Sept. 21, 2007
University Park, Pa. - After a week off from game action to refresh after a string of three games in five days, the Penn State field hockey team will return to action this Sunday with its Big Ten opener at Michigan. Penn State remained ranked seventh this week in the STX/NFHCA Top 20 poll while Michigan jumped three spots from No. 15 to No. 12.
While this will be the Big Ten opener for Penn State, it will be the second conference game for Michigan, which hosts Iowa on Friday afternoon prior to hosting the Lions on Sunday. Penn State holds a 21-9 all-time record against Michigan, although the teams are an even 3-3 against each other since the 2003 season.
Penn State (5-3) has been rather successful in Ann Arbor as of late, however. The Nittany Lions are 3-1 in their last four games at Michigan's Ocker Field. The Lions went 2-1 in last year's Big Ten Tournament held at Michigan and also defeated the Wolverines in their last regular season trip to Ann Arbor back in 2005. Penn State has won the last two regular season meetings with the Wolverines, including last year's 4-0 victory in the Big Ten home opener at AstroTurf Field.
This will be Penn State's sixth game against a ranked team in nine games, while for Michigan (4-4), Penn State will be its eighth ranked opponent in 10 games following Friday's game vs. No. 3 Iowa.
Following Sunday's game, Penn State will return for a three-game homestand over the next two weeks, beginning with Lock Haven next Wednesday at 6:00 p.m.