THIS WEEK
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.; August 25, 2021 -- The Penn State Nittany Lions (0-0, 0-0 B1G) open up the 2021 season with two road games on opening weekend. Penn State is at Virginia (0-0) on Friday, Aug. 27, at 5 p.m. and at William and Mary on Sunday, Aug 29, at 11 a.m. All three teams begin their seasons this weekend with Sunday's game serving as William and Mary's opener.
Penn State is coming off a 7-7 season that saw the team finish second in the Big Ten regular season standings with a 5-2 mark. The 2020 season was actually played in February throgh April 2021.
Sophomore Sophia Gladieux returns to lead the offense after a breakout freshman campaign that saw her earn first team All-Big Ten honors and second team All-America laurels. Gladieux had 26 points off 12 goals and two assists last year. Goalie Brie Barraco returns for her junior campaign after sporting a 2.08 goals against average with four shutouts last year.
Virginia is coming off a 7-11 that saw the Cavaliers go 4-7 in the ACC. Penn State leads the all-time series 19-8. The Cavaliers won the last meeting, 2-1 on Sept. 1, 2019.
William and Mary went 3-2 last season in a shortened campaign. The Nittany Lions own a 3-0 lead in the all-time series, including the last meeting, a 1-0 victory on penalty strokes in 2005.
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.
NOTES
PENN STATE BEGINS SEASON RANKED #16 IN PRESEASON NFHCA COACHES POLL
The Penn State Nittany Lion field hockey team enters the season ranked No. 16 in the National Field Hockey Coaches Association poll on Aug. 24. Penn State is one of seven Big Ten teams ranked to start the season. Michigan is ranked No. 2, Iowa 3, Northwestern 4, Maryland 9, Rutgers 15, Penn State 16 and Ohio State 22.
IMPORTANT PARKING UPDATES FOR 2021
Parking for all Penn State Athletics' non-football events will require a valid permit or payment of the applicable parking fee for campus lots. Fans with valid Penn State University Park parking permits will be permitted to park at non-football athletics events for free, following Transportation Services parking policies and access. For field hockey, fans are asked to park in Jordan East, Stadium West or Porter North. Fans without a permit are encouraged to prepay for event parking at a discounted rate of $5.50 through ParkMobile - https://psu.parkmobile.io/. Prepayment is available through 11:59 p.m. the day prior to each event. Event day parking will be [$10/$20] per vehicle [and is cash only/can be purchased on the ParkMobile app]. The East Deck is also available for most events for $1 per hour. Parking for all non-football athletics events is managed by Penn State Transportation Services. For more information or questions, visit transportation.psu.edu or email parking@psu.edu.
PENN STATE HAS TWO ROAD GAMES SET TO AIR ON BIG TEN NETWORK
The Penn State field hockey team has two road games scheduled to be aired live on the Big Ten Network to a national audience this season. The Lions' game at Ohio State on Friday, Oct. 22, at 3 p.m. and their game two days later at Michigan State on Sunday, Oct. 24, at 2 p.m., will be telecast.
TRIO OF NITTANY LIONS ON BIG TEN'S PRESEASON PLAYERS TO WATCH LIST!
A trio of Nittany Lions are on the 2021 Big Ten Field Hockey Preseason Players to Watch list. Junior goalie Brie Barraco, sophomore midfielder Sophia Gladieux and junior midfield transfer Mackenzie Allessie are all on the conference's preseason list.
