Syracuse University
Penn State
Gettel's Overtime Goal Lifts Field Hockey Past No. 17 Penn State, 3-2
9/22/2004 6:44:33 PM | Field Hockey
SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- Senior forward Meredith Gettel (Rehrersburg, Pa./Tulpehocken) pounced on a kick save by Penn State goalie Megan Akstin and banged the ball off the back of the cage with 12:29 remaining in overtime to give the Syracuse field hockey team its third-straight win of the season, and first ever against long-time nemesis Penn State. The No. 17-ranked Nittany Lions had dominated the all-time series between these two teams, 21-0-1, dating back to 1983.
"I'm ecstatic," said Kathleen Parker, the Syracuse head coach since 1978 who notched her 288th career victory with the win. "It's been a long, long time. This team believed they could do it and they got it done. They are starting to show a lot of heart. They're not getting down when things don't go their way, they're just playing through."
Syracuse (4-4, 1-0) scored all its goals off rebounds. The Orange tallied the lone goal of the first half when senior Brittany Carriero (Setauket, N.Y./Ward Melville) knocked in a rebound that teammate Lindsay Kocher (Collingswood, N.J./Collingswood) had initially shot. Carriero's goal, her second of the season and ninth of her career, was recorded with 4:36 remaining in the first half.
SU's 1-0 lead lasted until the 25:46 mark of the second half when Penn State senior forward Karin Grap snuck in at the far post during a penalty corner and slapped in the first of her two goals in the second period. She gave the Nittany Lions a 2-1 lead a little more than nine minutes later when she took a pass from Kiersten Wood on a break up the left side and shot the ball high up into a Syracuse defender and into the goal.
The Orange tied the game at 2-2 thanks to senior midfielder Leah McKay's (St. Louis, Mo./Clayton) first goal of the season (third of her career) with 12:22 remaining in the second half. McKay's sweeping shot was deflected high into the goal off a Penn State defender's stick.
In overtime, Penn State gained possession of the ball first and marched toward the Syracuse goal. The SU defenders (Kocher, Carriero and junior Joanne Lombard) were able to keep the Lions at bay. Gettel's game-winning goal was set up by junior forward Paige Sullivan (Lebanon, Pa./Lebanon), who dragged the ball along her stick with one hand, up the left sideline, shed her defender, and got a shot off. Akstin came out to challenge and Gettel was there for the rebound.
It was Gettel's second goal of the season and 13th of her career.
SU goalkeeper Betsy Wagner (Cherry Hills, Colo./Colorado Academy) recorded eight saves, including six in the second half. Akstin had five saves for Penn State.
For Syracuse, it marked the team's first win against a nationally-ranked opponent since the 2002 season.
Penn State's record is now 4-5.
SU will take its three-game winning streak into Sunday's 1 p.m. matchup with No. 9-ranked Boston College at Coyne Field on Sept. 26. It will be the Orange's second BIG EAST Conference game of the season. SU is currently in third place in the league behind Connecticut (7-0, 1-0) and Boston College (6-2, 1-0).
SYRACUSE 3, PENN STATE 2 (OVERTIME)
SU 1-1-1=3
PSU 0-2-0=2
FIRST-HALF SCORING:
SU - 4:36 - Brittany Carriero (unassisted)
SECOND-HALF SCORING:
PSU - 25:46 - Karin Grap (unassisted)
PSU - 16:12 - Karin Grap (Kiersten Wood)
SU - 12:22 - Leah McKay (unassisted)
OVERTIME:
SU - 12:29 - Meredith Gettel (unassisted)
Shots: Penn State 15, Syracuse 11
Saves: Syracuse 8 (Betsy Wagner), Penn State 5 (Megan Akstin)
Penalty Corners: Penn State 11, Syracuse 8
Attendance: 106
