THIS WEEK
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- The Penn State Nittany Lion field hockey team (4-1, 0-0 B1G), ranked No. 6 in the latest NFHCA Coaches Poll, will visit No. 7 Michigan (3-2, 0-0 B1G) in the conference opener for both teams. The game will be played in Ann Arbor on Friday, Sept. 16, at 5 p.m. The next day, Penn State will battle Cornell (2-1) on Michigan's field in a non-conference match-up set for Saturday, Sept. 17, at 3 p.m.
Penn State is coming off an impressive two-game road trip this past weekend, grabbing two victories over ranked foes. The Lions won 2-1 at No. 12 St. Joseph's on Friday and 4-2 at No. 24 Delaware on Sunday. The wins improved Penn State to 4-1 overall heading into its Big Ten opener at Michigan.
Sophia Gladieux leads Penn State with 14 points off six goals and two assists while Mackenzie Allessie has nine off two and five. Keeper Brie Barraco checks in with a 1.80 goals against average, 14 saves and a .609 percentage.
Michigan will enter the weekend with a 3-2 record. The Wolverines own wins over Wake Forest, Central Michigan and Miami (Ohio) and losses to North Carolina and Louisville. Penn State leads the all-time series between the two teams 28-23, including 3-2 win in overtime on 10/29/21 last season in Happy Valley.
Cornell heads into the weekend with a 2-1 mark, having lost a 2-1 game to UAlbany last weekend. The Big Red own wins over Colgate and Wagner. The Big Red play host Michigan on Sunday after the Saturday game with Penn State. Penn State won the only prior meeting between the two schools, 2-0 on 9/9/12 in State College.
Penn State returns home for the first time in a month next weekend. The Lions host Michigan State on Friday, Sept. 23, at 6 p.m. in a Big Ten battle. Penn State then hosts Ohio State on Sunday, Sept. 25, at 12 p.m. to close out a conference weekend.
Home Game Note: 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.
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
ALLESSIE NOTCHES TWO GOALS TO LEAD PENN STATE TO 4-2 WIN AT NO. 24 DELAWARE
Mackenzie Allessie scored on two penalty strokes to lead Penn State to a 4-2 victory at No. 24 Delaware on Sept. 11. Allessie's goals helped Penn State close out a weekend road sweep of ranked foes (the Lions won at St. Joseph's on Friday, Sept. 9).
LIONS TAKE DOWN NO. 12 ST. JOSEPH'S
Penn State used fourth period goal from Grace Wallis to grab an important 2-1 win over No. 12 St. Joseph's on the road. The host team scored early in the game but Penn State's defense held firm after that. Carly Gannon tied the game with a first half goal, setting up Wallis' game-winner in the fourth.
GLADIEUX NETS SEVEN POINTS IN 6-2 WIN AT UALBANY
Junior Sophia Gladieux netted seven points in Penn State's 6-2 road win at UAlbany on Saturday, Sept. 3. Gladieux scored three goals off Penn State's penalty corner offense and added an assist to lead the Lions.
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.
