THIS WEEK'S PREVIEW
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- The Penn State Nittany Lions (6-5, 4-2 B1G) will host Ohio State (4-7, 2-4 B1G) for two games on the final weekend of the regular season. The teams square off on Friday and Saturday, April 16 and 17, with both games starting at 3 p.m.
For the 2020-21 Big Ten season, the Big Ten has stated that in cases where teams are scheduled to play each other twice during the year, only the first meeting counts towards the Big Ten regular season standings.
Penn State is coming off two home wins last weekend. The Nittany Lions shut out visiting Indiana twice, 1-0 on Friday and 3-0 on Sunday. The victories improved the team to 6-5 overall and 4-2 n the conference.
Ohio Sate comes in to the final regular season weekend winners of four straight. The Buckeyes beat Indiana twice two weeks ago and downed Michigan State twice this past weekend. After an 0-7 start, OSU is now 4-7 overall, 2-4 in the conference.
The Nittany Lions lead the all-time series 38-12-2. Penn State lost the last meeting, a 2-1 setback here in Happy Valley on Oct. 25, 2019.
Penn State will head to Iowa City, Iowa, for the 2020-21 Big Ten Field Hockey Tournament next week. The event runs April 20-24 and is hosted by the University of Iowa.
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.
NOTES
DEFENSE LEADS PENN STATE TO TWO SHUTOUT VICTORIES OVER INDIANA
Penn State played stingy defense, led by sophomore Elena Vos, in two shutout victories over Indiana on April 9 and April 11 at the Penn State Field Hockey Complex. The Lion defense and goalie Brie Barraco held firm in 1-0 and 3-0 victories over the visiting Hoosiers. Offensively, Sophia Gladieux had three goals in two games while Vos had two assists.
PENN STATE FALLS TWICE AT #12 RUTGERS
Penn State lost two hard-fought games to #12 Rutgers on April 2 and 4 in Piscataway. The Nittany Lions lost 3-0 on Friday night and then dropped a close 1-0 game on Sunday to the Scarlet Knights.
NITTANY LIONS GET ROAD SWEEP AT MSU
Penn State travelled to East Lansing, Mich., on March 19 and 21 for two Big Ten road games. The Lions won both games, 5-2 on Friday and 3-0 on Sunday, using an offensive burst by freshman Sophia Gladieux. Gladieux scored four goals in Friday's 5-2 victory, sparking Penn State in a comeback victory (the Lions trailed 2-0 in the third). Two days later, with keeper Brie Barraco pitching her second shutout, Gladieux scored another goal to total five for the weekend.
GLADIEUX NFHCA OFFENSIVE; B1G OFFENSIVE PLAYER & FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK (3/23)
Penn State Nittany Lion field hockey player Sophia Gladieux (Boyertown, Pa.) has been named NFHCA Offensive Player of the Week and both the Big Ten Field Hockey Freshman and Offensive Player of the Week for the week ending March 21, 2021. Gladieux's honors are the second and third of the season for Penn State. Bree Bednarski earned the Offensive Player of the Week honor last week. Gladieux roared into East Lansing for her first two Big Ten road games and left Michigan State with five goals. With Penn State trailing the Spartans 2-0 in the second half of Friday's game, Gladieux rallied Penn State with four second half goals as the Lions won 5-2. Two days later, Gladieux notched her fifth goal of the weekend in Penn State's 3-0 shutout victory over MSU.
BREE BEDNARSKI B1G OFFENSIVE AoW (3/16)
Senior Bree Bednarski was named Big Ten field hockey Offensive Player of the Week for the week ending 3/14/21. Bednarski tallied points in each of Penn State's home games against Maryland this weekend at the Penn State Field Hockey Complex. Bednarski assisted on Penn State's first goal Friday, taking the penalty corner that led to an Anna Simon goal in the team's 3-0 shutout victory over the Terrapins. Two days later, Bednarski kept Penn State in contention in a tough 3-2 loss to Maryland. Bednarski had a goal and an assist in the game.
NITTANY LIONS SPLIT WEEKEND SERIES WITH VISITING MARYLAND
Anna Simon and Sophia Gladieux each had a goal and an assist and Brie Barraco collected seven saves in a 3-0 shutout win over Maryland on Friday, March 12, in the first of two games against the Terrapins. The win counted in the Big Ten standings as well. Two days later, Maryland scored a late goal to walk away with a 3-2 win at the Penn State Field Hockey Complex. Bree Bednarski had a goal and an assist in the contest.
BARRACO GRABS 12 SAVES, LIONS DOWN WILDCATS IN SHOOT OUT
Sophomore goalie Brie Barraco collected 12 saves in Penn State's March 5 win over Northwestern in Virginia Beach. Her outstanding effort in the cage led Penn State to a 2-1 victory in a shoot out. Bree Bednarski scored the Lions' goal in regulation and the team won the shoot out 4-3, with Barraco stopping two Northwestern shots.
PENN STATE DROPS TWO 1-0 GAMES TO IOWA
The Penn State Nittany Lions battled Iowa evenly for the entirety of its season opener on Feb. 28, but dropped a close 1-0 game to the Hawkeyes. While the teams were basically dead-even statistically, Iowa used a fourth quarter goal to secure the victory. A week later, the two teams met again in Virginia Beach and this time Iowa made a second period goal stand, in the game played on March 7.
PENN STATE RANKED NO. 15 IN NFHCA POLL
The National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) announced that the first coaches poll of the 2020-21 season would be released on March 16. Penn State has been ranked since that initial poll. The Nittany Lions are ranked No. 15 in the latest rankings.
TRIO OF LIONS NAMED TO BIG TEN'S PRESEASON PLAYERS TO WATCH TEAM
Three Nittany Lion seniors have been named to this year's Big Ten Preseason Players to Watch team. Captains Abby Myers, Madison Hutson and Emma Spisak have been named to the team.
