THIS WEEK'S PREVIEW
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.; August 27, 2019 -- The Penn State Nittany Lions (0-0, 0-0 B1G), ranked No. 9 in the NFCHA Preseason Coaches Poll, will open up the 2019 season with two tough road games on the season's first weekend of action. Penn State, under the direction of veteran head coach Char Morett-Curtiss, visits No. 3 Duke (0-0) on Friday, Aug. 30, at 6 p.m. to begin the campaign. The squad treks to No. 11 Virginia (0-0*) on Sunday, Sept. 1, for a 12 p.m. contest to wrap up the weekend road swing. Virginia is at Old Dominion on Friday as well.
The Nittany Lions are coming off a 12-6 campaign that saw the team earn yet another trip to the NCAA tournament. Morett-Curtiss' squad returns 13 letter winners off that team and will be looking to replace 12 graduated seniors.
Sophomore Anna Simon is Penn State's leading returning scorer, having notched 28 points off 13 goals and two assists as a true freshman last year. Alexis Horts returns after scoring 16 points last year and Abby Myers is back after a 15 point campaign. Penn State will have a new face in the cage this year with veterans Colleen Conway and Brie Barraco and true freshman Lauren Delgado set to man goalie duties for the Lions.
Duke went 16-6 overall a year ago and 5-1 in the ACC. The Blue Devils went 1-1 in the NCAA tournament. Margaux Paolino is Duke's leading returning scorer, having notched 21 points off six goals and nine assists. Starting goalie Sammi Steele returns after posting a 1.46 goals against average with 66 saves and six shutouts a year ago.
Virginia posted a 9-10 overall record in 2018. The Cavaliers' season ended with a tough loss in the NCAA tournament. Virginia returns a balanced line-up that includes Makayla Gallen, who had ten points off four goals and two assists; Erin Shanahan, who had nine off three and three; Greer Gill, who had nine off four and one; and Amber Ezechiels, who had nine off three and three.
Penn State will visit No. 16 Delaware in its action next weekend, visiting the Blue Hens on Sunday, Sept. 8, for a 12 p.m. game.
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.
For gameday parking information, please check out the color graphic within the pdf posted online in every set of weekly game notes at GoPSUsports.com.
NOTES
THREE NITTANY LIONS NAMED TO 2019 BIG TEN PLAYERS TO WATCH LIST
Three Penn State Nittany Lions have been named to the 2019 Big Ten 'Players to Watch' list as compiled by the conference's head coaches. Senior Madison Morano, junior Abby Myers and sophomore Anna Simon are Penn State's players on the early season watch list. Morano enters her final season at Penn State with 32 career points, having played in 60 games over three years. Myers, who redshirted as a true freshman in 2016, has 19 points over the last two seasons and has played in 40 games. Simon started all season long last year as a true freshman and had 28 points off 13 goals and two assists.
PENN STATE IS HOST SITE FOR 2019 BIG TEN CHAMPIONSHIP TOURNAMENT
The Penn State Field Hockey Complex will be the site of the 2019 Big Ten Field Hockey Championship Tournament. The tournament, which will determine the conference's automatic qualifier for the 2019 NCAA Championships, reverts to its original format and features six games over four days in November. The first three games take place on Thursday, Nov. 7, the semifinals occur on Friday, Nov. 8, with the Big Ten Championship game set for Sunday, Nov. 10. Times will be determined at a later date and more information is to follow as the event nears.
HUTSON AND MORANO NAMED CAPTAINS
The Penn State Nittany Lion field hockey team, under the guidance of head coach Char Morett-Curtiss, has named senior Madison Morano and junior Madison Hutson captains for the 2019 campaign.
