Watch and Listen to the full zoom!
Coming off opening weekend, the Penn State field hockey team is eager to play again in Virginia Beach this weekend. After reviewing the film from their competition against Iowa, head coach Char Morett-Curtiss has a better understanding of how the team played and is able to pinpoint areas that need improving moving forward. She felt the Nittany Lions played aggressively, but at times got caught watching the ball too much. While the Hawkeyes beat the Nittany Lions, the game was statistically even throughout its entirety.
Looking ahead, Morett-Curtiss is confident the team knows how to improve their game heading into a second consecutive weekend in Virginia Beach. She believes Iowa's first game against Indiana was similar to Penn State's first game against the Hawkeyes, so she is hoping the Nittany Lions will be able to improve in a similar fashion.
Morett-Curtiss is confident in her team's composure and ability to have various options for the ball carrier, and she wants the team to continue that structure. She is also pleased with the team's energy and athleticism, as the team's fitness and stamina shined bright.
In addition, the Nittany Lions exemplified team unity on the field, however the organizational flow of the game is an aspect they are continuing to work on. Morett-Curtiss commends her team for their adaptability, especially during this winter season that the players are not necessarily accustomed to playing in.
The younger Nittany Lion players were able to gain confidence from their experience at Virginia Beach, while team captain, Madison Hutson, continues to lead the team with poise. Her leadership has been invaluable to the program says Char Morett-Curtiss, as her presence on and off the field helps set the tone for the team.
The underclassmen stuck out to Hutson because in some ways they were more composed than the upperclassmen, as they traveled to Virginia Beach without expectations. The travel and play on the road helped bring the team closer together.
After 13 months, Hutson and her teammates were excited to play against Big Ten opponents again. The energy from the Nittany Lions was infectious all weekend long. Now that they have shaken off their first game jitters, Hutson hopes the team can continue to improve their composure and bring a sense of focus to all team activities.
Preparing for Virginia Beach again this week, the Nittany Lions are solely focused on Northwestern before they shift focus to Iowa again. Learning from the mistakes they made during their season opener, the Nittany Lions have the mindset that they are capable of winning and are not going to let the past determine their trajectory.
