UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.; June 6, 2019 – The Penn State Nittany Lion field hockey team, under the guidance of head coach Char Morett-Curtiss, has announced its 2019 schedule. The Nittany Lions, coming off yet another NCAA tournament appearance, will compete in six home dates and host the Big Ten tournament November. Please note that all dates and times are subject to change.
The Nittany Lions open up the 2019 campaign in Durham, N.C., to take on Duke. The Lions and the Blue Devils, NCAA quarterfinalists last year, battle at 6 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 30. Two days later, the Nittany Lions take on yet another NCAA tourney perennial, visiting Virginia on Sunday, Sept. 1, at 12 p.m. Morett-Curtiss' Nittany Lions will play their third straight road game to begin the season at Delaware on Sunday, Sept. 8, at 12 p.m.
Penn State welcomes Old Dominion the Penn State Field Hockey Complex for the home opener on Friday, Sept. 13, at 6 p.m. The Lions then trek to Princeton for a road non-conference game two days later, taking on the Tigers in New Jersey on Sunday, Sept. 15, at 12 p.m. The Lions begin Big Ten action on the road, visiting NCAA finalist Maryland on Friday, Sept. 20, at 6 p.m.
The Nittany Lions head to Lancaster, Pa., for a neutral site game on Thursday, Sept. 26, to take on the University of California at 6:30 p.m. Penn State hosts Villanova on Sunday, Sept. 29, at 12 p.m. to close out September. The Nittany Lions visit Indiana on Friday, Oct. 4, at 3 p.m. for a Big Ten contest and then travel to Louisville on Sunday, Oct. 6, for a 12 p.m. non-conference battle. The Lions welcome two Big Ten foes the next weekend, hosting Northwestern on Friday, Oct. 11, at 6 p.m. and Iowa on Sunday, Oct. 13, at 12 p.m.
Penn State heads to the state of Michigan the next weekend for two Big Ten road games. The Lions visit Michigan State on Friday, Oct. 18, for a 3 p.m. game and then trek to Ann Arbor to battle Michigan on Sunday, Oct. 20, at 12 p.m. The Lions continue Big Ten play by hosting Ohio State on Friday, Oct. 25, at 6 p.m. Penn State closes out the season by visiting Bucknell on Wednesday, Oct. 30, for a 6 p.m. contest and welcoming Rutgers to Happy Valley on Sunday, Nov. 3, in a 12 p.m. contest.
"This schedule is so exciting, challenging and filled with a variety of high-quality talented teams from all over the country," said Morett-Curtiss. "Opening on the road against such traditionally strong teams in Duke, Virginia, and Delaware will certainly be an early test for our young team. I'm looking forward to playing early out of conference games against Princeton, Old Dominion, Cal and Villanova as well. Once we get going with Big Ten portion of the season, I believe these early games will have prepared us for the competitiveness we'll see week to week in conference. Last year, five conference teams competed in the NCAA tournament, which is clearly an indication of the Big Ten's strength."
"Most exciting will be hosting the Big Ten Conference Tournament here at Penn State," Morett-Curtiss continued. "We will be returning to a one weekend tournament format with seven team teams competing for the championship over a four-day span at the Field Hockey Complex."
The first round of the 2019 Big Ten tournament will begin on Thursday, Nov. 7, with three first round games (the top seed receives a bye). The Big Ten semifinals take place on Friday, Nov. 8, with the Big Ten title game set for Sunday, Nov. 10. The 2019 NCAA tournament begins the weekend of Nov. 16-17 at host sites with the national semifinals and finals locked in for the weekend of Nov. 22-24 in Winston-Salem, N.C.
Nearly half of Penn State's 2019 regular season opponents (eight of 18) played in the NCAA tournament last year, including two national semifinalists and four national quarterfinalists.
Fans are encouraged to follow the Nittany Lion field hockey team online at www.GoPSUsports.com (click teams, click field hockey), on twitter @pennstateFH and on facebook at www.facebook.com/pennstatefieldhockey.
2019 PENN STATE FIELD HOCKEY SCHEDULE
AUGUST
Fri. 30 at Duke 6 p.m.
SEPTEMBER
Sun. 1 at Virginia 12 p.m.
Sun. 8 at Delaware 12 p.m.
Fri. 13 OLD DOMINION 6 p.m.
Sun. 15 at Princeton 12 p.m.
Fri. 20 at Maryland* 6 p.m.
Thur. 26 vs. California (Lancaster, Pa.) 6:30 p.m.
Sun. 29 VILLANOVA 12 p.m.
OCTOBER
Fri. 4 at Indiana* 3 p.m.
Sun. 6 at Louisville 12 p.m.
Fri. 11 NORTHWESTERN* 6 p.m.
Sun. 13 IOWA* 12 p.m.
Fri. 18 at Michigan State* 3 p.m.
Sun. 20 at Michigan* 12 p.m.
Fri. 25 OHIO STATE* 6 p.m.
Wed. 30 at Bucknell 6 p.m.
NOVEMBER
Sun. 3 RUTGERS* 12 p.m.
POST-SEASON
Thur.-Sun. 7-10 2019 Big Ten Semis/Finals, University Park, Pa. Times TBA
Thur. 7 First Round (3 games)
Fri. 8 Semifinals
Sun. 10 Finals
Sat.-Sun. 16-17 2019 NCAA Championship (Rd. 1, sites TBA) TBA
Fri.-Sun. 22-24 2019 NCAA National Championship (semis/final)
at Winston-Salem, N.C.
* Big Ten Game
All Dates and Times Subject to Change -- All Times EASTERN
