Aug. 31, 2007
UConn Game Program (PDF)
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University Park, Pa. - Fresh off a week-long rest following its two wins over No. 6 Old Dominion and No. 8 Virginia to begin the season last weekend, the No. 7 Penn State field hockey team will host another top 10 opponent to open its home schedule this weekend in No. 5 Connecticut. The Huskies (2-0) will be the third of five straight NCAA Tournament teams from last year that the Nittany Lions (2-0) are facing to open the 2007 season.
The Nittany Lions are 2-0 for the first time since the 2003 season and have also scored the most goals in its first two games since 2003 as well. Penn State was one of only two teams that defeated two ranked teams in its first two games last weekend, with No. 3 North Carolina being the other. However, both of UNC's wins were against teams ranked No. 10 or below, while Penn State's were against a pair of top 10 opponents.
For their efforts, the Nittany Lions swept the weekly awards that are given out by the Big Ten. Kiersten Wood was named the Offensive Player of the Week while Laura Cahill was named the Defensive Player of the Week. Additionally, Jen Long was named to the womensfieldhockey.com weekly honor roll.
Connecticut, which played in the NCAA semifinals last season, defeated both Towson, whom the Nittany Lions scrimmaged two weekends ago, and Maine last weekend. Penn State leads the all-time series between the two schools 16-10-4. This will mark the 30th straight year that the Nittany Lions and Huskies have met on the field hockey pitch. Penn State defeated UConn 1-0 in Storrs, Conn. last year and has won six out of the last seven meetings between the schools. UConn's most recent win came in 2004.
Penn State holds an impressive 33-8-1 all-time record in home openers. UConn was also the opponent in Penn State's 2001 home opener, and the Lions won 3-1.
The home opener will kick off a busy and challenging but exciting week for the Nittany Lions, who will take on two more opponents that played in last year's NCAA Tournament, both of which are currently ranked in the STX/NFHCA top 20 poll, although a new poll will come out prior to either of those games. Penn State will travel to Princeton on Wednesday night before hosting James Madison on Friday night on AstroTurf Field. Both games will be played at 6:00 p.m.