UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.; October 8, 2018 – The Penn State Nittany Lion field hockey team, under the direction of head coach Char Morett-Curtiss, swept the Big Ten Field Hockey Weekly Awards for the week ending Oct. 7. The Nittany Lions brought home Offensive, Defensive and Freshman of the Week honors.
Senior Moira Putsch (Media, Pa.) was named Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week. Putsch led Penn State to a 3-1 win over previously unbeaten Maryland on Sunday at Penn State. Putsch anchored the offense and led the way with three points off a goal and an assist for the Nittany Lions, who improved to 9-3, 4-1 in the Big Ten. Putsch now has 17 points off five goals and seven assists. The honor is Putsch's first of the season.
Senior Cori Conley (Oak Park, Ill.) was named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week. Conley anchored a Penn State defense that shut down Maryland in the win on Sunday. Conley and the Lion defense held Maryland to only 13 shots, including only eight on goal, with only five penalty corners. The Nittany Lions were pitching a shutout until a late penalty stroke allowed the Terrapins to notch a goal when Penn State was leading 3-1. The honor is Conley's second of the year (she also won on Aug. 26).
True freshman Anna Simon (Hanau, Germany) has been named Big Ten Freshman of the Week. Simon also helped spark the Lion defense that helped shut down Maryland, keeping a high-powered Maryland offense to only 13 shots, with just eight on goal, and only five penalty corners. She also added a goal in the game, scoring yet again off a penalty corner. Simon now has a team-best 17 points off eight goals and one assist. The honor is Simon's second of the year (she also won on Sept. 3).
Penn State travels to Iowa for a Friday game on Oct. 12 and then visits Northwestern on Sunday, Oct. 14, to close out a two-game Big Ten road trip. The Nittany Lions are now 9-3 overall, 4-1 in the Big Ten, after Sunday's critical win over Maryland.
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.
