Oct. 19, 2017
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UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - No. 6 Penn State will step on the pitch at Field Hockey Complex one last time in the 2017 regular season as they host Rutgers Friday at 5 p.m. for Senior Day where seniors Shay Cannon, Skyler Fretz, Delani Higgins and Kasey Morano will be honored for their four year careers in the Blue & White. Following Friday's match, Penn State will travel to Bloomington, Ind. For a season finale against the Hoosiers on Sunday, Oct. 22 at 12 p.m. on BTN2Go.
RUTGERS SERIES HISTORY
Penn State leads 16-4-3 all-time in their series with the Scarlet Knights dating back to 1977. Penn State is currently on a nine-game winning-streak vs. Rutgers, downing the Knights 4-1 last year led by Aurelia Meijer who posted a hat trick - the second of her career.
SCOUTING RUTGERS
The Scarlet Knights sit at 9-6 on the year coming off a 2-0 loss to No. 25 Ohio State at home this past Sunday.
Daphne Groothuis is tied for the team lead in goals (7) with teammate Linde van Schaik, as well as contributing a team-high six assists and four game-winning goals during the 2017 season.
INDIANA SERIES HISTORY
Penn State leads 20-4 all-time in their series with the Hoosiers dating back to 1978. Penn State is currently on a three-game winning-streak vs. Indiana, downing the Hoosiers 3-2 and 3-1 in back-to-back weeks last year in the final week of regular season and the opening round of the Big Ten Tournament.
SCOUTING INDIANA
Indiana sits at 6-10 on the year currently on a two-game skid that includes losses to No. 3 Michigan followed by a 3-2 loss against Michigan State.
Maddie Latino leads the team in goals recording nine on the season, while teammate Ciara Girouard has posted seven assists to lead the Hoosiers in 2017.
IT'S BEEN A GREAT FOUR YEARS - SENIOR DAY
Head Coach Charlene Morett-Curtiss' thoughts on this year's senior class
No. 10 - Kasey has been surely missed this season! She always brought energy and a quick stick into our attacking end! Kasey's speed-to-goal and presence around the goal added tremendous depth to our attack. While not in uniform this season her spirit and commitment can always be counted upon!
No. 11 - Skyler has grown tremendously in her game and leadership skills on the field. She is a very, humble and steady teammate on and off the field. Her many composed defensive saves have truly been valuable to our success as has been her defensive play on the field.
No. 13 - Delani embraces the true sense of her role as a defender and uniquely is always trying to put a deceptive spin on her skills. She is a player who pays attention to details at every practice and communicates well out of the backfield! You can always find Delani sneaking into our attack to give us an added threat!
No. 16 - Shay has a strong vibe of enthusiasm when she takes the field! She is a very caring and giving person to her teammates and others. Her true presence on the field is most evident in her tenacity when we press and her team goal celebrations!
ACTIVE CAREER LEADERS
A few Nittany Lions are among the best in the nation in their respective categories among active student-athletes, as well as a few that are rising in the Penn State record book.
Moira Putsch
- Third-most total assist among active athletes (40), third-most assists per game (0.69)
- Ranked No. 10 in PSU history in total assists
- Ranked No. 11 in career goals among active athletes (40)
- Averages the 15th-most goals per game among active athletes (0.69)
- Seventh-most career goals among active athletes (120)
- Averages the seventh-most points per game among active athletes (2.07)
- 23rd-most assists among active athletes (24)
- Holds the 10th-best career GAA among active athletes (1.51)
- Ranked No. 10 in career save percentage (.750)
- Ranked No. 3 in career defensive saves among active athletes (14)
WHAT A PERFORMANCE BY BRAMLEY!
What a week it was for Gini Bramley. The junior midfielder earned Big Ten Offensive player of the week honors as well as being named the National Offensive player of the week by NFHCA. Bramley joins Jen Beaumont (10/28/08), Allison Scola (10/14/08) and Jen Long (11/13/07) as the only other Nittany Lions to earn National Player of the Week honors. On top of the fantastic week (Aug. 25-27) on the field for the Elizabethtown, Pa. native, Bramley celebrated her birthday the same weekend, turning 20-years-old on Aug. 28.
BIG TEN ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Through eight weeks of play, three Nittany Lions have been selected as Big Ten Player of the Week, respectively. Gini Bramley earned the distinction during the opening week of play, Jenny Rizzo earned the nod following shutouts against Temple and Wake Forest, while Cori Conley took home the honors following wins against Michigan State and Kent State on the road.
Offensive Player of the Week (8/28/17)
Gini Bramley, Penn State
M - Jr. - Elizabethtown, Pa. - Lower Dauphin
• Guided No. 7 Penn State to victories over No. 23 Old Dominion and No. 10 Virginia
•Scored two goals and added one assist against Old Dominion
•Scored two goals and tallied two assists in Penn State's, 4-2, win over Virginia
Defensive Player of the Week (9/5/17)
Jenny Rizzo, Penn State
GK - Jr. - Hershey, Pa. - Hershey
• Anchored a Penn State defense that defeated Temple, 5-0, and No. 15 Wake Forest, 6-0
• Posted two shutouts in Penn State's home opening weekend
• Recorded a season-high nine saves
• Earns her second Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week honor and her first of the season
• Last Penn State Defensive Player of the Week: Jenny Rizzo (Oct. 4, 2016)
Defensive Player of the Week (10/2/17)
Cori Conley, Penn State
B - Jr. - Oak Park, Ill. - Oak Park and River Forest
• Played every minute on the pitch as Penn State posted two road wins this week, earning PSU its 10th win of the season
• Anchored the Nittany Lion defense that shutout Michigan State in East Lansing earning Penn State's its fifth shutout of the season
• Scored her first career goal versus Kent State
• Earns her first Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week honor
• Last Penn State Defensive Player of the Week: Jenny Rizzo (Sept. 5, 2017)
PENN STATE IN THE NATIONAL RANKINGS
Penn State remained in at the No. 6 spot in the latest National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) poll, as released Tuesday morning.
Connecticut captured 1,174 points and 46 first-place votes to grab the top spot, and was once again followed by Duke at No. 2. Virginia came in at No. 3 and Michigan was at No. 4, while North Carolina rounded out the top five.
Penn State remained at No. 6 while Louisville rose four spots to No. 7. The rest of the top ten included No. 8 Northwestern, No. 9 Boston College and No. 10 Syracuse.
CHEERING ON THE BLUE & WHITE
Penn State finished the 2016 season ranked No. 1 in average attendance in the nation. Penn State broke the Field Hockey Complex record with a total of 967 in attendance for a conference game against Maryland and was a part of the most attended game during the 2016 season as the Nittany Lions captured the Big Ten Tournament title against the very same Terrapins in College Park that was played in front of 969 fans.
LEADERS OF THE PACK
Seniors Shay Cannon (16) and Skyler Fretz (11) were named the captains for the 2017 season.
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