Nov. 4, 2017
Field Hockey Complex | University Park, Pa.
|
|||||||||||||||||
EAST LANSING, Mich. - No. 5 Penn State is set to defend its 2016 Big Ten title as the Nittany Lions battle Michigan in the 2017 Big Ten Tournament Championship game. The Wolverines and Nittany Lions are set for a first touch at 11:00 a.m. ET at Ralph Young Field and can be watched LIVE on BTN.
MICHIGAN SERIES HISTORY
Penn State is 26-20 all-time in their series with the Wolverines dating back to 1992. Penn State beat Michigan 1-0 in its last meeting in the Big Ten Tournament on Nov. 4, 2016, en route to the Big Ten Championship game last season.
SCOUTING MICHIGAN
The Wolverines are currently on a 15-game winning streak that has seen the Maize & Blue post 12 shutouts over that 15-game span.
- Michigan started the year 4-0 before dropping back-to-back games prior to the current 15-game winning streak. The Wolverines are ranked No. 3 in the latest Penn Monto/National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) Division I Coaches Poll.
- Meg Dowthwaite leads Michigan in goals with 18 on the year that and is currently ranked No. 14 nationally in goals per game averaging 0.89.
- Three Wolverines have contributed 10-or-more assists during the 2017 season led by Katie Trombetta and Guadalupe Fernandez Lacort with 11 apiece.
- Michigan advanced to the B1G Title game with a 2-0 win over Northwestern in the early game at Ralph Young Field Friday afternoon in East Lansing, Mich.
BIG TEN TOURNAMENT HISTORY
The Nittany Lions have won more Big Ten Tournament title than anyone with seven total, most recently the 2016 title.
ACTIVE CAREER LEADERS
A few Nittany Lions are among the best in the nation in their respective categories among active student-athletes, as well as a few that are rising in the Penn State record book.
- Ranked T-No. 9 in PSU history in total assists (43)
- Averages the 23rd-most points per game among active athletes (2.20)
- 23rd-most assists among active DI athletes (24)
- Holds the 10th-best career GAA among active DI athletes (1.47)• Ranked No. 9 in career save percentage among active Di athletes (.753)
- Holds the 10th-best career GAA among active DI athletes (1.47)
- Ranked No. 9 in career save percentage among active Di athletes (.753)
- Ranked No. 2 in career defensive saves among active DI athletes (16), 38th amongst all active athletes (DI, DII, DIII).
WHAT A PERFORMANCE BY BRAMLEY!
What a week it was for Gini Bramley. The junior midfielder earned Big Ten Offensive player of the week honors as well as being named the National Offensive player of the week by NFHCA. Bramley joins Jen Beaumont (10/28/08), Allison Scola (10/14/08) and Jen Long (11/13/07) as the only other Nittany Lions to earn National Player of the Week honors. On top of the fantastic week (Aug. 25-27) on the field for the Elizabethtown, Pa. native, Bramley celebrated her birthday the same weekend, turning 20-years-old on Aug. 28.
PUTSCH GOES BACK-TO-BACK!
Moira Putsch posted back-to-back hat tricks the final weekend of the regular season. The junior from Media, Pa. scored three goals against No. 21 Rutgers at home before taking the show on the road and recording three goals in Indiana against the Hoosiers. Putsch was named NFHCA National Offensive Player of the week and the Big Ten Player of the Week for her efforts.
BIG TEN ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Through nine weeks of play, four Nittany Lions have been selected as Big Ten Player of the Week, respectively. Gini Bramley earned the distinction during the opening week of play, Jenny Rizzo earned the nod following shutouts against Temple and Wake Forest, while Cori Conley took home the honors following wins against Michigan State and Kent State on the road. Moira Putsch earned B1G Honors following wins vs. No. 21 Rutgers and Indiana to close out the season.
Offensive Player of the Week (8/28/17)
Gini Bramley, Penn State
M - Jr. - Elizabethtown, Pa. - Lower Dauphin
- Guided No. 7 Penn State to victories over No. 23 Old Dominion and No. 10 Virginia
- Scored two goals and added one assist against Old Dominion
- Scored two goals and tallied two assists in Penn State's, 4-2, win over Virginia
Defensive Player of the Week (9/5/17)
Jenny Rizzo, Penn State
GK - Jr. - Hershey, Pa. - Hershey
- Anchored a Penn State defense that defeated Temple, 5-0, and No. 15 Wake Forest, 6-0
- Posted two shutouts in Penn State's home opening weekend
- Recorded a season-high nine saves
- Earns her second Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week honor and her first of the season
- Last Penn State Defensive Player of the Week: Jenny Rizzo(Oct. 4, 2016)
Defensive Player of the Week (10/2/17)
Cori Conley, Penn State
B - Jr. - Oak Park, Ill. - Oak Park and River Forest
- Played every minute on the pitch as Penn State posted two road wins this week, earning PSU its 10th win of the season
- Anchored the Nittany Lion defense that shutout Michigan State in East Lansing earning Penn State's its fifth shutout of the season
- Scored her first career goal versus Kent State
- Earns her first Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week honor
- Last Penn State Defensive Player of the Week: Jenny Rizzo(Sept. 5, 2017)
Offensive Player of the Week (10/23/17)
Moira Putsch, Penn State
F - Jr. - Media, Pa. - Academy of Notre Dame
- Posted back-to-back hat tricks this weekend earning 12 points for the No. 6 Nittany Lions
- Scored six goals on only nine shots in PSU's 4-1 win over No. 21 Rutgers and 7-1 victory against Indiana
- Leads the Nittany Lions and Big Ten in goals with 19
- Earns her second Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week honor and the first of the season
- Last Penn State Offensive Player of the Week: Gini Bramley(Aug. 28, 2017)
BIG HONORS
Four Penn State student-athletes earned Big Ten honors, the conference announced Wednesday afternoon. Moira Putsch (Media, Pa.) and Skyler Fretz (Oley, Pa.) were named 2017 Big Ten First-Team while Katie Dembrowski (Palmyra, Pa.) and Jenny Rizzo (Hershey, Pa.) earned second-team Big Ten honors. Putsch was also named the Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year following a career year that saw the junior post back-to-back hat tricks in a single weekend of Big Ten play.
BACK-TO-BACK NATIONAL LEADERS
Penn State finished ranked No. 1 in average attendance in the nation in back-to-back seasons (2016, 2017). Penn State broke the Field Hockey Complex record with a total of 967 in attendance for a conference game against Maryland and was a part of the most attended game during the 2016 season as the Nittany Lions played in front of 968 fans at home.
Penn State field hockey is on social media. Follow the program on Facebook (www.facebook.com/PennStateFieldHockey) and Twitter/Instagram @PennStateFH. For all of your Penn State news, visit www.GoPSUsports.com