Oct. 9, 2015
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By Mike Gilbert, GoPSUsports.com Student Staff Writer
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. ââ'¬" Penn State field hockey will host its first ever white out Friday in a showdown with top ten team Maryland. The white out is something that head coach Charlene Morett-Curtiss is excited about.
"I think it's great that we can drum up that type of enthusiasm like what the football team obviously does, and I think it's great too that we've had different events like pink zone, so I think it just speaks a lot about the school spirit that Penn State has and how it's contagious from one sport to another," said Morett-Curtiss.
The game won't be without its challenges, as Maryland is a team that ranks ninth in goals scored, averaging 3.77 goals per game.
"They have great leadership, with a variety of seniors on the field in important positions; Sarah Sprink is their deep back and I would say she is really the backbone of the team, just sets the tone with great ball speed and vision out of the backfield," said Morett-Curtiss.
Morett-Curtiss certainly has a lot of respect for Maryland going in.
"Anna Dessoye, Alyssa Parker, some of their players just have a lot of quick stick skills and we're really going to have to be on our toes. We have to focus on marking tightly this week in practice and hope that carries over into the game."
Marking tightly in practice is one of the keys to success, but getting better play in the backfield is also pivotal to knocking off Maryland, a team still undefeated in conference play.
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