UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- The Penn State Nittany Lions (6-2, 1-1 B1G), ranked No. 8 nationally, host two critical Big Ten games this weekend at the Penn State Field Hockey Complex. The Lions welcome Indiana (6-4, 0-2 B1G) on Friday, Oct. 1, for a 6 p.m. game. The team then hosts No. 4 Northwestern (8-2, 0-1 B1G) on Sunday at 12 p.m.
Penn State is coming off two road losses at No. 2 Iowa last weekend. The Nittany Lions dropped a 1-0 conference game on Friday night and then a 4-0 non-conference battle on Sunday.
Penn State is being led by Sophia Gladieux and Anna Simon's 16 points. Both athletes have seven goals and two assists. Mackenzie Allessie checks win with 12 points off three goals and six assists while Elena Vos has six points, all off assists.
Indiana dropped an 8-2 game to Maryland on Friday and then rebounded to beat Ball State 1-0 on the road Sunday. The Hoosiers are 6-4 overall, 0-2 in the confernce, and are being led by Kira Curland's eight points (four goals). Penn State leads the all-time series 25-4, downing the Hoosiers in the last meeting, 3-0 on 4/11/21 in Happy Valley.
Northwestern checks in with an 8-2 mark overall, 0-1 in the Big Ten. The Wildcats lost a 2-1 home game to Rutgers on Friday in their last contest. Bente Baekers has 22 points to lead NU with eight goals and six assists. The Nittany Lions lead the all-time series 33-6-1, including a 2-1 double-overtime win in Virginia Beach in the last meeting on 3/5/21.
Penn State will host two games again next weekend. The Nittany Lions host Rutgers on Friday, Oct. 8, at 4 p.m. in a Big Ten battle. The team then welcomes Bucknell on Saturday, Oct. 9, at 2 p.m. in a non-conference battle.
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.
THIS WEEK'S ACTION
#8 Penn State (6-2, 1-1 B1G) vs. Indiana (6-4, 0-2 B1G)
DATE: Friday, Oct. 1, 2021 - 6 p.m.
SITE: Penn State Field Hockey Complex
Penn State Head Coach: Char Morett-Curtiss
Indiana Head Coach: Kayla Bahsore
All-Time Series: Penn State leads 25-4
Last Meeting: W, 3-0 (4/11/21) at Penn State
#8 Penn State (6-2, 1-1 B1G) vs. #4 Northwestern (8-2, 0-1 B1G)
DATE: Sunday, Oct. 3, 2021 - 12 p.m.
SITE: Penn State Field Hockey Complex
Penn State Head Coach: Char Morett-Curtiss
Northwestern Head Coach: Tracey Fuchs
All-Time Series: Penn State leads 33-6-1
Last Meeting: W, 2-1 2ot (3/5/21 at Virginia Beach, Va.
NOTES
GLADIEUX SCORES TWICE TO LEAD PSU TO 3-2 OT WIN AT #7 MARYLAND; B1G OFFENSIVE AoW
Sophomore Sophia Gladieux scored twice to lead Penn State to a 3-2 overtime win at #7 Maryland on Sept. 18. Gladieux connected on two backhands in the game, including the winner in overtime. Mackenzie Allessie scored Penn State's other goal and goalie Brie Barraco had seven saves in the win. Gladieux was named the Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week for her efforts.
BARRACO'S SIX SAVES AND A BALANCED ATTACK LEADS LIONS TO 3-0 WIN OVER #19 DELAWARE
Junior goalie Brie Barraco notched six saves to anchor a stingy Penn State defense and picked up her first shutout of the season in a 3-0 win over #19 Delaware on Sept. 12 in State College. Anna Simon, Mackenzie Allessie and Sophia Gladieux each scored in the win.
SIMON'S TWO GOALS LEADS PENN STATE TO 3-1 WIN OVER ALBANY
Senior Anna Simon connected twice on Penn State's penalty corner set, taking assists from Mackenzie Allessie and Elena Vos, to spark Penn State to a 3-1 win over Albany on Sept. 10 in Happy Valley.
GLADIEUX'S TWO GOALS LEAD PENN STATE TO 3-2 WIN OVER #20 ST. JOSEPH'S
Sophomore Sophia Gladieux notched two goals to lead Penn State to a 3-2 victory over St. Joseph's on Sept. 5. Gladieux's two-goal effort was joined by a solo score from Emma Spisak as Penn State won its home opener at the Penn State Field Hockey Complex.
SIMON'S HAT TRICK LEADS PENN STATE TO ROAD WIN AT WILLIAM AND MARY
Senior Anna Simon notched a hat trick to lead Penn State to a 7-2 road win at William and Mary on Aug. 29. Simon's three goals all came off Penn State's superb penalty corner set. Mackenzie Allessie had two assists, Elena Vos had two assists, Meghan Reese had a goal and an assist, Emma Spisak had a goal and Sophia Gladieux had a goal and two assists. Brie Barraco had four saves in the win as well..
PUNCH'S BREAKAWAY LIFTS PENN STATE TO 3-2 VICTORY AT #8 VIRGINIA TO START SEASON
Junior Jemma Punch took a pass from senior Emma Spisak in overtime and broke away for the game-winning goal in a 3-2 (ot) win at #8 Virginia in Penn State's 2021 season opener on Aug. 27. Punch's goal capped off a thrilling road win. Anna Simon and Sophia Gladieux each had goals as well and keeper Brie Barraco withstood 25 Cavalier shots, collecting nine saves.
PENN STATE RANKED #8 IN NFHCA COACHES POLL
Penn State is ranked #8 in the latest NFHCA Coaches Poll. The Nittany Lions are one of six Big Ten teams ranked in the top ten.
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.
