No. 6 Penn State Holds off Indiana Comeback, 3-2

Friday, October 28

University Park, PA

6 PM

Indiana University

(8-10,3-5B1G)

Penn State

(14-2, 6-2B1G)

Indiana

Penn State

No. 6 Penn State Holds off Indiana Comeback, 3-2

10/28/2016 10:24:00 PM | Field Hockey

Box Score Box Score (PDF)Postgame Quotes

Barber scores twice to surpass two Indiana season scoring records

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The Indiana field hockey team gave a valiant effort on the turf at the Penn State Field Hockey Complex in their final Big Ten matchup of the regular season. Despite a favorable second half effort, the No. 6 Nittany Lions (14-2, 6-2) handed Indiana a 3-2 defeat. The Hoosiers (8-10, 3-5) will hold their seventh-place seeding for next weekend's Big Ten Tournament.

"We really responded after last weekend," said Indiana head coach Amanda Janney after the game. "To come out today against such a talented team was impressive for our lead-in to next week. We wanted to use this game as preparation for next week, and the team played so strong. We won the second half in terms of stats and goals, and that's a great way for us to enter next week."

The game was not without a handful of outstanding performances on Indiana's side. Kate Barber notched her spot atop two Indiana season records with both of Indiana's goals from the penalty corner. After scoring her second goal, Barber passed Lydia Schrott's single-season goals record (17, in 2005) and Morgan Fleetwood's single-season points record (38, in 2012). Barber now has 40 points and 18 goals, 18 games into her final season.

"We're really proud of her tonight," Janney said. "Her contributions all over the field helped our team play well tonight. She's making intercepts all over the field, and her execution on corners was phenomenal. That's how a senior captain leads, and she was a great leader for us tonight. I'm so thrilled that she got the records."

Barber has epitomized the adage, "Leave it all on the field," which she and her senior classmates—Mollie Getzfread, Morgan Dye, and Malia Fujisawa—have done with aplomb this season. Barber, for one, ascended from 10 goals in her first three seasons to lead the nation in scoring after five weeks, and she's continued a goal-per-game average to this point.

"That's been the theme for this season," Barber said after her record-breaking performance. "We drilled that mindset in this week coming into our last regular season weekend, and this is probably one of the best games of hockey we've played all season. We're taking pride in that and everything we've accomplished. It feels great."

Another shining light for Indiana was Katie Johnson, who championed the burden of making her first career start in the goalmouth against one of the top offenses in the country. She, along with Indiana's backline of Fujisawa, Elle Hempt, and Nora Aucker, held her own and rose to the occasion. Johnson finished a 64-minute shift with eight saves, including a clever glove save on a drag flick and an inspiring stop on a penalty stroke.

"She played out of her mind this game," said Barber. "Coming in, we knew she was going to be able to step up to the challenge and she did just that. After seeing her make that stroke save, it gave us all the confidence in her, and she's going to continue to do great things for this program this year and next."

Johnson's effort was noteworthy, stepping in for the two-time Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week and NFHCA Defensive Player of the Week, Noëlle Rother. But she delivered on her start with a solid individual effort, and beyond that did well to communicate personnel switches against a quick Penn State forward line.

"I felt comfortable, because I have a really supportive team in front of me," said Johnson following her first starting shift in goal. "All 10 girls were really supportive, going into this weekend open-minded with me back there. They really worked and listened well."

Johnson wasn't the only new face in the Hoosiers' starting lineup tonight. Freshman Andi Jackson earned her first career start at right midfield, filling a void left by Dye's transition to the forward line. Jackson has seen a steady increase in minutes on the turf throughout the season, and the start tonight was a sign of her progression.

"She's another spark for us on the side midfield," Janney said. She's making good decisions on the ball under pressure, and she's been improving drastically every weekend. We're in a position to put Morgan [Dye] as a forward, and maybe Andi will step in as a right mid and provide that attacking down the right side that we needed."

Getzfread served the assist on Indiana's first goal, a crafty redirect to the left side of the circle for Barber's straight shot. The dish moved Getzfread into a tie with Maddie Latino, who shares the top of Indiana's assist leaderboard with eight apiece. Hempt added an assist on Barber's second goal, along with a pair of defensive saves during her time with goalkeeping privileges.

Up Next: Indiana (8-10, 3-5 Big Ten) at No. 2 Syracuse (13-2, 4-2 ACC)
Sunday, Oct. 30 • 1:00 p.m. ET • Live Stats • Watch: ESPN3 / ACC Network Extra
J. S. Coyne Stadium • Syracuse, N.Y.

The Hoosiers bring their regular season to a close on Sunday afternoon, and it's sure to be one of their toughest tests of the season. With their minds set on steady progress towards next weekend's Big Ten Tournament in College Park, Maryland, Indiana will test their mettle against No. 2 Syracuse, the defending NCAA Champions.

"We're focused on our team and playing Indiana hockey, making sure that we're executing our plays and strategies that we're focused on. We know this is preparation for the Big Ten Tournament, and we couldn't ask for better competition to prepare us. We know that they're a talented team, and as an athlete you want to play the best in the nation so this is a great opportunity for us."

The game is the back end of a home-and-home with the Orange, with Syracuse earning a 3-1 win in Bloomington last season as the top-ranked team. Sunday's game will be the second-ever meeting between the Hoosiers and Orange, Indiana's first at J.S. Coyne Stadium.