Heading into Saturday's Big Ten opener, Penn State field hockey coach Char Morett was getting mixed signals from her team.

On the one hand, she had some concerns about her youthful squad following Wednesday's overtime loss to Syracuse. But then again, Morett also had high hopes for the team following two great practices leading up to Saturday's game at Ohio State.

The Nittany Lions beat Ohio State 3-1 in Columbus, possibly showing Morett that she had good reason to be hopeful going into the game.

In beating the Buckeyes (4-3, 0-1), the No. 17 Lions (5-5, 1-0) bounced back from the tough loss against the Orange on Wednesday.

After the Syracuse game, Morett spoke of a defensive letdown -- an anomaly during this recent five-game stretch, of which the Lions have won four. Morett has also been voicing concerns over her team's failure to take control early in games, to set the tone for the contest from the start.

Redshirt freshman Shaun Banta set that tone early on against the Buckeyes -- netting the game's first goal after a steal just nine minutes into the first half. She would add to Penn State's lead 17 minutes later, giving the Lions a 2-0 advantage at the half. The forward's two tallies (her fifth and sixth of the season) make her the team's leading scorer.

"I thought that the first half was the best half we've played all year," Morett said.

The Buckeyes scored with 15 minutes to play in the game, but it was too little, too late -- especially since Lions midfielder Michele Rigby added an insurance goal with five minutes remaining.

Morett's defensive concerns were allayed by the return of the usually steady play of the back line -- the same defensive unit that stifled opposing offenses during a recent three-game shutout streak. This is also the same defensive unit that has produced the last two Big Ten defensive players of the week, in goalkeeper Megan Akstin and back Sara Cahill.

Akstin did not have to make a single save on Saturday, as Ohio State fired just five shots, compared to Penn State's 20.

"The defense really did a great job in the first half," Morett said. "The forwards came back on defense and everyone just worked really well. The second half started off with a bit of a lull, but overall we really played well on the defensive end."

Starting off the Big Ten season with a win is important for the Lions, not just for the "W", but also because Morett hopes that this game will serve as a confidence builder for the more-experienced-by-the-day team that has had to learn on the job at times this season.

During their three games on the road last week, the Lions proved that they could win close games (a 1-0 victory over St. Joseph's), beat Big Ten opponents and bounce back from tough losses with an impressive brand of field hockey.

"We should take a lot of confidence away from the way we played," Morett said.

But the Lions will gladly take the "W" as well.