Oct. 24, 2011
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The Penn State field hockey team (11-5, 3-2) will be looking to end its two-game losing streak on Tuesday as it heads to Lewisburg, Pa. to take on the Bucknell Bison in a midweek clash. Penn State will try to make it 34 all-time victories in the interstate clash at 6 p.m.
Penn State suffered its second straight loss on Saturday, falling to the 18th-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes by a score of 2-0 at the Penn State Field Hockey Complex. Ohio State's Jenn Sciulli and Berta Queralt each scored goals for the Buckeyes, one coming in the first half and the other coming in the second. Redshirt junior Ayla Halus (Hershey, Pa.) made four saves in goal for PSU. The Nittany Lions outshot the Buckeyes, 15-9, but were unable to execute any of their chances.
Bucknell is most recently coming off a 3-1 victory over Patriot League leader American on Oct. 22. The Bison have won their last two games, with the other win coming against Towson. Bucknell is 6-9 on the season and holds a 2-2 record in Patriot League play. Leading the way for the Bison is Mallory Smith, who is the squad's top scorer with 16 points, coming on five goals and six assists. Erica Perrine will make the start in the cage, as she holds a 2.13 GAA and has recorded a shutout and 61 saves this season.
Penn State holds a 33-3-2 all-time advantage over the Bison in the 38 games these two teams have played. With a victory Tuesday, Bucknell would be the team that Penn State has the most wins over in program history. Penn State won last year's matchup in Happy Valley by a score of 4-1 when Bucknell was ranked No.11.
Following Bucknell, Penn State will close the regular season as it hosts Michigan State this Sunday at noon. The game will be tape delayed for 2 p.m. on the Big Ten Network.
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.