Michigan rolled into Happy Valley Friday on a 10-game winning streak and an undefeated road record.
The No. 7 Wolverines continued their winning ways by taking down No. 16 Penn State 6-0. Michigan is 4-o, hovering behind Northwestern in the top 5-0 top spot, in the Big Ten Conference standings. Penn State is 1-4.
“I just didn’t feel like we showed up today,” Coach Lisa Bervinchak Love said about Penn State’s performance. “We have 50 percent of our teams dialed in. 50 percent is not dialed in.”
The action started fast as just two minutes into the game, the ball went past Aby Deverka’s kickers. The scene almost looked like it was in slow motion as Michigan’s Abby Tamer scored her first goal. It was assisted by Abby Burnett, who ended the contest with two assists.
The second goal was scored with six minutes left in the first quarter. Alana Richardson knocked the ball in after a pass from Payton Maloney and Tamer.
The Wolverines held possession and did not give the Blue and White any shots in the first quarter. They also scored on their only two shots.
“We got lucky today with some opportunities that were just there for us to put in,” Michigan coach Marcia Pankratz said. “That’s very rare when you come to Happy Valley, so we were pleased with the outcome.”
Jumping into the second quarter, the first corner for Michigan came with 13:30 left. It was unsuccessful as it was shot wide by Tamer.
Penn State couldn’t get its momentum going. And, every time it seemed that they were about to jump start it, Michigan stole it.
The Nittany Lions earned their first corner with 27 seconds left in the first half. Phia Gladieux took the first shot of the game for the Nittany Lions off the corner from Morgan McMenamin, but it was just wide of the cage.
Looking into the third, Michigan’s fifth corner was started by Juliette Manzur. Tamer launched the ball right below the top of the cage after a pass from Eva Bernardy to make it 3-0.
Penalty corners were happening all day for Michigan as they got their sixth and seventh with five minutes remaining in the third quarter. During their seventh, Emmy Tran took the corner and sent it to Pilar Oliveros, who hit the ball right into the bottom of the cage making it 4-0.
With three minutes remaining, the Wolverines made it 5-0 as Kate McLaughlin scored a goal, which was assisted by Burnett.
The Nittany Lions earned a corner with less than two minutes to go. Gladieux took two shots, but both were blocked away by Wolverine Hala Silverstein.
Frustration started to hit the sidelines for the Nittany Lions.
Deverka made a huge save on Cami Wiseman as she tried to go one-on-one with her.The last corner for Penn State came with four minutes left. Gladieux took a shot but it was unsuccessful. Gladieux had six out of the eight shots for Penn State, but couldn’t get any past Silverstein or the defense.
Penn State will now look to take on Michigan State on Sunday. As for the Wolverines, they will take on No. 8 Maryland on Sunday.
“We’re trying to keep everybody healthy,” Pankratz said. “We’re kind of piecemealed right now, and we’re just looking at Maryland next.”
Kassie Vasellas is a Female Athlete News student-intern at Penn State University.
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By FAN – US
