THIS WEEK
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- The Penn State Nittany Lions (8-2, 3-1 B1G), ranked No. 4 nationally, close out a four-game homestand with a Big Ten battle on Friday and a non-conference encounter on Saturday. The Lions welcome No. 5 Rutgers (9-2, 2-1 B1G) to Penn State on Friday at 4 p.m. for a conference game and then host Bucknell (6-4) on Saturday at 2 p.m. in a non-conference meeting.
Penn State is coming off two critical Big Ten wins this past weekends. The Nittany Lions used a fourth quarter burst to down Indiana 4-1 on Friday and then downed Northwestern in a thriller on Sunday, 2-1 in double-overtime.
Sophomore Sophia Gladieux leads Penn State in scoring with 22 points off ten goals and two assists. Anna Simon has 18 off eight and two while Mackenzie Allessie has 17 off five goals and a team-best seven assists. Elena Vos also has six points off six assists. Keeper Brie Barraco has a .729 save percentage with 43 saves to date and a 2.33 goals against average.
Rutgers is coming off a 2-1 loss to Iowa on Friday and a 1-0 double overtime win over Indiana on Sunday. The Knights are led by Milena Redlingshoefer, who has 16 points off four goals and eight assists. Penn State leads the all-time series with the Scarlet Knights 19-6-3. Rutgers won the last meeting a 3-0 victory on April 6, 2021, last season at Rutgers.
Bucknell enters the weekend coming off a 3-2 loss at American. Lily Neilson leads BU with 19 points off nine goals and an assist. The Nittany Lions own a 42-2-2 lead in the all-time series. Penn State won the last meeting, 3-0, on Oct. 19, 2019, at Bucknell.
Penn State hits the road for two non-conference games next weekend. The Nittany Lions visit Lafayette on Friday, Oct. 15, at 7 p.m. and then visit Princeton on Sunday, Oct. 17, at 12 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
#4 Penn State (8-2, 3-1 B1G) vs. #5 Rutgers (9-2, 2-1 B1G)
DATE: Friday, Oct. 8, 2021 - 4 p.m.
SITE: Penn State Field Hockey Complex
Penn State Head Coach: Char Morett-Curtiss
Rutgers Head Coach: Meredith Civico
All-Time Series: Penn State leads 19-6-3
Last Meeting: L, 0-3 (4/6/21) at Rutgers
#4 Penn State (8-2, 3-1 B1G) vs. Bucknell (6-4)
DATE: Saturday, Oct. 9, 2021 - 2 p.m.
SITE: Penn State Field Hockey Complex
Penn State Head Coach: Char Morett-Curtiss
Bucknell Head Coach: Jeremy Cook
All-Time Series: Penn State leads 42-2-2
Last Meeting: W, 3-0 (10/30/19) at Bucknell
NOTES
GLADIEUX'S GOAL LIFTS LIONS TO 2-1 (2OT) WIN OVER #4 NORTHWESTERN; NAMED B1G AoW!
Sophomore Sophia Gladieux scored the game-winner in extra time in Penn State's 2-1 double-overtime win over No. 4 Northwestern at the Penn State Field Hockey Complex on Oct. 3. The goal built on the goal from Mackenzie Allessie during regulation that helped send the game to extra time. Gladieux, who also had two goals two days earlier in a win over Indian, was named Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week for the week ending Oct. 3, for her efforts.
NITTANY LIONS DOWN INDIANA 4-1
Sophia Gladieux scored twice to lead Penn State to a 4-1 win over visiting Indiana on Oct. 1. The Nittany Lions broke open a close game with a fourth-quarter burst to down the Hoosiers.
GLADIEUX SCORES TWICE TO LEAD PSU TO 3-2 OT WIN AT #7 MARYLAND; B1G OFFENSIVE AoW
Sophomore Sophia Gladieux scored twice to lead Penn State to a 3-2 overtime win at #7 Maryland on Sept. 18. Gladieux connected on two backhands in the game, including the winner in overtime. Mackenzie Allessie scored Penn State's other goal and goalie Brie Barraco had seven saves in the win. Gladieux was named the Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week for her efforts.
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 RANKED #4 IN NFHCA COACHES POLL
Penn State is ranked #4 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.
