Jennifer Kleinhans (left) provided all the offense UConn needed against Penn State Saturday.

Kleinhands lifts field hockey past No. 6 Penn State

By: Chris Brodeur

Posted: 9/8/08

In the days leading up to Saturday's pivotal match-up with Big Ten power Penn State, it was unclear whether UConn senior midfielder Jennifer Kleinhans would suit up and take the field.

Kleinhans, the Big East Defensive Player of the Year and a second-team All-American selection in 2007, suffered a concussion in last weekend's season opener against Sacred Heart. Nearly a week went by before she was finally cleared to return to practice Friday, on the eve of a clash with the No. 6 Nittany Lions - a fellow national semi-finalist from the season prior.

Penn State (1-2) would have preferred for the veteran to spend one more game recovering on the sidelines. Kleinhans struck for the game's lone score at 21:28 in the first period on a perfectly executed penalty corner attempt from the top of the scoring circle. The 1-0 victory kept the No. 4 Huskies (3-0) perfect on the season and ran their home winning streak at the Sherman Family Complex to nine games dating back to last September.

"We're glad she played today," said head coach Nancy Stevens. "She was out almost a full week, but Jen's a senior, she's an All-American, and we need her out there. She came through for us."

Stevens lauded the Penn State defense - a unit that has yielded just two goals through three games in 2008 - for keeping the game so tight.

"I thought their goalkeeper played well and their defense played well - they have a first- team All-American back on the defensive end [in 2007]," Stevens said. "They're very sound defensively and they just don't give up many goals. There were periods where we dominated and we had great opportunities but credit them for limiting our goals."

On the other side of the field, UConn goalkeeper Andrea Mainiero denied all three shots Penn State put on net, including a point-blank opportunity following a turnover inside the shooting circle with under five minutes remaining in the first.

The Huskies have allowed just one goal in their three victories, and Saturday's effort was reason enough for Stevens to raise her expectations of the team going forward.

"I think it builds confidence and with it comes responsibility," Stevens said. "Now that the team has played this well against a quality opponent, we can't expect anything less. Anything less is unacceptable."

Kleinhans' absence throughout the week created a leadership void on the defensive end, making it vital for newcomers to step up. Freshman Rayell Heistand got her second consecutive start in the backfield and provided intensity and steady defensive play, grabbing the attention of her coach.

"She plays like a senior," Stevens said. "We're very fortunate that Rayell has come up so big for us. It's a big transition from the high school game to the college game, and her poise on the ball is exceptional for someone of her age."

The Huskies hit the road for the first time this week, with visits to Yale and UMass scheduled for Wednesday and Friday before they return home Sunday to host Princeton. It isn't the first time the team has endured a grueling travel week and if past results are any indication, UConn will be up for the challenge.

"Players would rather play than practice," Stevens said. "We did it at this time last year - we played Yale, we flew out and played Michigan and Old Dominion and we won all three. With the depth that we have, we can play three games in one week."