Oct. 7, 2010
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - - Coming off of a pristine 2-0 week with victories over Iowa and Monmouth, the No. 16 ranked Penn State field hockey team heads west to East Lansing for a Big Ten showdown with reigning conference champion Michigan State on Friday at 3 p.m. at Ralph Young Field.
Off to a 2-1 start in league play and an 8-3 overall record, the Nittany Lions are led into action by a potent offensive attack. During last week's two victories, Penn State tossed 12 goals on the board after topping Iowa, 5-3, before handing Monmouth a 7-2 setback. That total marked the squad's highest output during a two-game stretch since 2005.
Needing an offensive spark to light the way, sophomore forward Kelsey Amy has been more than capable of headlining the attack. In the team's two victories last week, she blasted home five goals, including four against the Hawks on Sunday. That marked the third-highest single-game scoring effort in Nittany Lion history and the highest at the Penn State Field Hockey Complex.
Guided in large part by Amy's efforts, Penn State stands second in the Big Ten with a 1.55 scoring margin. Over the course of the team's 11 games, the Nittany Lions are averaging 2.82 goals-per-game while their opponents stand at 1.27. The aggressive offense also ranks at the top of the league with an 18.64-shots-per-game average.
Relying heavily on penalty corner execution, the Nittany Lions stand sixth in the nation with a 9.73-corner-per-game average. The crisp passing of Jessica Longstreth and Kristen Schaefer has been at the forefront of the team's success as the two standouts have combined for 18 assists in just 11 games.
Ayla Halus has led the team's strong defensive effort during the early part of the season as the sophomore goalkeeper has helped the squad post four shutouts. Overall, Halus ranks second in the nation with an impeccable .842 save percentage and 12th with a 1.2 goals-against-average.
The Nittany Lions will have to be on their game on Friday as the team faces a tough Michigan State squad. The Spartans enter the contest with a 10-2 record, including a 1-1 mark in conference action. Last week, the team stumbled in a 2-1 setback to Michigan before regrouping for a 6-4 victory over Ohio.
Spartan goaltender Molly Cassidy has led Michigan State's quest to defend its 2009 Big Ten Championship. A redshirt freshman, she has guided the squad to a league-high six shutouts and a conference-best 1.17 goals-against-average. She also ranks ninth in the nation with a .789 save percentage.
Ranked first in the conference in scoring margin and 15th in the nation in scoring average, the Spartans also boast a strong offensive attack. Michigan State is led by an excellent senior class as Jantine Steinmetz and Sabine van den Assem both have posted a team-high seven goals.
Overall, Penn State holds a 22-11 edge in the all-time series with Michigan State, although the Spartans have won the previous three contests including a 5-1 setback during the regular season finale last season.
Yet another pivotal game in the series will be played on Friday with this one carrying a little more significance. With both teams off to a good start, it marks only the second time in the last five meetings that both squads enter the match-up ranked in the top-20 nationally.
HALUS CONTINUES TO DOMINATE ON DEFENSE
Ayla Halus has pieced together an outstanding start to her sophomore campaign. After starting two games in the cage in 2009, she has posted a breakout season in 2010. Ranking among the national leaders in save percentage (2nd - .842) and saves-per-game (12th - 1.2), she has also helped the team post four shutouts while earning the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week honor on two occasions.
LIONS REMAIN IN NATIONAL RANKINGS
Led by a stingy defense and a high-powered offensive attack, Penn State has posted an 8-3 record through its first 11 games. For its efforts, the team earned a No. 16 ranking after receiving 317 points during the most recent National Field Hockey Coaches Association Poll. They have held a spot in the top-20 throughout the 2010 season.
AMY AVOIDS SOPHOMORE SLUMP
Despite some lofty expectations following an incredible freshman campaign, sophomore forward Kelsey Amy has not disappointed in 2010. Entering Friday's contest, she ranks third in the conference with 11 goals after blasting home five in the team's two victories last weekend. Her four-goal performance against Monmouth was the third-highest single-game scoring effort in program history and the highest at the Penn State Field Hockey Complex.
AWAY WE GO
Young Field in East Lansing will serve as the location of Penn State's first road game since September 19. The Nittany Lions have spent the last four games at their cozy confines in Happy Valley. Overall, Friday's contest marks just the fourth road game of the season for Penn State. The team stands 2-1 in its other road tilts with victories over Temple and West Chester and a loss to UConn.