THIS WEEK'S PREVIEW
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- The Penn State Nittany Lions (0-2, 0-0 B1G), ranked No. 9 in the NFCHA Preseason Coaches Poll, travels to Newark, Del., to face No. 16 Delaware (2-0) on Sunday, Sept. 8, at 12 p.m. Delaware hosts American on Friday night before taking on the Nittany Lions.
The Nittany Lions are coming off a tough road weekend that saw them drop a 4-1 game at No. 3 Duke to open the season last Friday and a 2-1 game at No. 11 Virginia on Sunday of last weekend.
Sophomore Anna Simon leads Penn State with three points off a goal (against Virginia) and an assist (in the Duke game). Alexis Horst has two points, having scored Penn State's lone goal against Duke. Freshman goalie Brie Barraco has 13 saves in her first two collegiate starts and a .667 save percentage.
Delaware enters its two game weekend after winning two games last week. The Blue Hens hosted No. 22 Albany on Aug. 30 and posted a 1-0 shutout victory. Delaware then took down Miami, Ohio, 2-1 on Sept. 2. The Blue Hens take on American Friday night, Sept. 6, prior to the Penn State game.
The Blue Hens are being led by Femke Strien who has four points off two goals. Ashlyn Carr has two points off a goal as well. Keeper Sydney Rhodes has a 0.50 goals against average with seven saves and a shutout after two games this year.
Penn State hosts Old Dominion on Friday, Sept. 13, at 6 p.m. in its home opener. The Lions then travel to Princeton on Sunday, Sept. 15, 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
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.
