UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- The Penn State Nittany Lions (3-0, 0-0 B1G) host two non-conference games at the Penn State Field Hockey Complex this weekend. The Nittany Lions welcome Albany (2-2) to Penn State on Friday, Sept. 10, at 4 p.m. and Delaware (2-2) to Happy Valley on Sunday, Sept. 12, at 12 p.m.
Penn State is coming off a thrilling 3-2 win over No. 20 St. Joseph's on Sunday in a game played at the Penn State Field Hockey Complex. Sophomore Sophia Gladieux notched two goals while senior Emma Spisak had the third. Brie Barraco tallied five saves in the cage as Penn State won its third straight game to start the season..
Gladieux leads Penn State with 10 points off four goals and two assists. Anna Simon has nine points off four and one while Spisak has five off two and one. Mackenzie Allessie, Elena Vos and Meghan Reese each have three points a piece. Barraco has a .750 save percentage with 18 saves to date.
Albany enters the weekend 2-2, owning wins over Colgate and Wagner. The Nittany Lions lead the all-time series with Albany 2-0, including a 3-1 win on Sept. 4, 2016, in the last meeting.
Delaware enters the weekend 2-2, owning wins over American and No. 18 Old Dominion. The Blue Hens host Harvard on Friday while Penn State is facing Albany. Penn State leads the all-time series with Delaware 16-7-2. Delaware won the last meeting, 3-1, on Sept. 8, 2019, in Delaware.
Penn State begins Big Ten play next weekend with a game at Maryland. The action takes place on Saturday, Sept. 18, at 1 p.m.
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
#9 Penn State (3-0, 0-0 B1G) vs. Albany (2-2)
DATE: Friday, September 10, 2021, 4:00 p.m.
SITE: Penn State Field Hockey Complex
Penn State Head Coach: Char Morett-Curtiss
Albany Head Coach: Phil Sykes
All-Time Series: Penn State leads 2-0
Last Meeting: W, 3-1 (9/4/16) at Albany
#9 Penn State (3-0, 0-0 B1G) vs. #19 Delaware (2-2)
DATE: Sunday, September 12, 2021, 12:00 p.m.
SITE: Penn State Field Hockey Complex
Penn State Head Coach: Char Morett-Curtiss
Delaware Head Coach: Rolf van de Kerkhof
All-Time Series: Penn State leads 16-7-2
Last Meeting: L, 1-3 (9/8/19) at Delaware
NOTES
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 #9 IN NFHCA COACHES POLL
Penn State is ranked #9 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.
TRIO OF NITTANY LIONS ON BIG TEN'S PRESEASON PLAYERS TO WATCH LIST!
A trio of Nittany Lions are on the 2021 Big Ten Field Hockey Preseason Players to Watch list. Junior goalie Brie Barraco, sophomore midfielder Sophia Gladieux and junior midfield transfer Mackenzie Allessie are all on the conference's preseason list.
