July 5, 2010
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UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Penn State field hockey rising seniors Ali Meves (Lower Gwynedd, Pa.) and Daneen Zug (Manheim, Pa.) were two of numerous student-athletes admitted into the athletic honor society Spiritus Leoninus this past spring. The society recognizes Penn State student-athletes who display excellence in academics, athletics, community service and leadership. Both Meves and Zug have excelled on and off the field heading into their fourth year in Happy Valley.
"It's definitely an honor," said Zug. "It's great to award student-athletes for well-roundedness. Ali is equally deserving. I'm really happy that she [was recognized] as well."
The purpose of Spiritus Leoninus is four-fold:
• To honor and recognize outstanding student-athletes in academics, athletics, community service and leadership.
• To represent Penn State Intercollegiate Athletics pride and promote its tradition of excellence.
• To encourage the pursuit of excellence in these activities by other Penn State student-athletes.
• Take the ideals of this organization beyond the Penn State Community.
Nominees are voted on by the honor society's current class. They are judged in four areas: academics, athletics, community service and leadership. A complete 100 percent agreement must occur for student-athletes to be voted in.
Meves - a 2008 Big Ten Distinguished Scholar - is also a two-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree while being named to the NFHCA National Academic Squad all three years. On the field, she has enjoyed equally as much success. After backing up All-American goalkeeper Jen Beaumont her first two years, she served as the primary starter last season. She went on to post a .725 save percentage and 2.36 GAA with a Big Ten leading 108 saves. One highlight came in an overtime thriller against No. 18 Ohio State when she made 11 saves to earn Big Ten Defensive Player and Penn State Student-Athlete of the Week accolades. She also cracked the Big Ten All-Tournament Team.
Like Meves, Zug is also a two-time Academic All-Big Ten and three-time NFHCA National Academic Squad honoree. After playing 12 games as a freshman, she broke out as a sophomore with 23 points which included a team-leading 10 goals. She was recognized following the season with Second Team All-Big Ten laurels. Last year, Zug scored three goals, two of which came in a memorable 6-4 win against Pacific (Oct. 24), the same afternoon that her brother Graham scored three touchdowns in Penn State football's 35-10 rout at Michigan.
Both Meves and Zug were also members of the 2007 Nittany Lion squad which advanced all the way to the National Championship Game.
"I feel really privileged that they chose me," said Zug. "It's a new legend, a new tradition, which you hand down from team to team and player to player. For them to come together as a group and say this player is deserving, it's an honor."
Check back to GoPSUsports.com throughout the summer for continued updates as the 2010 Nittany Lions looks ahead to the season.
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