Oct. 28, 2010
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The Penn State field hockey team will wrap up its regular season on Friday at 4 p.m. when the Nittany Lions travel to Northwestern for a Big Ten battle with the Wildcats at Lakeside Field.
The match-up will serve as a nice precursor to the Big Ten Tournament, which will also be hosted by Northwestern beginning with first round action on November 4. The Nittany Lions enter the game with a 12-4 record, including a 3-2 mark in conference action. The Wildcats come into play at 11-6 with a 3-1 record in league play.
LAST TIME OUT
Penn State wrapped up its regular season home slate last weekend with an incredible showing against a pair of top-20 teams. On Saturday, the Nittany Lions outlasted No. 17 Duke, 2-1, led by goals from Jessica Longstreth and Jenny Purvis. PSU returned to the field the very next day and toppled No. 5 Princeton, 1-0, on a second-half goal by Longstreth. Ayla Halus also combined to make seven saves during the two contests.
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 ninth in Division I. The squad also ranks eighth in the NCAA RPI standings, which places them second among teams from the Big Ten.
SAVING THE DAY
The Nittany Lions have been stellar defensively throughout the year. Currently, the team ranks first in the nation with an .817 save percentage after making 89 saves while allowing just 20 goals. Ayla Halus has headlined that effort as she ranks second nationally with an individual .835 save percentage. Senior Ali Meves has also appeared in goal for 81 minutes this season, while freshman midfielder Brittany Grzywacz has made two defensive saves as well.
A STROKE OF GENIUS
The Nittany Lions have been especially productive at earning penalty strokes this season, and Jessica Longstreth has been simply masterful at converting them. So far this year, Longstreth has gone 4-for-4 on strokes. In that category, she currently ranks second in the nation behind only Hofstra's Arielle Williams, who is 6-for-6. In comparison, every other player in the Big Ten has combined to convert 6-of-9 strokes this year.
ALL HAIL HALUS
Ayla Halus has pieced together one of the most highly-decorated campaigns in recent Penn State history. Led by her incredible performance in the cage, she has been selected as the Big Ten's Defensive Player of the Week on four occasions. No other Nittany Lion has ever received that honor more than three times in one year. In addition to her conference accolades, she was also named to the WomensFieldHockey.com National Honor Roll for her efforts on October 27.
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. Jessica Longstreth has eight on the season, while Hannah Allison is close behind with six. Brittany Grzywacz, Lauren Purvis, and Daneen Zug round out the top scorers with four apiece.
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 8.63 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 convert 11 corners this season.
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 a pair of defensive saves. In the Big Ten, she is one of only five players who have at least two goals, assists, and defensive saves during the year. She is also the only underclassman to accomplish the feat.
THE FINE NINE
During the team's 16 games entering this weekend, nine Nittany Lions have started every contest. In the Big Ten, only Ohio State has had even eight different players start each game. Along with the nine stable starters, Kelsey Amy has also cracked the lineup in 15 of the team's games, while Kristen Schaefer has started 13 contests.
IN A LEAGUE OF THEIR OWN
The Penn State field hockey team has squared off with teams from eight 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, Ivy League, Northeast Conference, and Patriot League. Overall, the Lions have defeated a team from seven different conferences, including multiple squads from the A-10, Big Ten, and Patriot League.
SCOUTING NORTHWESTERN
The Wildcats boast a strong offensive unit that ranks 10th nationally with a 3.3 scoring average. Northwestern has only been shut out once in 2010 after being blanked, 2-0, against No. 3 Virginia on September 6. Overall, the team has outscored its opposition by a 57-33 margin while also holding a 137-101 edge in penalty corners.
SERIES AT A GLANCE
Penn State and Northwestern have faced each other 29 times since 1992 with the Nittany Lions holding a 24-4-1 advantage in the all-time series. The Wildcats won the previous meeting after pulling out a 3-2 victory on October 9, 2009. Prior to last season, PSU captured 16 straight contests over an 11-year stretch from 1997-2008. During the 12 games in Evanston, Penn State boasts a 9-2-1 record.
OUTSTANDING ARMSTRONG
Sophomore Chelsea Armstrong has been a force to be reckoned with throughout the season for Northwestern. She currently ranks second in the nation with 23 goals, while her 3.56 points-per-game average is third overall. During the year, she has had a hand in 60 percent of the Wildcats' goals after also recording 11 assists. She has recorded at least one point in all but four games this year, including an incredible four-goal, one-assist performance against UC Davis on October 7.
THANKS FOR THE ASSISTANCE
The Northwestern players have been especially generous in 2010 as the team currently ranks fifth in the nation with 50 assists. Chelsea Armstrong and Stacy Uchida lead the way with 11 assists apiece. Currently, the Tigers are one of only five programs in the country that can claim two players with at least 11 assists. Dartmouth, Lafayette, Ohio State, and Old Dominion are the only other teams with such a well-balanced unit.