They knew they needed a win. They knew that the offense needed to step up and score goals. What they didn't know was that two freshmen would take care of both.

The Penn State field hockey team's 3-1 win against No. 11 Connecticut showed newcomers Karin Grap and Bekah Hostetler coming off the bench to score.

"It was just awesome," head coach Char Morett said, "because you always want anyone coming off the bench to be a spark and, you know, we talked earlier in the season about how we have a lot of dynamic forwards. We got a good bit out of the forwards who started and then those guys came in like gangbusters."

Grap tied the game for the Nittany Lions with 25:29 left to play in the second half.

"It was amazing," she said. "I was so nervous, but after being out there for a little while, the jitters went away. It felt really good."

A minute later, fellow freshman Hostetler tipped in one of her own.

"I think it was more hustle than anything," she said. "I just ran after it and happened to be there for the tip."

Whether she just happened to be there or not, Hostetler's play has been aggressive to say the least. The freshmen have made their presence known on the field in the short time they've been on the team.

"Those two, you can see it in their style of play," Morett said. "They're both very, very aggressive. I'm working with them on being more patient in the midfield play, but around the goal cage you want aggressive play and those two provided us with that today."

With Penn State being such a young team this season, the opportunity for freshmen to step up and show themselves is very real.

"Char expects us to come in and be ready as freshmen, even though we might be considered the younger ones," Hostetler said.

Grap agreed that it takes some of the pressure off.

"It really does because we don't really have anything to lose," she said. "We work our butts off and do what we have to do. I felt pretty confident going in. I knew what my job was. Char told me what I needed to be doing when I got out there so I felt pretty ready for it."

The spark of energy by Grap and Hostetler's goals helped the intensity and pumped up the second half.

"We did pick up our intensity and I think that did have a lot to do with getting some fresh legs in there," Morett said. "They knew they were controlling in the first half, they just weren't finishing and they had a lapse there where the other team scored and that was unfortunate. But, they knew it wasn't a situation where they would hang their heads. They came back from behind and that shows a lot of a team, especially a young team."

The freshmen weren't the only stars of the game, though. Junior back Jill Martz played what Morett said was her best game to date.

"She played smart," she said. "Jill will run through the wall for you, but sometimes we teach her to go around the wall, with some patience and create some good opportunities."

Annie Zinkavich also had a great game in goal, creating a real presence on the field. Morett felt that the team was solid everywhere and said she was really proud of the team.

"We definitely needed this win," she said. "You know, I've never questioned their effort. They've always put forth a great effort in every game we've played this far. And what a great job by the freshmen."