Friday, September 26
State College, Pa.
4 PM
Michigan State University
(3-5, 0-2)
0
at
2
Penn State
(5-3, 1-1)
1
2
3
4
F
Michigan St.
0
0
0
0
0
Penn State
0
0
0
2
2
Photo by: Emily Martin
Spartans Drop Nail Biter at #20 Penn State
9/26/2025 9:42:00 PM | Field Hockey
State College, Pa. – Michigan State field hockey held No. 20-ranked Penn State scoreless through nearly 55 minutes of action on Friday afternoon but ultimately fell to the Nittany Lions, 2-0.
MSU moves to 3-5 overall (0-2 B1G) and looks to bounce back in non-conference action Sunday afternoon when it travels to Lewisburg, Pennsylvania to take on Bucknell.
Penn State out-shot Michigan State 21-7 overall and 9-2 in shots on goal while owning a 9-2 advantage on penalty corner attempts. The Spartans held a 6-5 shot lead (2-1 in shots on goal) at halftime. Michigan State junior goalkeeper Lyra Gavino made seven saves, six of which occurred in the third period.
Graduate student Tatum Johnson and junior Bianca Pizano spearheaded the Spartans offensive attack with one shot on goal apiece. Sophomore Lillian Knorr contributed two of MSU's seven shots during Friday's game.
The Spartans started Friday's game out strong, earning a pair of shots on goal off a penalty corner midway through the first period. Pizano and Johnson each had shots on goal but were turned away by the Penn State goalkeeper.
Both teams traded possessions in the second period. The Nittany Lions had a trio of shots off a penalty corner attempt, but the Spartan defense stood their ground and turned the Nittany Lions away. MSU's defense successfully navigated the final five minutes of the half playing shorthanded following a yellow card.
Penn State amped the offensive pressure in the third period. Off the first of six penalty corners the Nittany Lions attempted in the third, Gavino made an incredible diving save off a penalty shot and got some help from nearby defenders who blocked away the next two shots to keep the game scoreless. A PSU penalty stroke rocked off the left post late in the third as the sides headed to the fourth knotted up at 0-0.
Freshman Caroline Horace got a clean look on goal early into the fourth but her shot sailed just high of the goal. Penn State's finally cracked the code of Michigan State's defense with just over five minutes remaining in regulation. The Nittany Lions added an insurance goal with just under one minute left to play.
MSU moves to 3-5 overall (0-2 B1G) and looks to bounce back in non-conference action Sunday afternoon when it travels to Lewisburg, Pennsylvania to take on Bucknell.
Penn State out-shot Michigan State 21-7 overall and 9-2 in shots on goal while owning a 9-2 advantage on penalty corner attempts. The Spartans held a 6-5 shot lead (2-1 in shots on goal) at halftime. Michigan State junior goalkeeper Lyra Gavino made seven saves, six of which occurred in the third period.
Graduate student Tatum Johnson and junior Bianca Pizano spearheaded the Spartans offensive attack with one shot on goal apiece. Sophomore Lillian Knorr contributed two of MSU's seven shots during Friday's game.
The Spartans started Friday's game out strong, earning a pair of shots on goal off a penalty corner midway through the first period. Pizano and Johnson each had shots on goal but were turned away by the Penn State goalkeeper.
Both teams traded possessions in the second period. The Nittany Lions had a trio of shots off a penalty corner attempt, but the Spartan defense stood their ground and turned the Nittany Lions away. MSU's defense successfully navigated the final five minutes of the half playing shorthanded following a yellow card.
Penn State amped the offensive pressure in the third period. Off the first of six penalty corners the Nittany Lions attempted in the third, Gavino made an incredible diving save off a penalty shot and got some help from nearby defenders who blocked away the next two shots to keep the game scoreless. A PSU penalty stroke rocked off the left post late in the third as the sides headed to the fourth knotted up at 0-0.
Lyra Gavino denies Penn State with back-to-back saves! pic.twitter.com/DF7QKskWL1
— Michigan State Field Hockey (@MSU_FieldHockey) September 26, 2025
Freshman Caroline Horace got a clean look on goal early into the fourth but her shot sailed just high of the goal. Penn State's finally cracked the code of Michigan State's defense with just over five minutes remaining in regulation. The Nittany Lions added an insurance goal with just under one minute left to play.
Team Stats
MICHIGAN
PENN STA
Goals
0
2
Shots
7
21
Shots on Goal
2
9
Saves
7
2
Corners
2
9
Offsides
0
0
Fouls
0
0
Scoring Plays
Olivia Marthins
GOAL by Penn State Olivia Marthins (FIRST GOAL)
54:26
Ella Jennes
Assisted By: Natalie Freeman , Katelyn Strawser
GOAL by Penn State Ella Jennes, Assist by Natalie Freeman and Katelyn Strawser
59:20
Game Leaders
Players
Shots
2
SOG
0
Goals
0
Assists
0
Shots
1
SOG
1
Goals
0
Assists
0
Shots
1
SOG
0
Goals
0
Assists
0
Shots
1
SOG
0
Goals
0
Assists
0
Players Mentioned
GK
/ Field HockeyF
/ Field Hockey
F
/ Field HockeyF
/ Field HockeySpartans All-Access | Senior Reflections
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