THIS WEEK
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- The Penn State Nittany Lion field hockey team (5-7, 1-4 B1G) hosts two Big Ten games this weekend at Char Morett Curtiss field. The Nittany Lions welcome Iowa (8-3, 1-2 B1G) to Happy Valley on Friday, Oct. 17, at 5 p.m. Two days later, Penn State hosts Indiana (5-7, 0-3 B1G) on Sunday, Oct. 19, at 11 a.m.
Penn State is coming off a 4-0 loss at No. 1 Northwestern on Friday, Oct. 10. Sophomore keeper Aby Deverka had a season-high 10 assists in the loss. Natalie Freeman and Joji Purdy lead Penn State with nine points each. Freeman has three goals and three assists while Purdy has four goals and one assist. Deverka has 47 saves and a .635 save percentage.
Iowa enters the weekend with an 8-3 record, 1-2 in the Big Ten. The Hawkeyes lost a tough 2-1 game to Maryland on Friday last weekend before bouncing back with a 7-0 win over St. Louis on Sunday. Iowa leads the all-time series with Penn State 34-28-1.
Indiana, which is at Maryland on Friday while Penn State hosts Iowa, comes in with a 5-7 overall mark, 0-3 in the conference. The Hoosiers dropped a 4-0 game to Rutgers on Friday last weekend before losing 3-2 vs. Miami, Ohio, on Monday. Penn State leads the all-time series with the Hoosiers 29-4-0.
Penn State is on the road for two non-conference games next weekend. The Nittany Lions are at Lock Haven on Friday, Oct. 24, at 3 p.m. Penn State then travels to Princeton on Sunday, Oct. 26, 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
LIONS DROP CLOSE ROAD GAME AT
MICHIGAN AND OHIO STATE
Penn State battled No. 12 Michigan and Ohio State tough on the road on the weekend of Oct. 3-5, but lost two close games. The Nittany Lions fell 2-1 at Michigan on Friday and 2-0 at Ohio State on Sunday.
#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.