Sept. 23, 2015
| PENN STATE VS.MICHIGAN STATE | |
| Friday, Sept. 18 - 6 p.m. ET | |
| Field Hockey Complex | University Park, Pa. | |
| GAME DAY LINKS |
TV: ESPN2 -->Live Video |Penn State Field Hockey BlogFollow Us: @PennStateFH | Facebook | InstagramGameday Central
Game Notes: Penn State | Michigan StateStatistics: Penn State | Michigan State
| PENN STATE VS.OHIO STATE | |
| Sunday, Sept. 27 - 12 p.m. ET | |
| Field Hockey Complex | University Park, Pa. | |
| GAME DAY LINKS |
TV: ESPN2 -->Live Video |Penn State Field Hockey BlogFollow Us: @PennStateFH | Facebook | InstagramGameday Central
Game Notes: Penn State | Ohio StateStatistics: Penn State | Ohio State
The Penn State field hockey team returns home for two conference games. Friday, Sept. 25 the Nittany Lions face the Michigan State Spartans, followed by another Big Ten match on Sunday against the Ohio State Buckeye at 12 p.m.
Conference Season
Falling in their conference opener on Friday against Michigan, Penn State stepped on to the field on Saturday, looking for a win against Kent State in a non-conference matchup. Aurelia Meijer scored her second goal of the season, while Kirsten Gochnauer recorded her first. Kent State netted a goal in the second half, however, the Golden Flashes were shutout over the final 6:41 to secure the win for the Nittany Lions.Freshman Goalkeeper Jenny Rizzo recorded a game-high seven saves.
Michigan State Series History
Penn State is 27-10-0 against Michigan State in a series that dates back to 1987. Last time these two teams faced eachother, in 2014, the Nittany Lions beat the Spartans, 2-1.
Scouting Michigan State
- The Spartans return after finishing 2014 10-9 and 4-4 in Big Ten play. Michigan returns 17 players from last season.
- The team returns redshirt senior Heather Howie, who is a crucial part of the MSU midfield, recording eight assists on her 2013 season; good for 10th in Big Ten.
-Kristin Matula is the top returning scorer for the Spartans. Last season, she finished with three goals and three assists.
- Redshirt junior goalkeeper, Sierra Patton, returns for the Spartans. Last season, she was tied for second in the Big Ten in saves (116), while her 6.11 saves per game ranked 18th nationally.
- Head coach Helen Knull is beginning her fifth year at the head of the program.
Ohio State Series History
Penn State is 35-10-2 all-time against Ohio State in a series dating back to 1977. The Nittany Lions last faced the Buckeyes in 2014, picking up a 4-3 win scoring three of the four goal in the first 10 minutes.
Scouting Ohio State
- The Buckeyes return after posting an overall record of 5-12 and 0-7 in Big Ten play last season. Buckeyes return eight players from last season.
- Ohio State returns its top three scorers- sophomore Maddy Humphrey and seniors Peanut Johnson and Emma Royce.
- Goalkeeper, Liz Tamburro,led the Big Ten in saves last season.
-Peanut Johnson was named Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week for the week of Sept. 15.
- Anne Wilkinson is now in her 20th season for Ohio State. She has the most wins of any coach in Ohio State field hockey history
Gameday Promotions
Penn State will host Michigan State Friday, Sept. 25. Field hockey posters will be given away while supplies last. Fans can also enter "guess the goal", whoever comes closest to guessing the minute of the first goal of the game will win a Penn State field hockey fleece sweater.
Ohio State comes to town Sunday, Sept. 27 wrapping up Alumni weekend. Penn State field hockey coffee tumblers will be given away while supplies last.The game will be Camper Reunion Day; Penn State field hockey campers from summer 2015 can join the team following the game for a photo on the field. Additionally, help us welcome back some of our Penn State field hockey alums, as they'll be in attendance as a part of Alumni Weekend. Field Hockey Alum, Natalie Race, will perform the National Anthem.
Maryland Gametime Change
The Oct. 9 game time against Big Ten Conference opponent maryland has been changed to 4 p.m. ET.
New Lions Stepping Up
With graduating seniors accounting for 50 of 57 goals scored last season, new Nittany Lions as well as players in increased roles are filling the void.
- Penn State's 14 goals this season have been scored by nine different goal scorers. Of those nine goal scorers, six have notched their first career goal this season, and transfer Stephanie Hussey has scored her first goals with Penn State.
- The six first-time goal scorers have accounted for 12 of the team's 14 goals.
- Four of the first-time goal scorers are freshmen: Aurelia Meijer (2), Katie Dembrowski (1), Gini Bramley (1) and Emily Klingler (1)
- Meijer has a team-high three assists and seven points.
- Sophomore Shay Cannon has scored her first goals this season and leads the team with three.
- Junior Brooke Birosik has also scored her first career goals this season.
Close Contests
- Penn State has either been tied or in the lead approaching the final six minutes in all but one contest this season (Michigan, L 1-3, 9/18)
- No. 16 Old Dominion broke a tie with 5:03 remaining to win the season-opener, 2-1, and No. 9 Virginia and California used late rallies to force overtime periods they would score first in.
Youth Movement
- Penn State's roster includes 10 freshmen, eight sophomores, five juniors, and two seniors.
- The squad returns just three starters from 2014 in
junior Carly Celkos, junior Emilee Ehret and sophomore Cori Conley.
- Of the 25 players on the roster, 15 had never played in a regular season game for the Lions before 2015.
- Of Penn State's 57 goals and 36 assists (150 points) tallied last season, just seven goals and seven assists (21 points) are returning.
Preseason Accolades
Senior Stephanie Hussey, junior Carly Celkos and sophomoroe Cori Conley were each named to the 2015 Big Ten Field Hockey Players to Watch List.
On the Turf and in the Classroom
The Penn State field hockey program had six athletes recognized by Big Ten Distinguished Scholar Award. The list includes students from every institution and 38 different sports who have recorded a minimum grade-point average (GPA) of 3.7 or higher for the previous academic year.
Katie Breneman, Carly Celkos, Amanda Dinunzio, Laura Gebhart, Kirsten Gochnauer, and Haley Kerstetter, all earned the accolade.
Challenging Schedule
Penn State has again put together a top-tier schedule, facing eight teams that were ranked in the 2015 NFHCA Preseason Poll, including conference-foes Maryland (3), Northwestern (10), Michigan (14), Iowa (17), and Michigan State (19). Along with the conference opponents, the squad also has matchups against Virginia (9), Princeton (15) and Old Dominion (16). Three teams (Princeton, Northwestern and Maryland) each made the 2013 NCAA Tournament.
In the Spotlight on BTN
Field hockey will have its home finale against Iowa broadcasted on BTN live Friday, Oct. 23 starting at 3:30 p.m. The crucial contest will be the second to last for the Lions before the Big Ten tournament. The two prior games at Rutgers (Oct. 16) and Indiana (Oct. 18) will be streamed on BTN2GO.
Leaders of the Pack
Seniors Haley Kerstetter and Stephanie Hussey were named the captains for the 2015 season.
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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.