Sept. 30, 2011
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The Penn State field hockey team (7-3, 1-0) will look to make it 2-0 in Big Ten play for the first time since 2008 as its hosts the 16th-ranked Northwestern Wildcats at noon this Saturday. It will be Alumni Weekend, as PSU Field Hockey will welcome back former players for the game. The contest with the Wildcats and Nittany Lions will be broadcasted for tape delay on the Big Ten Network.
Behind stellar goalkeeping from redshirt junior Ayla Halus (Hershey, Pa), Penn State picked up a big 3-0 victory over the Iowa Hawkeyes last Sunday afternoon. The Hawkeyes came into the game atop the Big Ten in scoring. Halus made seven saves in the winning effort. Sophomore Lauren Purvis (Maple Glen, Pa.), junior Hannah Allison (Mifflinburg, Pa.) and sophomore Whitney Reddig (Lititz, Pa.) each scored goals for the Nittany Lions. Iowa was shutout for the first time all season.
Penn State is hosting its annual alumni event during this weekend's Big Ten matchup with Northwestern. The weekend is filled with great activities that include a "Clash of the Classes" alumni game at 9 a.m. and a special reception honoring the Final Four teams. Additionally, a silent auction is being held this weekend, which includes items such as a Penn State football helmet signed by John Cappelletti, a hockey stick signed by Alexander Ovechkin, four Penn State - Nebraska football tickets and a two-night stay at the Penn Stater.
The Wildcats enter games with Michigan State and PSU with a 9-3 record and a 0-1 mark in conference play, most recently coming off a 6-1 win over Saint Louis. Four of Northwestern's nine wins have come against ranked opponents, including No. 8 American, No. 11 California, No. 18 Virginia and No. 7 New Hampshire. Leading the way for Northwestern is Chelsea Armstrong, who is second in the conference in scoring with 15 goals and four assists. Regan Mooney has contributed six goals and 13 assists as well. Maddy Carpenter is expected to make the start in the cage for the Wildcats. She is 8-3 on the year with a 2.44 GAA.
In 30 all-time matchups with the Wildcats, Penn State holds a commanding 25-4-1 lead in the historical series. The last time these two teams met was on October 29, 2010 at Northwestern. Penn State earned a 4-2 win, a game in which Kelsey Amy scored all four of the Lions' goals. Penn State has won 18 of the last 19 matchups, with Northwestern's lone win in that span coming on October 9, 2009 in Happy Valley.
Following Northwestern this weekend, Penn State will return home on Tuesday afternoon to take Villanova Wildcats at 4 p.m.
Penn State hosts the 2011 Big Ten Field Hockey Tournament from Nov. 3-6. Tickets for the Big Ten Tournament can be purchased by contacting the Bryce Jordan Center ticket office at 814-865-5555. All session passes are $18 for adults and $12 for students/senior citizens. Single session tickets will run at $8 for adults and $5 for students/senior citizens. Groups of 15 people or more may also purchase tickets at $12 for all session passes and $5 for a single session. Check back to GoPSUsports.com for continued Penn State Field Hockey updates throughout the 2011 season. Follow Penn State field hockey on Twitter: www.twitter.com/PennStateFH and www.twitter.com/GoPSUGreg.