THIS WEEK'S PREVIEW
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- The Penn State Nittany Lions (0-3, 0-0 B1G), ranked No. 17 nationally, will face two tough opponents on weekend three of the 2019 NCAA field hockey season. The Lions host Old Dominion (2-1) on Friday, Sept. 13, at 6 p.m. and visit No. 5 Princeton (1-1*) on Sunday at 12 p.m. The Tigers play Albany on Friday night.
The Nittany Lions are coming off a tough 3-1 loss at No. 16 Delaware last Sunday. True freshman Paityn Wirth scored her first career goal in the game for the Nittany Lions but Delaware reeled off three goals to get the victory in Newark.
Penn State is being led by Anna Simon, who has three points off a goal and an assist, and Wirth, who also has a goal and an assist. Keeper Brie Barraco has a .654 save percentage with 17 saves in three games as a redshirt freshman.
Old Dominion enters the weekend with 2-1 mark. The Monarchs had an early week game against No. 25 William and Mary, coming away with an exciting 3-1 victory over the ranked team. Erin Huffman and Rebecca Birch each have three points off one goal and an assist. Keeper Cam MacGillivray has eight saves and a .667 percentage thus far this year.
Princeton, ranked No. 5 nationally, will enter a two-game weekend with a 1-1 mark. The team battles Albany on Friday night while Penn State hosts ODU. The Tigers lost their opener to No. 1 North Carolina and then downed Wake Forest 2-1. Sammy Popper leads The Tigers with four points off two goals. Keeper Grace Baylis has seven saves and a .583 percentage so far this season.
Penn State is at No. 4 Maryland next Friday for a 6 p.m. contest. The Lions' next home game is Sunday, Sept. 29, vs. Villanova at 6 p.m.
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
WIRTH NOTCHES FIRST COLLEGIATE GOAL IN TOUGH LOSS AT DELAWARE
True freshman Paityn Wirth scored her first collegiate goal in the first period of Penn State's game at Delaware on Sept. 8. The Blue Hens bounced back with three unanswered to post the 3-1 victory, however.
NITTANY LIONS DROP TOUGH 2-1 GAME AT #11 VIRGINIA
Penn State dropped hard fought 2-1 game at #11 Virginia on Sunday, Sept. 1. The Nittany Lions tied the game with a late goal from Anna Simon, but the Cavaliers scored with just over 1:00 to play to steal the win in Charlottesville. Lion keeper Brie Barraco had five saves in the contest.
PENN STATE LOSES OPENER AT #3 DUKE
Penn State scored the first goal of the game in its season opener at Duke on Aug. 30, but the Blue Devils rallied to post the 4-1 victory. Nittany Lion Alexis Horst scored on an assist from Anna Simon in the first period for Penn State. Freshman goalie Brie Barraco made her first career start and had seven saves against a pressing Duke offense.
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.
