Cardiac ‘Cuse Strike late Over No. 20 Penn State

Sunday, September 28

Syracuse, N.Y.

Noon

Syracuse University

(9-2)

Penn State

(5-5)

Penn State

Syracuse

Cardiac ‘Cuse Strike late Over No. 20 Penn State

9/28/2025 3:22:00 PM | Field Hockey

Box Score Highlights Photo Gallery

Hamilton Scores in 60th Minute for Win

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – For a sixth time in 10 games this year, Syracuse University field hockey was involved in a one-goal game as the No. 6 Orange took down No. 20 Penn State 3-2 Sunday afternoon at J.S. Coyne Stadium.

Trailing 2-1 with five minutes to play, the Orange (8-2) scored twice in the final 90 seconds to rally past the Nittany Lions. Lana Hamilton scored the game-winning goal on a back post tip in as Pati Strunk played the ball in with 23 seconds left in regulation. Just 60 seconds prior, the Orange converted a penalty corner with Bo van Kempen scoring on a Pati Strunk insert with Hamilton on the trap.

Penn State (5-4) went up 2-1 in the 55th minute on a Joji Purdy goal. Morgan McMenamin added the first goal for the Nittany Lions, taking its first lead against the Orange for the first time since 2007. Aby Deverka made eight saves for the visitors.

How it Happened

Five minutes into the game, Syracuse was awarded a penalty stroke. Van Kempen stepped up to take the chance but Deverka made a diving stick save, marking the first stroke miss at Syracuse for van Kempen.
Neither team scored in the first period, despite a pair of penalty corners for the Orange.
The Nittany Lions scored in the 20th minute as McMenamin carried the ball to the baseline before turning and firing between the legs of 'Cuse netminder Jesse Eiselin for a 1-0 lead that held through the half.
The Orange earned another two penalty corners in the third but could not convert as Deverka made a save on one with a defensive save on the other.
In the 49th minute, Hattie Madden tied the game for the Orange, redirecting a hard-struck ball on a corner chance from van Kempen.
The visitors wrested control back in the 55th minute on Purdy's goal as she collected the ball deep in the circle area, driving to the top before turning and firing for a 2-1 lead.
With the final penalty corner of the game, Syracuse tied things back up as Strunk inserted to Hamilton, setting up a van Kempen shot right through the heart of the Penn State defense.
After Penn State took a yellow card in the final minute, Strunk collected the ball near the sideline and sailed in a long pass to the circle area. After a Nittany Lion tipped the ball up, Hamilton, waiting on the back post, knocked the ball down and over the line, securing the second top-20 win of the weekend for the Orange and fifth of the year.

Up Next for Syracuse

The Orange step out of ACC play one final time next Friday, hosting local foe Colgate.
Game time at J.S. Coyne Stadium is set for 5 p.m. on October 3.
Syracuse will honor its senior and graduate students at the game as well. Friday's local tilt will be carried on ACC Network Extra.