Sept. 22, 2016
Bag Policy - Parking
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - No. 4 undefeated Penn State (8-0) heads west for a Big Ten weekend featuring matchups against Northwestern and Michigan.
MICHIGAN SERIES HISTORY
Penn State is 24-19-0 against Michigan in a series that dates back to 1992. In their last matchup on Nov. 6, 2015 the Nittany Lions fell to the Wolverines, 2-1 in overtime during the second-round of the Big Ten Tournament in Bloomington, Ind. The Lions were 0-2 vs. the Wolverines in 2015.
SCOUTING NO. 16 MICHIGAN
- Michigan grabbed two wins over the weekend, moving them to 6-1 on the season and 1-0 in Big Ten play. Friday night, Michigan rolled past Michigan State 4-1 to claim their first Big Ten win of the season. The Wolverines followed up that performance with a 10-0 win against Central Michigan on Sunday afternoon.
-Michigan ranks in the top five nationally in four categories: No. 1 in goals against average (.57) & shutouts per game (.57), No. 3 in save percentage (.826), and No. 5 in scoring margin (3.00).
- The Wolverines have shutout four teams this season including then No. 1 North Carolina (1-0) on Aug. 27.
- Courtney Enge leads the wolverines in scoring this season with five goals. Enge is tied for No. 1 in the Big Ten in game winning goals boasting two GWG on the season.
NORTHWESTERN SERIES HISTORY
Penn State is 29-5-1 all-time against the Northwestern Wildcats dating back to 1992. Penn State defeated Northwestern 3-2 in their last meeting on Oct. 30, 2015 on the road.
SCOUTING NORTHWESTERN
Northwestern added two wins to their recorded after a weekened of success on the road. Friday night, the Wildcats claimed their first Big Ten win of the season as they defeated Ohio State 5-1 in Columbus, OH. They traveled to Kent, OH Saturday afternoon earning a win over Kent State 4-1. Northwestern is 6-2 on the season and 1-0 in Big Ten play. Their two losses came at the hands of then-No. 17 Boston University 2-1 and an overtime loss against then-No. 4 Duke 2-3, both road contests.
- The Wildcats are currently ranked No. 3 in the nation in save percentage (.826) and No. 4 in goal against average (.99).
- Isabel Flens leads the Wildcats in assists collecting five through eight games. In the Big Ten, Flens is tied for the conference lead in game winning goals recording two on the season.
- Two Wildcats are tied for the team lead in goals. Isabel Flens and Dominique Masters both have notched six goals apiece.
…AND THEN THERE WERE FIVE
Following this weekend's contest around the country, there are only five teams remaining in Division I field hockey that remain unblemished. Penn State, along with Boston University, UConn, Duke, and defending NCAA Champions Syracuse have yet to drop a contest in 2016.
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 ranked number one in the nation in several key categories including No. 1 in the nation in goals per game (5.50), scoring average (5.50), scoring margin (4.38), points per game (14.38), winning percentage (1.00). The Lions are also ranked No.3 in the nation in penalty corners per game currently averaging 9.38 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. Eleven Lions have scored at least one goal, with four of them scoring five or more through eight 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 (1.000%) and in goalkeeper wins (8).
NEW CAREER HIGHS
12 of the Lions have eclipsed or tied single-game career high marks this season. This list includes Brooke Birosik, Gini Bramley, Shay Cannon, Carly Celkos, Katie Dembrowski, Emilee Ehret, Kirsten Gochnauer, Emily Klingler, Kasey Morano, Madison Morano, Moira Putsch and Mary Nell Smith.
COUNT DOWN TO 500
Currently sitting at 491 career wins, head coach Charlene Morett-Curtiss is just nine wins away from the 500 mark for her career.
EIGHT-FOR-EIGHT
Both Moria Putsch (assists per game) and Shay Cannon (goals per game) rank in the top 15 nationally in their respective categories. Putsch is ranked No. 3 in assists per game with eight assists through eight games while Cannon checks in at No.15 on the leader boards for goals per game with eight goals through eight games.
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 this week (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