Field Hockey: PSU trounces Quinnipiac 4-1 to get back to .500

Story posted October 3, 2015 in CommRadio, Sports by Mike Wszolek

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pennsylvania-- It was 48 degrees with rain and wind, but that didn’t stop Penn State from defeating Quinnipiac on Friday at the Field Hockey Complex. The Nittany Lions were in control for much of the game and defeated the Bobcats 4-1.

Just over two minutes into the first half, Gini Bramley scored an unassisted goal to put Penn State (5-5, 1-2 Big Ten) on top 1-0. It was just the start the team was looking for after a hard fought, double overtime loss last Sunday. However, Quinnipiac (3-8) scored just six minutes later to even up the score at one.

With around 23 minutes left in the first half, Brooke Birosik passed a ball along the goal line hoping somebody would put it in the back of the cage. Stephanie Hussey did just that. Hussey’s goal gave Penn State a 2-1 lead.

“It just comes from a week of practice,” Hussey said of her goal. “A lot of hard work.”
Brooke Birosik contributed an assist and also tallied a goal in her third straight game. This was yet again on another penalty stroke that found the back of the cage with around 20 minutes to play in the half. Birosik netted penalty strokes in her last two games against Michigan State and Ohio State as well.

“[I’m] really happy. The girl is really strong and that was her best stroke today I would say, “ said head coach Charlene Morett-Curtiss.

With a 3-1 lead at halftime, the Nittany Lions were looking for some more offense, but Quinnipiac’s goalie, Megan Conaboy, seemed to have an answer for most of the Penn State shots. Yet, with a little over 22 minutes remaining in the second half, Hussey scored her second goal of the game.

Penn State was able to register a total of 27 shots and 12 penalty corners in the win.
“We just start to get into the mentality of you’ll miss every shot that you do not take. So, we have to start taking shots,” Hussey added. “We have to get penalty corners to at least get some good shots.”

“Our passing game was good, especially in the first half. I thought we were better defensively low, and we talked about getting people on the post to have more scoring chances,” Curtiss said. “Tonight, I really liked the energy, getting a lot of people in the game means a lot to keep the cohesiveness.”

The Nittany Lions will travel to No. 20 Princeton on Sunday for another non-conference game.
“We play well on Friday nights,” Curtiss said jokingly. “We have to really bring it on Sunday.”
“We work hard, things don’t really change. We are a very hard working team. It keeps on meaning so much. It creates this energy which is great for Sunday,” Hussey added.

Mike Wszolek is a freshman majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email mewszolek@gmail.com.