Conference road trip leads to mixed results versus Penn State, Ohio State

The IU women's soccer team finished its first Big Ten road trip this past weekend with games at Penn State and Ohio State.\nPenn State dealt the Hoosiers their first conference loss this season Friday, and IU came from behind Sunday to force a tie with Ohio State.\n"This team showed a tremendous amount of character this weekend," IU coach Mick Lyon said. "We went to two tough places and we played so well that I am disappointed to only come out with one point in the two games."\nThe skilled Hoosier defense limited the Penn State offense with a career-high eight saves from junior goalkeeper Lauren Fabbro, but the No. 5 Nittany Lions only needed one goal from Tiffany Weimer in the 68th minute to overcome the Hoosiers.\nDespite the loss, Lyon said he was pleased overall with his team's performance Friday night.\n"It is a loss so you are disappointed, but I was happy with the way we played," Lyon said. "A few years ago we got behind early and it looked like we didn't belong on the same field as them, and tonight they were playing keep-away late in the game which shows us that they knew we could compete with them."\nThe cream and crimson returned to action Sunday afternoon for a match with the No. 29 ranked Lady Buckeyes.\nThe first half was mostly a defensive battle as both teams struggled to get into the opposition's defensive third of the pitch. Ohio State struck first just three minutes into the second half.\nThe Hoosiers fought back and sophomore forward Megan Pipkens' goal in the 82nd minute tied the game at 1-1 and forced the game into overtime. Pipkens was able to notch her second goal of the season by firing a shot to the right-corner of the net from six-yards out after following a shot by senior Kim Grodek.\nFabbro kept the Hoosiers in the game by making eight saves in the second half of regulation. Fabbro would end the game with a new career-high of nine saves.\nIU dominated the first overtime period, out-shooting its opponent 4-2 in the frame but would only get one shot in the second overtime period as Ohio State fired three.\n"It was kind of a battle-royale today," Lyon said. "It was a tough, physical game in front of a hostile crowd and we stayed focused and in the game"