Sept. 9, 2009
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• Following an up-and-down weekend at home, the No. 13 Penn State field hockey team heads to College Park this weekend for the Terrapin Invitational. The Lions will face defending national champion and No. 1 Maryland on Saturday at 11 a.m. while they play American University on Sunday at 12 p.m.
• Despite a tough start to the season, Penn State only dropped two slots to No. 13 in the latest NFHCA poll. Its three losses have all been by one goal, to the teams currently ranked fifth, sixth and ninth nationally.
• The Nittany Lions look for their sixth all-time win against a defending national champion on Saturday. Their last came against Maryland, a 1-0 victory in the NCAA Quarterfinals on Nov. 11, 2007.
• Gametracker will be available both days.
Parking Advisory
• The Terrapins have a home football game on Saturday, so the University of Maryland Athletic Department has provided important parking information for those fans traveling to the field hockey games.
• Parking for field hockey fans will be free of charge prior to 12 p.m. in Lot 4i. The Terps will host Penn State at 11 a.m. followed by American vs. Towson at 1 p.m., therefore fans interested in attending either or both contests must arrive before noon in order to receive complimentary parking. Lot 4i is directly next to the Field Hockey & Lacrosse Complex. Everyone will have to pay $15 to park if they are not in 4i before 12pm. All parking on Sunday is free of charge.
Historic Programs On Display
• Maryland and Penn State are two of the most storied programs in the history of collegiate field hockey.
• The Nittany Lions are second in all-time NCAA Tournament appearances with 25 while Maryland isn't far behind, tied for fourth with 21.
• The Terps are third in all-time tournament games played (55) while Penn State is fourth (50).
• Maryland comes in second in all-time tournament wins (40) while Penn State is seventh (18).
• The Terrapins have made 12 National Semifinals all-time (third most) and the Lions have advanced to seven (sixth most).
I Know You ... But I Don't Know You
• Penn State and Maryland are common foes, with Saturday being the 32nd all-time meeting between the two rivals.
• The 31 previous meetings is tied for the eighth most common opponent in Penn State field hockey history.
• On the other end of the spectrum, the Lions have faced American University only twice, in 1982 and 2005.
Junior Jenny Purvis has played key minutes in all four games thus far, staring one. |
Facing Defending National Champions
• As part of their challenging schedule, the Lions will play a defending national champion for the 21st time, Saturday at Maryland.
• They will look for their sixth win all-time against a defending champ. It would also be their third against Maryland. Penn State has already beaten a defending national champion Terps' squad in 1988 and 2007.
• Overall, Penn State is 5-15 against defending champs, including a recent 1-0 NCAA Tournament win over Maryland on Nov. 11, 2007.
The "Big" CC?
• Penn State could make a case to be an honorary member of the ACC due to the number of nonconference games against one of the top conferences in the country.
• This season is no different, with the Terps being the Lions' second ACC opponent.
• Penn State faces three teams from the Patriot League, the most of any conference (other than the Big Ten). The slate including this weekend's opponent American along with Pennsylvania rivals Bucknell and Lafayette.
• Over the previous two years (2007 and '08), Penn State played nine games against ACC squads, posting a 5-4 record. That included four straight games (three wins) against ACC squads in 2007 as part of its magical run to the National Championship Game.
• All-time, Penn State has faced - Maryland (31 times), North Carolina (28), Virginia (16), Duke (5), Wake Forest (4) and Boston College (1).
• Ironically, Penn State head coach Charlene Morett began her head coaching career with a current ACC school, Boston College.
Fantastic Freshman
• Redshirt freshman Hannah Allison had a game to remember in Friday's home opener vs. Lock Haven.
• She had a hand in all Penn State goals, finishing with five points, the most by a Nittany Lion freshman since Brittney Long had that many on Sept. 18, 2005 vs. West Chester.
• Another freshman, Shaun Banta, also had five (2g, 1a) on Sept. 17, 2004 vs. Lafayette.
• Allison was the first Nittany Lion (any class) with five points in a half since yet another freshman, Kristen Miller, had two goals and an assist in the second half of a 12-1 home win over Saint Joseph's (Sept. 21, 2003). Current assistant coach Annie Zinkavich was the starting goalkeeper in that game.
