Sept. 17, 2014
| PENN STATE VS. MICHIGAN | |
| Friday, Sept. 19 - 4 p.m. ET | |
| Penn State Field Hockey Complex | University Park, Pa. | |
| Game Day Information: | |
| GAME DAY LINKS |
TV: BTN -->Field Hockey BlogFollow Us: @PennStateFH | Facebook | InstagramGameday Central
Game Notes: Penn StateMichigan Website: MGoBlue.com
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The No. 6 Penn State field hockey team opens its 2014 Big Ten campaign at home, taking on No. 18 Michigan on Friday, Sept. 19 at 4 p.m. Prior to the game there will be a ribbon cutting ceremony for the new turf at the Field Hockey Complex and at halftime there will be a celebration of the 50th Anniversary of Women in Sport at Penn State.
All fans are encouraged to park in the East Parking Deck. Also, fans are reminded that all bags that are brought into the facility are subject to inspection at any time.
Promotions
- "Lineup Buddies" for kids 12-and-under
- 50th Anniversary of Women in Sport at Penn State halftime ceremony
50th Anniversary of Women in Sport
Field hockey was the first women's intercollegiate program at Penn State, starting in 1964. The Nittany Lions defeated Susquehanna, 2-0, in the first intercollegiate event on Oct. 3, 1964. Head coach Charlene Morett-Curtiss has been around for parts of five decades, starting as a player in 1975. Overall, the Nittany Lions are 631-239-37 all-time and have made 29 NCAA Tournament appearances, ranking third in Division I history.
Big Ten Openers
Penn State is 16-6 all-time in Big Ten openers, winning each of its last four.
Michigan Notes
- The Wolverines entered the rankings for the first time on Sept. 16, sitting at No. 18 in the NFHCA Poll.
- Michigan is 4-2 this season, winning each of its last four games. Its only losses came to No. 2 North Carolina and No. 11 Wake Forest.
- Leslie Smith leads the team with 12 points this season, including five goals. She ranks 24th nationally in points per game (2.00) and goals per game (0.83). Ainsley McCallister is second in the country with 1.50 assists per game.
- Defensively, goalkeeper Sam Swenson has started four of the six games, tallying a .812 save percentage and holding a 0.70 goals against average.
- Marcia Pankratz is in her 15th season at the helm.
Series History
Penn State is 18-14-1 all-time against Lock Haven, dating back to their first season of field hockey in 1964. The Nittany Lions have won 12-straight in the series, including a 3-0 win on the road last season.
Last Time Out
The Nittany Lions posted wins against No. 14 Princeton, 5-2, on Sept. 12 and against Lafayette, 5-1, on Sept. 14. Against the Tigers, the Nittany Lions rallied to score five second-half goals, including three from senior Taylor Herold (Fredericksburg, Va.), to secure the win. Then, they posted five goals against Lafayette, including two from senior Jenna Chrismer (Mountain Top, Pa.). It marks the first time Penn State has scored five-or-more goals in back-to-back games since 2012.
Fast Start
Penn State is off to a 5-1 start this season, its best start since 2005. That team started the season 17-1 and finished with a 6-0 record in the Big Ten.
Herold's Heroics
Senior Taylor Herold (Fredericksburg, Va.) posted three goals, all in the second half, against No. 14 Princeton on Sept. 12. It marked her first career hat trick. She ranks second on the team with 12 points and is tied for the team lead in goals with five.
Corner Defense
Penn State opponents have taken 38 penalty corners this season, but have only scored two goals.
Chrismer Capitalizing
Senior Jenna Chrismer (Mountain Top, Pa.) has been impressive offensively. Most recently, she posted a career-high two assists against No. 14 Princeton (Sept. 12) before tying her personal best with two goals vs. Lafayette (Sept. 14). She scored each of the team's goals in the 2-1 win over Old Dominion (Aug. 29), before tallying an assist against Virginia (Aug. 31) and at Quinnipiac (Sept. 7). She leads the team with 14 points and ranks 15th nationally with 2.33 points per game.
Solid in the Cage
Redshirt senior Kylie Licata (Mountain Top, Pa.) has been a force between the posts, making nine saves against Old Dominion and holding Virginia scoreless, the first time the Cavaliers were blanked since 2011. Then, at No. 3 Connecticut, she stopped a career-high 14 shots. She ranks fourth nationally with a .875 save percentage and ninth with a 0.81 goals against average.
Penn State Field Hockey on Social Media
Penn State field hockey is on social media. Follow the program on Facebook (www.facebook.com/PennStateFieldHockey) and Twitter/Instagram @PennStateFH. For all of your Penn State news, visit www.GoPSUsports.com.