By Jackson Thibodeau, GoPSUsports.com Student Staff Writer
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.- Emotions were running high in Happy Valley on Sunday as the Nittany Lion field hockey team battled Michigan in the Big Ten Tournament championship game.

Penn State battled back from a one-goal deficit against the top-seeded Wolverines, largely thanks to impressive performances by junior Kelsey Amy and redshirt junior Hannah Allison kept the spirits high on the Nittany Lion sideline, and propelled Penn State to their fifth Big Ten Tournament title.

"The feeling is indescribable," said Amy. "We've been working for this all season and it has finally come true. We had our wins and losses, but we fought through it and here we are as Big Ten champions today."

Amy scored her first goal of the afternoon only five minutes into the contest off of a penalty corner chance. Michigan's response was a thunderous one, however, as the Wolverines scored the following two goals within the next twelve minutes.

The goal scoring efforts for the Wolverines were in large part produced by the momentum gained after Michigan defender Aline Fobe made an incredible jumping save to keep a second Nittany Lion score off of the board for the moment.

Coming out of a timeout after the second Michigan goal, Amy exploded downfield, passing multiple defenders en route to scoring her second goal of the game. The goal, scored from a near-impossible angle, led to an eruption in the stands and on the Penn State sideline.

As the half dwindled down and the physicality and emotion increased in the contest, Penn State coach Charlene Morett preached for her team to continue to play tough defense and to challenge the opposing players.

Coming out of halftime, the Nittany Lions were rejuvenated by their late goal scored in the first half, and were ready to carry that momentum right on through to the final whistle.

Leading the Lions with a cheer before the half started was senior Lauren Alloway.

"Just like every single game we've played, lets leave it all on this field," exclaimed Alloway in an attempt to motivate her teammates.

And leaving it all on the field was exactly what the Nittany Lions did. The emotional second half was filled with diving attempts to save balls from going out of bounds and boisterous cheers coming from the bench.

Due to an apparent hip injury, Amy started off the second half on the sidelines for the Nittany Lions. Her presence was still felt as she cheered her team on and re-entered the game within the first five minutes of the half.

"There was no way I was going to sit out for the whole second half," said Amy. "I was begging to be put back in and just to be out there with everyone while we won was amazing."

Freshman Taylor Herold and redshirt junior Hannah Allison stepped up for Penn State as they worked together to break up nearly every ball that came their way at midfield.

"We knew they had big hits coming out of the backfield," said Allison. "We placed ourselves in the midfield to block up their opportunities and it worked well."

In a half that consisted of many goal opportunities as well as intense defensive play for both teams, the Nittany Lions finally broke the tie at the 60:32 mark off of a Hannah Allison goal.

As the minutes ticked off the clock, Michigan missed a crucial penalty corner opportunity and was forced to take a timeout with only a few minutes remaining.

"I told the team to play smart defense, play the ball deep, and make sure everyone stays marked up," said Coach Morett.

The Wolverines kept the final minutes very interesting, keeping the ball in scoring territory, until the clock hit zero, and the Nittany Lions were officially on top of the Big Ten.

"We are on top of the hill right now," said Allison. "The team is ready for the NCAA tournament."

Penn State defeated Northwestern and Ohio State in the previous rounds of the tournament before their victory over top-seeded Michigan on Sunday.

The team now awaits seeding in the NCAA Tournament, which will be released on Tuesday night.