UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.; June 20, 2019 – The Penn State Nittany Lion field hockey team, under the guidance of head coach Char Morett-Curtiss, was well represented at the 2019 Young Women's National Championship tournament last week. The eight-team showcase is designed to give athletes the opportunity to compete within the Olympic Development Pathway.
Seven current or recently graduated Nittany Lions competed at the event, including former Lions Gini Bramley (Elizabethtown, Pa.) and Cori Conley (Oak Park, Ill.). Sophomore Meghan Reese (Coopersburg, Pa.) and redshirt freshman Brie Barraco (Allentown, Pa.) also took part as did new incoming Lions Eleni Prodes (Bethlehem, Pa.), Mary Grace Wallis (Blue Bell, Pa.) and Paityn Wirth (Thompsontown, Pa.).
Barraco was honored as the Goalkeeper of the Tournament for her outstanding performance at the event, helping to lead the USA U-19 team to a first-place finish. Both Wallis and Wirth joined Barraco on the title winning USA U-19 squad.
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. 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.
