The No. 3 Lady Lion field hockey team meandered lethargically past the unranked University of Pennsylvania.
Penn State was calling for an emotional clash with the Quakers, who were riding on a six game winning streak, but the Lady Lions managed a slight thud at best in their 1-0 victory yesterday. They began as if they were out to boil some Quaker oats; however, moments into the game, the flame was turned to low.
Coach Char Morett said that they started the match big, but soon came down and played the remainder of the match without emotion.
“We were strong the first five minutes, but then we took them for granted,” said Morett. “I don’t know if it was because we were tired, but we just didn’t have any spark.”
Both teams creeped through the first half without feeling or scoring. At the end of the first half Morett pulled co-captain Jen Stewart out of the game. Morett felt that she just wasn’t producing the big plays that the Lady Lions needed.
“I took Jenny out of the game,” Morett said. “She did not start the second half. I told her that if she went in she had to make things happen.”
Make things happen she did, with only five minutes left in the game Stewart cranked a flaring slapshot from the 20 yard line, buzzing past Quaker goalkeeper Sue Pures.
“The ball really banged the boards,” Morett said.
Stewart, who is typically known as a support player with 10 assists, stepped up to show her leadership, and bring the only goal of the game.
The Quakers made a brief attempt at a come back; with only two minutes left, the Quakers took a solid shot at freshman goalkeeper Shelly Meister, who has the highest save percentage in the Big Ten at .818%.
Penn State did not convert on any of their eight penalty corners, which are usually their strong point. Three of the penalty corners were bobbled, three were saved, and two did not make the shot.
The Lady Lions only had 13 shots on goal for the day, and only allowed five by the Quakers. Meister had three saves, and Pures had five, three of which came on penalty corners.
UPenn was the first of five consecutive away games for the Lady Lions.