
Despite unanticipated fervor from Penn State, the Terps weren’t quite ready to give up. After a corner shot from Bodil Keus not long into the second half, the score was leveled and both teams were fighting for the win.
Yet, while Penn State rivaled Maryland’s speed and collaborated in the circle, Maryland slowed and struggled to find available girls to tip in wide shots.
The Nittany Lions kept getting faster and faster, finally achieving their final tie-breaking goal with a strong direct shot with less than five minutes left on the clock.
The final shot count of the game was 18 for Maryland and eight for Penn State.
As the Terps end their tournament run, the Nittany Lions continue on to the BIG Ten finals against Michigan this Sunday. Maryland will have to wait to find out if they have earned a place in the NCAA Tournament.
