THIS WEEK
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- The Penn State Nittany Lion field hockey team (5-4, 1-1 B1G) hits the road this weekend for two Big Ten duals. Penn State is at Michigan (6-3, 1-1 B1G) on Friday, Oct. 3, at 6 p.m. Two days later the Nittany Lions visit Ohio State (4-5, 0-1 B1G) on Sunday, Oct. 5, for a 12 p.m. contest. Ohio State hosts Maryland on Friday as well.
Penn State is coming off a 1-1 weekend. The Nittany Lions scored twice late to down Michigan State 2-0 in Happy Valley, earning a Big Ten win on Friday. Two days later, Penn State ventured to sixth-ranked Syracuse and lost a tough 3-2 game on the road. Joji Purdy leads Penn State in scoring with nine points off four goals and one assist. Natalie Freeman has eight points off three and two. Keeper Aby Deverka has 29 saves and a 1.96 goals against average after notching her first shutout of the year last Friday.
Michigan will enter the week with a 6-3 overall record, 1-1 in Big Ten play. The Wolverines are coming off a 1-1 weekend, losing a close 1-0 game at Maryland on Friday before picking up a 4-1 non-conference victory at Old Dominion on Sunday. Penn State leads the all-time series with UM 29-28-0.
Ohio State, which hosts Maryland while PSU is at Michigan, enters the weekend with a 4-5 mark, 0-1 in the conference. The Buckeyes dropped a tough 2-1 overtime game at Rutgers on Friday in their conference opener. Two days later, they picked up a 4-0 win at Delaware. Penn State leads the all-time series with OSU 42-16-2.
The Nittany Lions have one road game next weekend, visiting Northwestern on Friday, Oct. 10, for a 6 p.m. (Eastern) game.
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
#6 SYRACUSE SCORES TWICE LATE TO THWART
PENN STATE UPSET BID ON THE ROAD
Penn State rode outstanding keeper play by Aby Deverka and goals from Morgan McMenamin and Joji Purdy to a late lead over #6 Syracuse on Sunday, Sept. 28. But the homestanding Orange scored twice late to grab the 3-2 win over Penn State. Deverka finished the contest with nine saves.
MARTHINS AND JENNES SCORE LATE TO LIFT
PENN STATE TO 2-0 WIN OVER MICHIGAN STATE
Freshman Olivia Marthins and senior Ella Jennes scored late to lift Penn State to a 2-0 victory over Michigan State on Friday, Sept. 26, in Happy Valley. Sophomore goalie Aby Deverka picked up two saves in notching her first shutout of the season.
NITTANY LIONS FALL 3-1 AT #10 MARYLAND; DROP 3-2 GAME ON PENALTY SHOTS AT LAFAYETTE
Penn State ventured out on the road for the first time in three weeks and lost two tough games on Sept. 19 and 21. The Lions fell 3-1 at No. 10 Maryland on Sept. 21 and then dropped a tough 3-2 double-overtime game on penalty strokes at Lafayette on Sept. 21.
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.