THIS WEEK
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- The Penn State Nittany Lion field hockey team (1-1, 0-0 B1G), under the direction of head coach Char Morett-Curtiss, will travel to the University of Albany (1-1) for a non-conference game on Saturday, Sept. 3, at 1 p.m. The game marks the first road contest of the young season for Penn State.
Penn State, ranked No. 11 nationally, is coming a 1-1 split in its season opening weekend. The Nittany Lions downed No. 12 Virginia 3-2 on Friday night before dropping a tough 2-1 game to No. 9 Louisville on Sunday.
Sophia Gladieux led Penn State in the opening weekend, notching five points off two goals and an assist. She scored the game winner against Virginia with just :32 left to play in the contest and the lone goal in Penn State's game against Louisville. Jemma Punch and Meghan Reese each had goals for Penn State and Mackenzie Allessie had two assists. Brie Barraco tallied eight saves in the first two games of the season.
UAlbany enters the game with a 1-1 record. The Great Danes downed Northeastern 5-2 on Saturday then fell 3-0 to Ohio State on Sunday. Both games were home contests for UAlbany. Alison Smisdom led the Danes with five points off two goals and an assist in their first two games. Keeper Lara Behn had four saves in the cage.
The Nittany Lions lead the all-time series with UAlbany 3-0, including a 3-1 victory last year on Sept. 10, 2021, at the FH Complex.
With enhancements to the Penn State Field Hockey Complex underway, fans are reminded to bring their own chairs to home games this year as the stands are no longer accessible.
The Nittany Lions hit the road for two more games next weekend, visiting St. Joseph's on Friday, Sept. 9, at 4 p.m. and Delaware on Sunday, Sept. 11, 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.
NOTES
LIONS DROP 2-1 GAME TO NO. 9 LOUISVILLE ON LATE PENALTY STROKE
No. 9 Louisville used a penalty stroke in the final 5:00 to break a tie game and post a 2-1 win over the Nittany Lions at the FH Complex on Aug. 28. Sophia Gladieux had Penn State's lone goal in the game.
GLADIEUX SCORES IN FINAL SECONDS TO LIFT PENN STATE OVER NO. 12 VIRGINIA
Junior Sophia Gladieux scored on a fast break with just :32 left in the game to lift Penn State to a 3-2 win over No. 12 Virginia at the FH Complex in the season opener for both teams on Aug. 26. Gladieux's goal capped off a thrilling Lion win that also saw Meghan Reese and Jemma Punch find the back of the cage.
ALLESSIE, REESE AND VOS VOTED TEAM CAPTAINS
Seniors Mackenzie Allessie, Meghan Reese and Elena Vos have been voted team captains by their teammates for the 2022 season. The trio have a combined 10 years of experience (with Reese returning for a fifth campaign). Allessie had 30 points last year, her first at Penn State. Reese has played in 70 games at penn State, having started the last 54 straight. Vos has started all but one time during her storied Lion career (39 of 40 games).
ALLESSIE, GLADIEUX AND WALLIS NAMED BIG TEN PLAYERS TO WATCH
The Penn State trio of Mackenzie Allessie, Sophia Gladieux and Grace Wallis have been named to the Big Ten Players to Watch list.
