THIS WEEK
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- The Penn State Nittany Lions (5-0, 0-0 B1G), ranked No. 8 nationally, visit No. 7 Maryland (4-1, 0-0 B1G) in their Big Ten opener. Game time in College Park, Md., is set for 1 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 18.
Penn State is coming off an outstanding weekend of non-conference action, picking up two wins at home. The Nittany Lions used two goals from Anna Simon to down Albany 3-1 on Friday. The team then used a goal from Simon, one from Mackenzie Allessie, another from Sophia Gladieux as well as six saves from keeper Brie Barraco to shutout No. 19 Delaware 3-0 on Sunday.
The Nittany Lion offense is emerging as an extremely balanced attack, able to score from anywhere on the field. Simon leads the team with 15 points off seven goals and an assists, finishing off a very effective penalty corner offense. Gladieux has 12 off five and two, Allessie has ten off two and a team-best six assists. Elena Vos has six assists and anchors the Penn State defense. Barraco has 25 saves and a .781 save percentage.
Maryland enters the weekend with a 4-1 record. The Terrapins are coming off a 1- win over No. 21 UMass on Friday and a 4-0 win over Cal on Sunday. Bib Donraadt leads Maryland with nine points off three goals and three assists. Noelle Frost has 14 saves and three shutouts. The Nittany Lions lead the all-time series between the two teams 25-18-1. Maryland won the last meeting, a 3-2 victory at Penn State during last year's 'spring' season on March 14, 2021.
Penn State travels to Iowa next weekend for a pair of games. The Nittany Lions and Hawkeyes tangle on Friday, Sept. 24, at 7 p.m. in a Big Ten game. The two teams then face each other on Sunday, Sept. 26, at 1 p.m. in a non-conference 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.
THIS WEEK'S ACTION
#8 Penn State (5-0, 0-0 B1G) vs. #7 Maryland (4-1, 0-0 B1G)
DATE: Saturday, September 18, 2021, 1:00 p.m.
SITE: College Park, Md.
Penn State Head Coach: Char Morett-Curtiss
Maryland Head Coach: Missy Meharg
All-Time Series: Penn State leads 25-18-1
Last Meeting: L, 2-3 (3/14/21) at Penn State
NOTES
BARRACO'S SIX SAVES AND A BALANCED ATTACK LEADS LIONS TO 3-0 WIN OVER #19 DELAWARE
Junior goalie Brie Barraco notched six saves to anchor a stingy Penn State defense and picked up her first shutout of the season in a 3-0 win over #19 Delaware on Sept. 12 in State College. Anna Simon, Mackenzie Allessie and Sophia Gladieux each scored in the win.
SIMON'S TWO GOALS LEADS PENN STATE TO 3-1 WIN OVER ALBANY
Senior Anna Simon connected twice on Penn State's penalty corner set, taking assists from Mackenzie Allessie and Elena Vos, to spark Penn State to a 3-1 win over Albany on Sept. 10 in Happy Valley.
GLADIEUX'S TWO GOALS LEAD PENN STATE TO 3-2 WIN OVER #20 ST. JOSEPH'S
Sophomore Sophia Gladieux notched two goals to lead Penn State to a 3-2 victory over St. Joseph's on Sept. 5. Gladieux's two-goal effort was joined by a solo score from Emma Spisak as Penn State won its home opener at the Penn State Field Hockey Complex.
SIMON'S HAT TRICK LEADS PENN STATE TO ROAD WIN AT WILLIAM AND MARY
Senior Anna Simon notched a hat trick to lead Penn State to a 7-2 road win at William and Mary on Aug. 29. Simon's three goals all came off Penn State's superb penalty corner set. Mackenzie Allessie had two assists, Elena Vos had two assists, Meghan Reese had a goal and an assist, Emma Spisak had a goal and Sophia Gladieux had a goal and two assists. Brie Barraco had four saves in the win as well..
PUNCH'S BREAKAWAY LIFTS PENN STATE TO 3-2 VICTORY AT #8 VIRGINIA TO START SEASON
Junior Jemma Punch took a pass from senior Emma Spisak in overtime and broke away for the game-winning goal in a 3-2 (ot) win at #8 Virginia in Penn State's 2021 season opener on Aug. 27. Punch's goal capped off a thrilling road win. Anna Simon and Sophia Gladieux each had goals as well and keeper Brie Barraco withstood 25 Cavalier shots, collecting nine saves.
PENN STATE BEGINS SEASON RANKED #8 IN NFHCA COACHES POLL
Penn State is ranked #8 in the latest NFHCA Coaches Poll. The Nittany Lions are one of six Big Ten teams ranked in the top ten.
IMPORTANT PARKING UPDATES FOR 2021
Parking for all Penn State Athletics' non-football events will require a valid permit or payment of the applicable parking fee for campus lots. Fans with valid Penn State University Park parking permits will be permitted to park at non-football athletics events for free, following Transportation Services parking policies and access. For field hockey, fans are asked to park in Jordan East, Stadium West or Porter North. Fans without a permit are encouraged to prepay for event parking at a discounted rate of $5.50 through ParkMobile - https://psu.parkmobile.io/. Prepayment is available through 11:59 p.m. the day prior to each event. Event day parking will be [$10/$20] per vehicle [and is cash only/can be purchased on the ParkMobile app]. The East Deck is also available for most events for $1 per hour. Parking for all non-football athletics events is managed by Penn State Transportation Services. For more information or questions, visit transportation.psu.edu or email parking@psu.edu.
PENN STATE HAS TWO ROAD GAMES SET TO AIR ON BIG TEN NETWORK
The Penn State field hockey team has two road games scheduled to be aired live on the Big Ten Network to a national audience this season. The Lions' game at Ohio State on Friday, Oct. 22, at 3 p.m. and their game two days later at Michigan State on Sunday, Oct. 24, at 2 p.m., will be telecast.
