Nov. 5, 2004

Evanston, IL - After a close overtime game between Iowa and host school Northwestern opened up the 2004 Big Ten Conference Field Hockey Tournament, the fourth seed Penn State and fifth seeded Ohio State Buckeyes took to the field for the second of three first round matches here at the Leonard B. Sports Complex on Friday, November 5, 2004.

With the match approaching overtime Ohio State was able to score a late goal to propel them to a first round 3-2 victory and to the tournament semifinals on Saturday (November 6) versus the top seeded Wolverines of Michigan at 11:00 am CST. Ohio State improves their record to 10-9 while Penn State wraps up the season at 10-10.

Ohio State jumped on the board first with 17:52 gone in the half. Sophomore forward Lauren Kruse held the ball at the top of the circle before taking a shot, which got passed Penn State goalie Megan Akstin to put the Buckeyes up 1-0.

It wasn't until 10 minutes later that Penn State tied up the game with a goal 27:16 into the first half. Sophomore defender Carey Maser sent a crossing pass to Annelisa Lengel and the sophomore forward touched it into the net to tie the match with less than eight minutes remaining in the first half.

Penn State took the lead going into the half on a tally with 30:52 expired in the first. Freshman forward Shaun Banta took the ball through the Buckeye defense and set up junior midfielder Natalie Berrena for the go ahead goal

With 9:50 off the clock in the second stanza Ohio State was set up for a penalty corner. After the initial shot off the inbound pass was blocked, Kruse took the rebound and put it home to tie the game up at two. The goal was Kruse's second of the match.

Both teams were held scoreless for the next 18 minutes of the opening round contest. With 27:07 gone in the match senior defender Cammie Trainer launched a shot at the goal, which was redirected in, by junior defender Leticia Fragapane for the goal. Trainer was credited with the assist on what would turn out to be the Fragapane game-winner.

With less than two minutes remaining in regulation the Nittany Lions had two different opportunities on penalty corners. Penn State was able to get off shots on both attempts but junior goalie Lindsay Williams made two saves to seal the win for the Buckeyes.