• The five points were also the most for any Lion since Allison Scola last Oct. 19 at Northwestern.
• The last player to have more than five was current senior Bethany Marvel when she recorded a hat trick (six points) on Oct. 23, 2007 at Bucknell. In that game, her sixth point came only 1:50 into the second half.
Owning The Keystone State
• One storyline that came out of last Friday's win over Lock Haven was the continued victories over intrastate rivals. Penn State field hockey has now won 30 consecutive games against teams from Pennsylvania.
• The Lions look to extend the streak next Wednesday when they travel to Lafayette to face the Leopards. They also face West Chester and Bucknell later this year.
Junior Ali Meves leads the Big Ten with a .800 save percentage. |
Starting Her `Starting' Career With A Bang
• Junior goalkeeper Ali Meves has been strong through the first four starts of her career.
• Through four games, she leads the Big Ten in save percentage (.800) while her goals against average (1.50) is third best.
• Meves recorded her first-career win in Friday's home opener vs. Lock Haven. She finished with eight big saves, including a number in the first half to keep the Lions close, allowing them to take the lead behind a second half offensive outburst.
• On Aug. 30, Meves made a career-high nine saves on 10 shots to keep the Nittany Lions close against No. 6 Virginia.
• Meves and redshirt freshman Ayla Halus look to fill the hole left by departed All-American goalkeeper Jen Beaumont.
Feeling Generous
• Redshirt Senior Christine Dudek has tallied two assists through four games this season after having none in the first three years of her playing career.
• After a scoreless freshman and sophomore year, she broke out with 10 points (five goals) last season.
• This year, she assisted on Hannah Allison's second goal Friday while setting up fellow senior Amy Bonenberger in the season opener at then-No. 16 Old Dominion.
• Her two assists lead the team.
A Big Draw
• Both home games last weekend drew extremely well, starting with 469 fans on Friday before 694 came on Sunday vs. No. 5 UConn.
• The Lions are averaging 582 fans for home games, which at this pace would shatter last season's national leader in attendance average. For perspective, last season's leader was North Carolina (431). Penn State was fourth last year, averaging 372.
• Many fans stopped by Friday's game vs. Lock Haven on their way to football eve, creating a buzz of an atmosphere.
• Then Sunday drew the third largest crowd in the history of the Penn State Field Hockey Complex.
• The 694 fans only trail the 794 on Sept. 1, 2008 against Maryland and 770 on Sept. 2, 2007 versus Connecticut. Four of the top five crowds in the facility's history have come against the Huskies.
• Fans can help continue the big attendance figures with six more home games. With a strong showing the rest of the way, Penn State has a chance to lead the nation in attendance. Come be a part of it!
• The Lions return home on Sept. 20 vs. West Chester.
The Series With Maryland
• Maryland and Penn State have a storied history dating back to 1975, with the Nittany Lions owning a commanding 20-10-1 all-time mark.
• The Terrapins have impressed recently, though with wins in six of the last seven games after Penn State controlled the early years.
• The teams faced each other every season from 1975 through 1996, including a second time on many occasions. In that span, they squared off in postseason (EAIW and NCAA) play six times.
• In total, the Lions and Terps have met in the postseason nine times, which included four straight meetings, in 1996, '03, '06 and '07.
• Last Sept. 1 was the first regular season game in the all-time series since Sept. 20, 1995, a 2-1 overtime loss.
• Despite struggling recently against Maryland, Penn State won a crucial game ion Nov. 11, 2007, beating the Terps on their own field to advance to the National Semifinals for the first time since 2002.
Scouting Maryland
• The Terrapins remain No. 1 in the NFHCA Coaches Poll after beginning the season as the top team in the nation.
• Oddly enough, they were No. 2 behind Virginia in the preseason ACC poll.
• Maryland is 5-0 early in the season, having defeated Ohio (2-0), Boston University (3-0), Northwestern (7-2), Old Dominion (6-3) and Michigan (4-1).
• The Terrapins are led by Katie O'Donnell who already has an amazing 21 points (7g, 7a) through only five games. Nicole Muracco is second with eight (4a), Emma Thomas has seven (3g, 1a), Ameliet Rischen has six (2g, 2a) while five others have recorded points.
