The Kent State Field Hockey team had the Penn State University Nittany Lions deadlocked at 1-1 before PSU surged in the fourth quarter en route to a 4-1 victory Friday. 

At the end of the first half, the Nittany Lions were up 1-0 in a game that saw no shots on goal for either side in the opening quarter. The Flashes needed all of its five saves in the second quarter to stay in the game, keeping Kent State only down one.

KSU needed to flip the momentum in the second half, and it was able to in a big way.

“We just told them to stay the course,” coach Heather Hefner said. “Putting one foot in front of the other and taking it one minute at a time– they did a really good job of that.”

The Flashes started the third quarter on the attack and were able to cash in the goal that tied the game. 

Assisted by sophomore forward Maybritt Duwel, junior forward Emma Rolston fired a shot past the Nittany Lions goalkeeper.

“That’s the momentum we needed to turn the game around,” Hefner said.

The Flashes kept that momentum well into the quarter, as freshman goalkeeper Lieve Jansen had an amazing save on a breakaway from Penn State. Jansen recorded 15 saves in her first home start of her collegiate career.

“That was awesome,” Hefner said. “She did a phenomenal job.”

Despite Jansen’s heroics, Penn State was eventually able to see its shots on goal find the net, scoring three in the final quarter– ultimately forcing its three-goal win.

Penn State moved to 2-3 on the season, and Kent State fell to 0-6.

“What we showed today for three quarters is a pretty impressive Kent State field hockey team,” Hefner said. “Obviously we have to put four together – there were some lapses in the fourth [quarter] and some things you can’t control, but it was an incredible performance.”

For the first time this season, the Flashes entered the fourth quarter with a tied score. In the previous five games, KSU trailed through three quarters.

“If we can put together four quarters of what we did for the first three quarters, we’re going to have some fun,” Hefner said. “We just have to take it one day at a time, continuing to get better.”

Hefner saw really good play from junior back Lauren Conroy against Penn State senior forward Sophia Gladieux. Coming in, Gladieux had six goals in four games. In June, she was named to the United States Olympic Field Hockey Team in Paris.

Conroy was a big reason she was held scoreless through three quarters.

“She completely shut her down in a lot of ways,” Hefner said.

The Flashes have their heads kept up, and are excited for what’s to come.

“We had a really incredible showing today,” Hefner said. “We talked a lot about the process and who we want to be out there as a team.”

Raising the stakes

The Flashes will get their first taste of Mid-American Conference play in their next game Friday against the Ball State University Cardinals at Murphy-Mellis Field at 2 p.m.

Kent State looks to continue its domination of Ball State. The Flashes have a 19-1 all-time record against the Cardinals and are 11-0 at home.

BSU is 1-3 this season and eighth place in the MAC out of nine teams. Under Ball State is KSU at 0-6, at the bottom of the MAC.

“Everyone in the MAC is going to play and bring their ‘A’ game– do their job scouting and preparing,” Hefner said. “We just have to be on top of it and do the best job we can.”

Andrew Gold is a reporter. Contact him at [email protected].