BigTen.org, November 6, 2016
Two second-half goals lifted second-seeded Penn State over top-seeded Maryland, 2-1, in the championship game of the Big Ten Field Hockey Tournament at the Field Hockey & Lacrosse Complex on Sunday. With the victory, Penn State (16-2, 6-2 Big Ten) earned the conference?s automatic berth into the NCAA Tournament, and secured its conference-leading seventh Big Ten Tournament title.
The Terrapins got on the board first in the 26th minute after Emma Rissinger was able to finish an assist from Big Ten Player of the Year Welma Luus. Penn State?s Aurelia Meijer scored the equalizer just two minutes into the second half off a penalty corner, before Gini Bramley provided the game-winning goal in the 44th minute.
The win marks Big Ten Coach of the Year Charlene Morett-Curtiss? 500th career victory at Penn State. The Nittany Lions earned their first tournament title since 2012.
The NCAA Selection Show will air live on NCAA.com Sunday night at 10 p.m. ET.
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2016 Big Ten Field Hockey Tournament All-Tournament Team
Kate Barber, Indiana
Sophie Plasteras, Iowa
Layne Holesboer, Maryland
Welma Luus, Maryland
Esther de Leijer, Michigan
Katie Trombetta, Michigan
Kristin Matula, Michigan State
Isabel Flens, Northwestern
Lily Gandhi, Northwestern
Gini Bramley, Penn State
Sklyer Fretz, Penn State
Alyssa Bull, Rutgers
Tournament MVP
Gini Bramley, Penn State