THIS WEEK'S PREVIEW
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- The Penn State Nittany Lions (0-5, 0-0 B1G), ranked No. 24, open up the Big Ten season this weekend with a road game at No. 3 Maryland (6-1, 0-0 B1G). The Nittany Lions and Terrapins face off on Friday, Sept. 20, at 6 p.m. in College Park, Md.
The Nittany Lions are coming off a tough weekend that saw them drop two close 2-1 games to Old Dominion and No. 5 Princeton. Penn State had leads in both contests but could not hold on down the stretch. The Nittany Lions have played four ranked teams in their first five games and face another this weekend in Maryland.
Penn State is being led by freshman Paityn Wirth and junior Alexis Horst, who each have four points. Wirth has a goal and two assists while Horst has two goals. Keeper Brie Barraco has 27 saves and a .675 percentage with a 2.60 goals against average.
Maryland heads into the week with a 6-1 record. The Terrapins won 3-2 over No. 6 Virginia on Friday and 4-0 over James Madison on Sunday. Both games were at home. Madison Maguire had 13 points off four goals and five assists to lead Maryland while goalie Noelle Frost has 21 saves and an .808 save percentage.
Penn State takes on California in Lancaster, Pa. on Thursday, Sept. 26 at 6:30 p.m. in its next outing. Penn State then hosts Villanova on Sunday, Sept. 29, at 12 p.m. in its next home contest.
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:
LIONS DROP TWO 2-1 CONTESTS TO ODU AND AT #5 PRINCETON
The Nittany Lions dropped two close 2-1 games the weekend of Sept. 13-15. Penn State fell 2-1 to Old Dominion on Friday, Sept. 13, then fell 2-1 at #5 Princeton on Sunday, Sept. 15. Alexis Horst notched the goal against ODU and Abby Myers scored early against Princeton.
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.
