UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.; Nov. 30, 2022 – Penn State Nittany Lion field hockey player Sophia Gladieux has been named National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) Mideast Player of the Year for the second consecutive season. Gladieux earned Penn State's first Mideast Player of the Year Award last season and has followed that honor up with this year's award.
Gladieux has a long list of honors already accrued this season. She was a first team All-Mideast for the third straight season. Gladieux was name both Big Ten Player of the Year and Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year as well. She was a first team All-Big Ten selection this season for the third straight time and was named to the 2022 NCAA All-Tournament Team. With All-America laurels still to be announced, Gladieux is already a two-time All-American, first in 2021 and second in 2020.
She ended the year with 49 points off a team-high 23 goals and three assists. Gladieux has 53 career goals and seven career assists for a total of 87 points in three years as a starter at Penn State. She sits in ninth place on Penn State's all-time goals scored list. Gladieux was also an NFHCA National All-Academic honoree and an Academic All-Big Ten winner in 2021 (with this year's academic laurels still to be announced).
Penn State, under the direction of head coach Char Morett-Curtiss, ended the season with a 17-4 overall record. The Nittany Lions were 2022 Big Ten Co-Champions as well with a 7-1 record in conference games. The Lions won their first two NCAA tournament games to advance to the NCAA semifinals for the first time since 2007.
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.