• Alicia Grater has seen the majority of time in goal, posting a 0.85 GAA with a .862 save percentage.
Junior Daneen Zug scored her first goal of the season Friday vs. Lock Haven. |
The Series With American
• Penn State has only faced American twice, first in 1982 (a 7-0 Nittany Lion win) and then in the NCAA Tournament in 2005 (a 3-2 American victory).
Scouting American
• American, No. 14 in the preseason coaches poll, has struggled thus far, posting a 1-2 record, including losses to a pair of Big Ten schools, Indiana (2-1) and Michigan State (5-1).
• With the tough beginning, the Eagles slipped to "Others Receiving Votes" in the most recent poll.
• The preseason Patriot League favorites are led early on by Savannah Graybill with five points (2g, 1a) followed by Christine Fingerhuth with four (2g) and Anne Van Erp and Jenn Bradley each with an assist.
• Alyssa Porman has started all three games in goal, posting a .611 save percentage and 2.53 GAA. Hannah Weitzman has also played over 16 minutes, allowing one goal on two shots.
Coaches Who Know How To Win
• Three of the nine winningest coaches in NCAA history patrolled the Penn State Field Hockey Complex sideline last weekend.
• Penn State head coach Charlene Morett is only 10 wins shy of her 400th career victory, as she entered the season with a 389-145-16 career record which included her three years at Boston College.
• Lock Haven's Pat Rudy had 459 wins entering the year, but she isn't yet eligible as a DI coach since Lock Haven recently moved to Division I.
• Among all divisions, UConn's Nancy Stevens is currently the fourth winningest coach while Rudy is sixth and Morett is ninth.
Lions Ranked 11th In Preseason NFHCA Poll
• Following a Big Ten Championship season, the Penn State field hockey began 2009 ranked No. 11 in the preseason Kookaburra/NFHCA Coaches Poll. The Nittany Lions, who concluded last season in the same position, have 10 opponents ranked in the top-20.
• In total, 10 of the Lions' 2009 opponents garnered a preseason national ranking, including six of the top nine: Maryland (1), Connecticut (5), Virginia (6), Princeton (7), Michigan State (8), Iowa (9), American (14), Old Dominion (16), Ohio State (18) and Michigan (19). Other opponents, Northwestern, Indiana, Lock Haven, Bucknell and Stanford all received votes as well.
• Five of the seven Big Ten squads were ranked in the top-20, second most of any conference behind the ACC. The other two teams - Indiana and Northwestern - received votes, effectively ranked 26th and 27th, respectively.
Head Coach Charlene Morett |
Chasing 400...
• Head coach Charlene Morett is only 10 wins shy of her 400th career win.
• Entering the season, she owned a 389-145-16 career record, which included her three seasons at Boston College, where she posted a 34-16-8 mark.
• She would become only the fourth Division I coach in NCAA history (ninth overall) to reach the 400-win plateau, joining three others, who are still active: Old Dominion's Beth Anders (503 wins entering the season), Connecticut's Nancy Stevens (481) and North Carolina's Karen Shelton (462).
Tough Schedule On Tap
• The Penn State field hockey team is set to face eight NCAA Tournament teams from 2008, including National Champion Maryland and National Semifinalist Iowa.
• Among the teams ranked in the final NFHCA Coaches Poll are: Maryland (1), Connecticut (5), Iowa (6), Princeton (9), Michigan State (10), Virginia (12), Ohio State (14) and American (18). Lock Haven, Old Dominion, Stanford and Indiana all finished among "Also Receiving Votes."
• The squad will also face 10 from the preseason top-20 and five more who are receiving votes. Only three teams - Lafayette, Pacific and West Chester - didn't receive votes.
Only The Best...
• Along with facing the defending national champion and a number of ranked foes, the Nittany Lions also face four preseason conference favorites.
• In total, they face Old Dominion (CAA), Virginia (ACC), Lock Haven (NEC) and American (Patriot League) who were No. 1 in their preseason conference polls.
• The Big Ten, NorPac and Ivy League don't have preseason polls. Otherwise, the number could be even more with Big Ten powers along with teams like Stanford, Pacific and Princeton on the slate.
