THIS WEEK
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- The Penn State Nittany Lion field hockey team (4-1, 0-0 B1G) opens up Big Ten play this Friday, Sept. 12, at Maryland (4-2, 0-0 B1G). Action in College Park, Md., begins at 5 p.m. The Nittany Lions then trek to Lafayette (3-3) for a non-conference game on Sunday, Sept. 14, at 12 p.m. Lafayette battles Lehigh Friday night as well.
Penn State is coming off two home wins last weekend, extending its win streak to four games. Penn State beat Bucknell 2-1 and Kent State 5-2 to improve to 4-1. Freshman Joji Purdy leads Penn State with seven points off three goals and an assist. Natalie Freeman has five points off two goals and an assist. Keeper Aby Deverka has 13 saves on the year.
Maryland enters the weekend with a 4-2 mark. The Terrapins beat Penn 3-1 on Friday night and St. Joseph’s 1-0 on Sunday. Penn State leads the all-time series with the Terrapins 28-20-1.
Lafayette, which is at Lehigh on Friday night while Penn State battles Maryland, enters the weekend with a 3-3 overall record. Lafayette lost to Temple and Syracuse this past weekend. Penn State leads the all-time series with Lafayette 22-2-0.
The Nittany Lions host Michigan State next Friday, Sept. 26, at 4 p.m. in a B1G Network national telecast. Two days later, Penn State visits Syracuse on Sunday, Sept. 28, for a 12 p.m. contest.
Fans are encouraged to follow the Nittany Lion field hockey team online at www.GoPSUsports.com (click teams, click field hockey), on X and Instagram @pennstateFH and on facebook at www.facebook.com/pennstatefieldhockey.
NOTES
NITTANY LION OFFENSE SURGES IN 5-2
WIN OVER VISITING KENT STATE
The Nittany Lions got goal from five different individuals in a strong 5-2 win over visiting Kent State on Sept. 14, notching their fourth straight victory. Morgan Snyder, Aubrey Semler, Joji Purdy, Ella Jennes and Natalie Freeman all scored for Penn State in the win.
PENN STATE DOWNS BUCKNELL 2-1
Penn State rode the momentum of a 2-0 halftime lead to a 2-1 victory over the Bucknell Bison on Sept. 12. Katelyn Strawser and Cooper Cutchins scored goals for the Nittany Lions and Aby Deverka tallied two saves.
PENN STATE TOPPLES NO. 9 ST. JOSEPH’S
IN OVERTIME
The Penn State Nittany Lions took down No. 9 St. Joseph’s 2-1 in overtime on Sunday, Sept. 7, at the Penn State Field Hockey Complex. Anouk Knuvers scored in regulation and Olivia Marthins tipped in a Katelyn Strawser shot in overtime to lift the Lions to the win.
PURDY, JENNES LEAD LIONS OVER DELAWARE
Freshman Joji Purdy scored twice in regulation and Ella Jennes notched the game winner as Penn State posted a 3-2 double-overtime victory over visiting Delaware on Friday, Sept. 5.
FREEMAN SCORES IN SEASON OPENING LOSS
AT #3 VIRGINIA
Natalie Freeman tipped in a shot from Morgan Snyder off a penalty corner to score Penn State’s lone goal in a tough 3-1 loss at #3 Virginia on Friday, Aug. 29. Freeman’s goal got Penn State to within one, 2-1, at the break before the homestanding Cavaliers pulled away in the second half.
FREEMAN SCORES IN SEASON OPENING LOSS
AT #3 VIRGINIA
Natalie Freeman tipped in a shot from Morgan Snyder off a penalty corner to score Penn State’s lone goal in a tough 3-1 loss at #3 Virginia on Friday, Aug. 29. Freeman’s goal got Penn State to within one, 2-1, at the break before the homestanding Cavaliers pulled away in the second half.
JENNES, KNUVERS AND MANNINO NAMED TO
BIG TEN PRESEASON PLAYERS TO WATCH LIST
The Penn State veteran trio of Ella Jennes, Anouk Knuvers and Sophia Mannino have been selected to the 2025 Big Ten Field Hockey preseason Players to Watch list.
DEVERKA, KNUVERS AND STRAWSER NAMED TO
NFHCA PRESEASON WATCH LIST
The Penn State trio of Aby Deverka, Anouk Knuvers and Katelyn Strawser have been named to the 2025 NFHCA Preseason Watch list.
ALLY HAMMEL JOINS NITTANY LION
COACHING STAFF
Former Boston University All-American and U.S. Olympian Ally Hammel has joined the Penn State coaching staff heading into the 2025 season. She played at Boston University from 2015 through 2018. Hammel was a two-time National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) All-American, a two-time NFHCA Northeast Region Player of the Year and a two-time Patriot League Defensive Player of the Year. She joined the U.S. Women’s National Team in 2019 and competed internationally ever since. During her time with Team USA, Hammel competed in the FIH Pro League, the 2022 Pan American Cup and represented the United States in the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics.