Nov. 5, 2007
University Park, Pa. - Two members of the Penn State field hockey team were named to the Big Ten All-Tournament team for the recently concluded Big Ten Tournament held last weekend in Columbus, Ohio. Junior forward Britney Long and sophomore back Amy Bonenberger were named to the All-Tournament team following Penn State's two-game stay at the tournament.
Long, a redshirt junior, scored three goals in Penn State's two games. She started the tournament by scoring two goals against Ohio State as the Nittany Lions topped Ohio State 3-0 for the second time in a week in the quarterfinal matchup on Thursday. Long then followed that up by notching another score against Michigan in the Friday semifinal game. Her goal put the Nittany Lions ahead 2-1 in the second half of the game against the Wolverines. Long's two games in the Big Ten Tournament helped elevate her to a tie for fourth in the Big Ten in goals and a tie for fifth in goals per game heading into the NCAA Tournament. She is also ranked eighth in the Big Ten in both points and points per game. The Lancaster, Pa. native has had her finest collegiate season so far this year as her 12 goals and 26 points lead the team. She easily surpassed her previous career high for goals in a season earlier this year in just the seventh game of the season.
Amy Bonenberger's strong play on defense this year and at the Big Ten Tournament earned her a spot on the Big Ten All-Tournament team. |
Bonenberger, a sophomore, started and played every minute of both games last week at the Big Ten Tournament and her outstanding play on the defensive end helped Penn State record it Big Ten-leading seventh shutout of the year against Ohio State on Thursday as she also helped limit the Buckeyes to just three shots in the game, one week after holding the Buckeyes shotless in the regular season finale. She also helped limit Michigan's offensive scoring chances in the semifinal game as the Nittany Lions did outshoot the Wolverines despite the loss in overtime. Bonenberger, a native of Palmyra, Pa., has played extensively this season on defense, starting 16 games and playing in all 20 after playing only off the bench as a freshman last year.
Long, Bonenberger and the Nittany Lions will find out their NCAA Tournament fate on Tuesday night at 8:00 p.m. when the NCAA Field Hockey Tournament selection show is aired live on CSTV. First and second round games will be held on Saturday and Sunday on campus sites to be determined.