Sept. 15, 2016
Bag Policy - Parking
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The undefeated No. 4 Penn State field hockey team is set to open conference play against Big Ten foe No. 16 Iowa Friday, Sept. 16 at 3 p.m. ET followed by a 11 a.m. ET matchup against Ball State the following day Sat., Sept. 17.
WEEKEND RECAP
Recording wins over Lock Haven and Bucknell this past weekend, Penn State improved to 6-0 for the first time since 2002, and the third time in program history. Penn State defeated Lock Haven 4-1 on Sunday afternoon before cruising to a 9-1 win against Bucknell Tuesday night under the lights. The nine goals in the Nittany Lions win Tuesday night was the first time since Penn State downed St. Joseph's (Pa.) 12-1 at home in 2003 that the Lions have totaled nine or more goals in a game.
IOWA SERIES HISTORY
Penn State is 23-25-1 all-time against the Iowa Hawkeyes dating back to their first meeting in 1981. In their last matchup on Oct. 23, 2015 Penn State clinched a dramatic 3-2 win over the Hawkeyes as Aurelia Meijer converted the penalty corner with no time left on the clock during the nationally broadcast game on the Big Ten Network. Meijer's final goal earned the then-true freshman her first hat trick of her career.
SCOUTING NO. 16 IOWA
- The Hawkeyes are 5-1 this season recording their lone loss against then-No. 1 UNC in a 4-1 effort. Iowa is currently ranked in the top-10 nationally in two categories: Sixth in the NCAA in scoring margin (4.00) and ninth in the NCAA in scoring average (4.00).
- The Hawkeyes have earned two shutouts over their last two contests by defeating Monmouth 4-0, and Kent State 2-0.
- Natalie Cafone leads the Hawkeyes in scoring this season with six goals and five assists on the year. She is currently ranked second in the Big Ten in both shots (32) and shots per game (5.33).
BALL STATE SERIES HISTORY
This is the first match up between the Nittany Lions and Cardinals. Penn State is 61-10-1 all-time in program history in first-time matchups dating back to Penn State's inaugural season in 1964.
SCOUTING BALL STATE
- Ball State is 4-2 on the season, claiming wins over Appalachian State, Davidson, Brown, Colgate, while dropping contest to Richmond, and No. 17 Northwestern.
- The Cardinals are currently ranked No. 2 in the MAC for saves-per-game with an average of 6.33
- Jordan Dues is currently tied at 21st in the nation for saves with 38 on the season.
- Three Hawkeyes are tied for the team lead in goals (2). Lexi Kavanaugh, Merinda Morely, and Mikayla each have notched two goals apiece as well as having taken 10 shots apiece as well.
NFHCA RANKINGS
The Nittany Lions moved up one spot in the NFHCA poll to No. 4. Penn State has defeated three ranked teams (No. 20 Old Dominion, No. 5 Virginia, No. 9 Albany) en route to their unblemished record thus far this season.
Penn State is currently top-five in the nation in several key categories including No. 1 in the nation in goals per game (5.50), scoring average (5.50) and scoring margin (4.50), No.2 in the nation in points per game (14.33), and No.4 in the nation in penalty corners per game currently averaging 9.83 per contest.
TEAMWORK MAKES THE DREAM WORK
24-of-27 players on the Lions roster have seen significant playing time this season allowing for Penn State to score in a plethora of ways. Ten Lions have scored at least one goal, with four of them scoring five or more through six games this season.
WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO BE NO. 1
In the cage for Penn State, sophomore Jenny Rizzo is tied for the national lead in goalkeeper win-loss percentage and in goalkeeper wins.
IN THE TOP-20
Senior Brooke Birosik, Junior Shay Cannon and Sophomore Gini Bramley are tied for the No. 15 goals per game average in the NCAA sporting an average of one goal per contest during the 2016 season.
SISTER, SISTER
In the 9-1 win against Bucknell, sisters Kasey and Madison Morano teamed up to score the ninth goal of the game for Penn State. Kasey Morano is a junior forward while younger sister Madison is a freshman midfielder.
IN THE SPOTLIGHT ON BTN
Field hockey will have its penultimate home game against Maryland broadcasted on BTN live Sunday, Oct. 16 starting at 4:00 p.m. The crucial contest will be the Nittany Lion's third to last before the Big Ten tournament. Penn State's game at Michigan (Sept. 25) will also be streamed on BTN.
POSTSEASON TRADITION
The Nittany Lions return after making the NCAA Tournament field five of the last six seasons. Penn State has been at the top of the Big Ten in those seasons as well, being named co-conference regular season champions in 2013 and the outright winner in 2012. The squad won the Big Ten Tournament in 2011 and 2012.
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