THIS WEEK'S PREVIEW
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.; The Penn State Nittany Lions (0-6, 0-1 B1G), face two non-conference opponents this coming week. Head coach Char Morett-Curtiss' squad will take on the Cal Bears (1-5) on Thursday, Sept. 26, at 6:30 p.m. in a game played at Spooky Nook-Lancaster. The Nittany Lions then host Villanova (3-3) on Sunday, Sept. 29, at 12 p.m. at the Field Hockey Complex. Villanova has a game Friday evening, Sept. 27, as well.
The Nittany Lions are coming off a tough 3-1 loss at No. 3 Maryland on Friday night. Madison Hutson (Gloucester Point, Va.) had Penn State's goal in the loss. The Nittany Lions are being led offensively by Alexis Horst (Port Trevorton, Pa.) and Paityn Wirth (Thompsontown, Pa.), who each have four points. Horst has two goals while Wirth as a goal and two assists. Goalie Brie Barraco (Allentown, Pa.) has a 2.67 goals against average with 35 saves.
California enters the week with a 1-5 record. The Bears play Penn State Thursday then visit Delaware Friday and Drexel on Sunday for three games in four days. Cal is being led by Maddie Cleat and Megan Rodgers, who each have five points off two goals and an assist. Keeper Natalie Dalton has 45 saves and a .738 save percentage to date.
Villanova, which is at Liberty on Friday, Sept. 27, enters its two-game week with a 3-3 record. Villanova is being led by Lydia Sydnor, who has 19 points off eight goals and three assists. Megan Vermeil has nine points off three goals and three assists. Keeper Jordan McGinley has 19 saves so far this season.
Penn State is at Big Ten foe Indiana on Friday, Oct. 4, at 3 p.m. in its next game. The Nittany Lions visit No. 6 Louisville on Sunday for a 12 p.m. game on Sunday, Oct. 6.
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
HUTSON NOTCHES GOAL IN TOUGH LOSS AT #3 MARYLAND
Junior co-captain Madison Hutson had Penn State's goal in the Nittany Lions' 3-1 loss at #3 Maryland on Friday, Sept. 20. Hutson's goal was her first of the season.
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.
