Oct. 21, 2010
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The No. 11 ranked Penn State field hockey team will wrap up the home portion of its regular season schedule with a pair of contests this weekend at the PSU Field Hockey Complex as the Nittany Lions host No. 17 Duke on Saturday at noon before battling No. 5 Princeton on Sunday at 3 p.m.
** Fans should be advised that there might be some added traffic congestion for Saturday's contest against Duke. Penn State will be hosting its first annual Race to Save Second Base 5k Run on October 23 at noon. Registration begins at 11 a.m. on the Intramural Building lawn off of Curtin Road across from the field hockey complex. Fans attending the game should make any necessary adjustments to their travel plans. **
LAST TIME OUT
Penn State was last in action on Tuesday when the team upended in-state rival Bucknell, 4-1, at the PSU Field Hockey Complex. During the contest, Jessica Longstreth tallied a pair of goals, while Jenny Purvis contributed three points after notching a goal and an assist. Ayla Halus also held the Bison scoreless during her 58 minutes in the cage.
AMONG THE ELITE
Penn State ranks among the top teams in the country in a pair of national polls. In the National Field Hockey Coaches Association poll, the Nittany Lions stand 11th in Division I. The squad also ranks ninth in the NCAA RPI standings, which places them third among teams from the Big Ten.
HAIL TO HALUS
Ayla Halus has been a dominant figure in goal for the Nittany Lions. During the season, she has posted an incredible .832 save percentage, which currently ranks second in the nation. Overall, she has posted four shutouts and held the opposition scoreless during her time in the cage on six occasions. Her 1.25 goals-against-average and 79 saves also lead the Big Ten.
STRIKING A BALANCE
Penn State's offense has been a well-balanced attack throughout the 2010 season. Although Kelsey Amy has accounted for the lion's share of goals with 13, five other players have at least four. Hannah Allison and Jessica Longstreth have each tallied six, while Brittany Grzywacz, Lauren Purvis, and Daneen Zug have all chipped in with four. In comparison, Penn State's two opponents this weekend, Duke and Princeton, have a combined six players with at least four goals in 2010.
TURNING A CORNER
Penn State has used an exceptionally successful penalty corner combination to stabilize one of the top attacks in the country. Entering the week, the Nittany Lions ranked 11th in the nation averaging 8.78 corners-per-game. Jessica Longstreth and Kristen Schaefer have been at the forefront of the team's success as the two have combined for 18 assists and helped generate nearly one-third of the team's goals off of successful corners.
A TRIPLE THREAT
Freshman Brittany Grzywacz has made an immediate impact during her first season in Happy Valley. A truly versatile competitor, she has four goals, two assists, and Penn State's lone defensive save of the season. In the Big Ten, she is one of only five players who have notched a goal, assist, and defensive save during the year. She is also the only underclassman to accomplish the feat.
THE BIG 10
During the team's 14 games entering this weekend, 10 Nittany Lions have started every contest. In the Big Ten, only Ohio State has had even eight different players start each game. Over the course of the last 11 games, Penn State's starting lineup has been even more stable as PSU has run out the exact same group of starters during the team's recent 8-3 run.
TOUGH COMPETITION
Throughout the 2010 season, Penn State has battled all comers, including a slew of highly-ranked opponents. In the latest RPI rankings, the Nittany Lions have faced seven teams in the top-25 and six in the top-15, including the top-ranked Virginia Cavaliers. This week is no different as PSU hosts Duke, who ranks 16th in the RPI, and Princeton, who stands fifth in the poll. At present, the Lions hold a 4-3 record against its top competition.
NO PLACE LIKE HOME
Penn State enters this weekend having hosted nine games at the PSU Field Hockey Complex. During that action, the Nittany Lions boast an impressive 7-2 record. Since moving into their new cozy confines in 2005, Penn State has pieced together an incredible 41-12 record at the complex, highlighted by a pristine 10-0 mark during the first year at their new digs.
IN A LEAGUE OF THEIR OWN
The Penn State field hockey team has squared off with teams from seven different leagues around the country. During the year, the Nittany Lions have faced squads from the ACC, Atlantic 10, Big East, Big Ten, Colonial Athletic Association, Northeast Conference, and Patriot League. This weekend, PSU will add the Ivy League to its plate when the squad hosts Princeton on Sunday. Overall, the Lions have defeated a team from five different conferences, including multiple squads from the A-10, Big Ten, and Patriot League.
SCOUTING THE BLUE DEVILS
Duke enters today's action with an even 8-8 record. In the latest National Field Hockey Coaches Association poll, the Blue Devils are ranked 17th in the country, while they stand 16th in the most recent RPI rankings. Duke has faced a tough schedule in 2010 with 12 of their first 16 opponents ranked in the top-20. The Blue Devils were victorious against four of those squads and dropped a close 1-0 decision to the top-ranked and undefeated North Carolina Tar Heels.
SERIES AT A GLANCE
Penn State and Duke have squared off five times since the series began in 1983. The Blue Devils captured the last meeting after pulling out a 4-1 victory in 2004. Prior to that, the Nittany Lions had dominated the series with four straight wins, including a 1-0 decision in 1998.
DUKE ON THE DEFENSIVE
Duke has ridden a strong defensive unit to its current place in the top-20. Samantha Nelson has been at the forefront as the senior goalkeeper ranks 12th in the country with a 1.29 goals-against-average. She is also in the top-25 with a .741 save percentage, while her five shutouts are tied for fifth in the nation. She is supported on the offensive end by Emmie Le Marchand, who leads the team with seven goals and 17 points. Susan Ferger and Caashia Karringten have also chipped in with a pair of game-winning goals.
SCOUTING PRINCETON
Princeton entered this weekend with a 10-3 record. In this week's National Field Hockey Coaches Association poll, the Tigers are ranked fifth in the country, while they also rank fifth in the latest NCAA RPI rankings. Their three losses have come against teams currently ranked third (Virginia), fourth (Connecticut), and seventh (American) in the NFHCA poll. They have also beaten the teams ranked second (Maryland), eighth (Syracuse), and 10th (Louisville).
SERIES AT A GLANCE
Penn State and Princeton have faced each other 28 times with their first battle coming in 1979. Overall, the Nittany Lions hold a 22-6 record in those contests, although the Tigers have won the last three bouts, including a 3-0 shutout in 2009. Prior to Princeton's string of recent victories, Penn State had claimed nine straight contests between 2001 and 2007.
TIGERS ON THE PROWL
Princeton boasts an extremely potent offensive attack that has outscored its opponents by a 59-16 margin. Kathleen Sharkey leads the way with 23 goals, which is currently the highest total in the nation. Her 4.08 points-per-game average is also the finest in the country. The defense has also been strong throughout the season with goalkeeper Christina Maida ranked fifth in the nation with a 1.08 goals-against-average.