Penn State knocks off North Carolina
11/11/2006 7:00:00 AM | Field Hockey
Nov. 11, 2006
College Park, Md. - The #6 Penn State Nittany Lions came back from a 3-1 second-half deficit to defeat the #8 North Carolina Tar Heels 4-3 in the first round of the NCAA Field Hockey Tournament. The game winner was knocked in by junior Natalie Blasco at the 52:18 mark and the Nittany Lions held off the Tar Heels in the game's waning moments to preserve the victory.
Penn State sophomore goalie Jen Beaumont recorded 4 saves in earning the victory. Freshman Brianna O'Donnell also registered 4 saves in a losing effort for North Carolina.
North Carolina took an early lead when junior Alli Tanner took a corner pass from sophomore Britt van Beek and knocked into the back of the goal. After Penn State junior Mallory Weisen tied the score, the Tar Heels took what seemed like a commanding lead with a goal by freshman Danielle Forward late in the first half and another by senior Karen Mann in the opening moments of the second half.
The Nittany Lions fought back, though, and tied the score with two goals in less than four minutes as junior Shaun Banta and sophomore Britney Long poked in shots. After Blasco gave Penn State the lead, they held off several Tar Heel attacks to preserve the victory.
Penn State will face the host of this regional, the second-seeded Maryland Terrapins, tomorrow afternoon at 2pm.