Streaks To Greatness
• The field hockey program has put together a number of impressive streaks both recently and looking back to its storied history. The Lions look to extend these streaks in 2009.
• With Penn State's nine game winning streak in 2008, the squad put together streaks of nine games or more in three of the previous four seasons (also 10 in 2006 and a school-record 17 in 2005). Ironically, the one season that it didn't put together a streak of that magnitude was in the National Finalist season in 2007 when the longest win streak "only" reached five.
• Entering 2009, the Nittany Lions have picked up double-figures in wins in an incredible 31 consecutive seasons, a streak that is still alive.
• Additionally, the Lions have never had a losing record under Morett. The worst season came in 2004 when they finished 10-10. Every other season of her storied career has consisted of a winning record.
Dominant Defense
• The 2008 edition of the Penn State Nittany Lions proved to be one of the more dominant defensive teams in recent memory, and perhaps program history.
• The combination of goalkeepers Jen Beaumont and Ali Meves finished the season fourth nationally in goals against average (1.05) and second in shutouts per game (0.45).
• Opponents only found the back of the cage 21 times on the season which is the fewest a Penn State team has allowed in 10 years (20 goals in 1999).
PSU In The Polls
• The Nittany Lions held steady in the polls each and every week last year, finding themselves anywhere from sixth to 14th. The squad concluded the season at No. 11.
• That kept the streak alive of being ranked in every final STX/NFHCA National Top 20 Poll since the poll's inception in 1998.
Get Out To A Lead, Hold Them In The Second
• Penn State's formula for success last season usually included a number of first half goals while clamping down defensively in the final 35 minutes for the win.
• The Lions scored almost 66 percent of their goals (27 of 41) in the first half of games, while 13 came in the second half and one in overtime.
• The margin of difference in the first half was 15 (27-12) while the second was only five (13-8).
• In fact, the team's GAA in the second half proved to be less than one at 0.80 while the second half was 50 percent more at 1.20.
Sophomore Jessica Longstreth was awarded a rare penalty stroke on Friday. |
Home Sweet Home
• Penn State impressed at home in 2008, posting a 7-2 record while only giving up five goals all year at the friendly confines.
• Not looking at the Princeton game, the Lion defense allowed only two goals in the other eight home contests (0.25/game).
• The defense held its opponent scoreless in the final 223:34 at home and in the process shut out Virginia, Indiana, and Michigan. The squad looks to extend that scoreless streak early in 2009.
• The team outscored its opponent by a whopping margin of 22-5 at home while holding a 19-16 scoring edge at road or neutral sites.
• Penn State improves to 29-8 all-time at the new Penn State Field Hockey Complex, which opened in 2005.
Racking Up The Hardware
• Penn State racked up a fair share of postseason hardware for success on the field and in the classroom, highlighted by three All-American selections.
• Jen Long was named NFHCA First Team All-American to extend the Nittany Lions' streak to 24 straight seasons with at least one member on the first team.
• The Nittany Lions also swept the end-of-year Big Ten awards as Charlene Morett was named Coach of the Year, Jen Long was named Defensive Player of the Year, Allison Scola was Co Offensive Player of the Year and Jessica Longstreth was tabbed Freshman of the Year.
2009 Media Guide Now Available!
• The 2009 media guide is now available! In it, you can find everything you need to know about Penn State field hockey including stats, player bios, a complete history section and much more!
• Copies are available for only $5. They will be available at every home game and can also be purchased through the publications store on GoPSUsports.com. Click to order!
Sign Up For Penn State Field Hockey News
• Fans, want to stay up to date on the Penn State field hockey team? Sign up today by contacting Justin Lafleur (jal47@psu.edu) in the Penn State Athletic Communications Department. You will receive game previews, game recaps, news releases and more, straight to your inbox!
Follow Penn State Field Hockey On Twitter!
• Penn State field hockey is now on Twitter! You can find exclusive notes and features to help you stay one step ahead when following the Nittany Lions.
• Included will be live in-game scoring updates, so if you can't make it to Happy Valley, you'll still be able to follow all the action. Go to www.twitter.com and search for the username PennStateFH. Click here for a direct link.