The Penn State field hockey team (3-1, 0-0 Big Ten) scored early and often on it’s way to a 4-0 victory over the Quinnipiac Bobcats (0-3, 0-0 MAAC) on Sunday afternoon in Hamden. Taylor Herold led the way offensively for the No. 8 nationally ranked Nittany Lions with two goals.

Despite the loss, Quinnipiac goalkeeper Megan Conaboy set a new career high with 22 saves. Following her performance in the game, Conaboy now has 43 saves on the season.

“I think Megan really showed that she is able to step it up in games and she trusts the people in front of her,” said Quinnipiac coach Becca Main. “She’s mad at the performance in general even though she had the performance of her life.”

The Nittany Lions came out flying scoring all four goals and outshooting the Bobcats 24-2 in the first half. Herold started the scoring under six minutes into the game when she buried a rebound chance after Conaboy made the initial save on Jenna Chrismer.

Under ten minutes later Herold scored her second of the game following an end-to-end rush for her seventh career multi-goal game. She carried the ball through the Quinnipiac defense and flipped a forehand shot passed Conaboy after finding space in front of the goal.

Laura Gebhart blasted a shot into the goal from 10 feet out to put Penn State up 3-0 with just under four minutes to go in the half.

Kasey Morano capped the scoring in the game with just 12 seconds to go in the first half. Natalie Buttinger found Morano camped at the right post and she put the shot into a gaping goal for the 4-0 lead.

“In the first half I think we really ran around, looking a little like cones. And got a little bit nervous and pushed off the ball,” Main said. “In the second half we really did do a nice job of not getting pushed off the ball and being smarter on one-on-one defense.”

The Bobcats hit the road on Wednesday, September 10 when they travel to Holy Cross to take on the Crusaders at 7:05 p.m.