Sept. 18, 2014 UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -
By Gabrielle Richards, GoPSUsports Student Staff Writer
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.- Women's intercollegiate athletics have come along way over the last 50 years. The first women's intercollegiate athletic contest took place at Pollock Field, home of the Nittany Lion field hockey team. Over the past 50 years, the Penn State field hockey program has grown in both success and prowess in the NCAA and Big Ten. Here's a look back over the past 50 years of one of Penn State's first women's sports team.
1960s: intercollegiate athletics are no longer just played by men...
-1964: Penn State's field hockey team began its first season. Pat Seni coached the team.
-The Nittany Lions went 4-0 that season.
-The Nittany Lions appeared in four USFHA field hockey tournaments.
1970s: Building A Program
-1970-1973: Tonya Toole coached the Nittany Lions for four seasons. Under Toole's direction, Penn State won 13 games.
-1972: Title IX is passed and gender equality is now required in education and athletics.
-1974: Coach Gillian Rattray took over the helm as the head coach of Penn State's field hockey program. The Nittany Lions closed out the 70s with a record of 59-21.
-Five different Nittany Lions were named NFHCA All-Americans (starting in 1977), including current head coach Charlene Morett-Curtiss three times.
1980s: The Nittany Lions Gain A Foothold in Collegiate Field Hockey
-Coach Rattray led the Nittany Lions for seven more seasons and celebrated the only undefeated season in 1980 (22-0-2), and the first AIAW national championship. Penn State also won the 1981 AIAW National Championship.
-1980: Broderick Award given to Jeannie Fissinger.
-1981: Broderick Award given Candy Finn.
-1982: Field hockey player Brenda Stauffer was named National Player of the Year. Penn State made its first NCAA Tournament appearance.
-1984: Stauffer, Chris Larson and Charlene Morett earned the bronze medal at the Olympic Games in Los Angeles, Ca.
-1987: Former Nittany Lion and Olympian, Morett, took over the helm as Penn State's head coach.
-Penn State had nine different first team All-Americans in the 80s.
1990s: Dominating the A-10, the Big Ten and the NCAA
-1990: The Nittany Lions won the A-10 Conference and represented Penn State in the NCAA semi-finals.
-1992: Penn State joins the Big Ten conference and finish with an 8-2 conference record.
-1993: Morett-Curtiss' Nittany Lions won Penn State's first Big Ten Championship and made another appearance in the NCAA semi-finals.
-1995-1998: Penn State is crowned either Big Ten Conference regular season or tournament champion each year.
-Penn State had 16 NFHCA first team All-Americans in the 90s and made the NCAA Tournament each season.
2000s: Making It To The Finals...
-2002: The Nittany Lions make it to the final round of the NCAA Championships for the first time.
-2005: The Nittany Lions win another Big Ten Championship
-2007: Morett-Curtiss' Nittany Lions make it to the final round of the NCAA Championships again.
-2008: Another Big Ten Championship is added to the list.
-Eight different individuals were named first team All-Americans in the 90s.
2010s: WE ARE...not finished yet
-2011-2013: The Nittany Lions have successfully won either the Big Ten regular season or tournament championship, each year. In 2012, they won both.
-One NFHCA All-American.
-As of 2014, there have been 15 different former Nittany Lions represented on the U.S. National Team.