UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Monday night comes around and it's back to Penn State field hockey on the Big Ten Network. This week you will be able to watch two of the Nittany Lions' past games from two different seasons. First up is a 2013 battle between No. 6 Penn State and No. 10 Northwestern at 7 p.m. Then fast forward to just a few years back in the 2018 Big Ten Tournament quarterfinals, a double overtime match up of No.7 Penn State and No.9 Iowa at 9 p.m. Although both game's outcomes weren't in Penn State's favor, head coach Charlene Morett-Curtiss enjoys watching past season games to remember the players and teams she's loved to coach.
"The 2012 team was an extremely talented team and was balanced all year, from our scoring threat of Kelsey Amy, an anchored midfield with Laura Gebhart, and strong back with Hannah Allison," Morett-Curtiss said.
Penn State outshot the Wildcats 16-11, with a full 70-minute back and forth scoring game. After entering overtime, Northwestern quickly ended it with a 5-4 win. Today, Amanda Dinunzio, a sophomore in 2012, recalled the hard-fought contest.
"Big Ten games are always a grind-it is a physical battle for the whole 70 minutes. It comes down to who can play smart when they are tired. We have always been a very fit team so we've done well in tough games like these, wearing out teams who might not have been as conditioned as us. This one was a well-fought classic Big Ten game," Dinunzio said.
The following season, Penn State was able to gain redemption and defeat Northwestern with a 2-0 win at home. This game wasn't the only intense fight between two Big Ten teams, and the 2018 quarterfinals were just as much of a competitive battle. Penn State had already played Iowa earlier in the season, which made them more confident going into this game knowing how they play. Iowa traveled to Penn State to take them on in a game that ultimately ended in a double overtime win, 3-2, for the Hawkeyes. However, Cori Conley of Penn State had an impressive game defending its goal and shutting Iowa down various times.
"Cori was such a strong presence on the field and really anchored our team that year. She had great passing skills that helped develop the plays up the field but was really hard to beat," Morett-Curtiss said.
This past summer, Morett-Curtiss caught up with some the 2018 players, who are all still close teammates. This game brought back all of the emotions again for some of the players, such as, Jenny Rizzo and Moria Putsch.
"I remember the game being very physical, as it usually is with Penn State facing Iowa. No one ever wants to be out in the first round of the tournament, but that game was one where both of us showed up and neither were there to lose. It was one of the most competitive games played at home in my four years," Rizzo said.
"We left our hearts on that field. It's still tough to swallow thinking about the results, but I was really proud of how we fought. Now looking back, it makes me appreciate every memory even more so that I had while wearing Penn State Blue and White," Putsch said.
The 2018 NCAA Tournament started two weeks after with Penn State making its 12th appearance in the last 14 years. Its season ended that weekend in a hard loss of 6-1 to Harvard.
"Even though our team this year isn't playing currently, these Big Ten games are keeping it fresh in their minds that this is what the rivalries look like and hope it sparks motivation in them to keep working hard," Morett-Curtiss said.