QUICK LINKS
Roster: Penn State // Cal // Stanford
Stats: Penn State // Cal // Stanford
THIS WEEK
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- The Penn State Nittany Lion field hockey team (1-1, 0-0 B1G), ranked No. 5 in the NFHCA Coaches Poll, continues a four-game road stretch to start the season with two games on the West Coast. Head coach Lisa Bervinchak Love's squad will visit California (0-3) on Friday, Sept. 1, for a 7 p.m. Eastern (4 p.m. local) game in Berkeley. Two days later, the Nittany Lions visit Stanford (0-2) for a 3 p.m. Eastern game (12 p.m. local).
Penn State enters the weekend with a 1-1 record after a road split to open the season. The Nittany Lions lost 2-1 to No. 6 Virginia and bounced back for a 3-2 overtime victory at American. Mackenzie Allessie leads Penn State with four points off two goals (both in the American win) and Sophia Gladieux and Natalie Freeman each have a goal a piece. Keeper Brie Barraco has 13 saves and a .765 percentage through two games.
California will enter Friday's game with an 0-3 record. The Bears have played a rugged early season schedule, playing three games in four days to open the season. Cal lost to Miami, Maryland and Rutgers in a four-day span last Friday through Monday. Penn State leads the all-time series with the Bears 5-2. Cal won the last meeting, a 4-3 overtime thriller played at Spooky Nook in 2019.
Stanford will enter Sunday's game with an 0-2 mark. The Cardinal lost 4-0 to Maryland on Aug. 25 and then dropped a tough 2-0 game to Rutgers on Aug. 27. Both games were played in California. The Nittany Lions lead the all-time series with the Cardinal 2-0, including a 3-1 victory in the last meeting in 2009.
Penn State debuts in Happy Valley next weekend, hosting Kent State on Friday, Sept. 6, at 6 p.m. and Delaware on Sunday, Sept. 8, at 1 p.m. Both games will be played at the Penn State Field Hockey Complex.
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
#5 Penn State (1-1, 0-0 B1G) at California (0-3)
Friday, Sept. 1, 7 p.m. Eastern (4 p.m. local)
Series History: Penn State leads 5-2
#5 Penn State (1-1, 0-0 B1G) at Stanford (0-2)
Sunday, Sept. 3, 3 p.m. Eastern (12 p.m. local)
Series History: Penn State leads 2-0
NOTES
ALLESSIE SPARKS PENN STATE TO 3-2 OVERTIME WIN AT AMERICAN
Mackenzie Allessie scored the game's final two goals to spark Penn State to a 3-2 come-from-behind win at American on Aug. 27. Allessie's goals helped Penn State erase an early 2-0 deficit to the Eagles. Sophia Gladieux had the other goal for Penn State in the win.
LIONS DROP SEASON OPENER AT #6 VIRGINIA
Penn State lost a hard-fought 2-1 game to #6 Virginia in the season opener for both teams on Aug. 25. Freshman Natalie Freeman scored her first career goal to start the game but the Cavaliers scored the game's final two goals to grab the win.
ALLESSIE, BARRACO, GANNON VOTED TEAM CAPTAINS
Seniors Mackenzie Allessie, Brie Barraco and Carly Gannon have been named team captains for the 2023 season. The tri-captains were voted on by their teammates.
ALLESSIE, BARRACO, GLADIEUX NAMED TO BIG TEN WATCH LIST
Seniors Mackenzie Allessie, Brie Barraco and Phia Gladieux have been named to the Big Ten Preseason Watch List.
PENN STATE SLATED FOR TWO NATIONAL TELECASTS ON THE BIG TEN NETWORK
The Penn State Nittany Lions will appear on two Big Ten Network national telecasts during the regular season. The games at Maryland on Oct. 1 (2 p.m.) and at Michigan on Oct. 15 (12 p.m.) have both been selected as national telecasts by the network.
