Penn State field hockey weekend preview

After suffering three straight losses to open the year, two of which came at the hands of top-10 opponents, the Penn State Nittany Lions secured a 5-4 victory over the Delaware Fightin’ Blue Hens last Sunday night.

Standout forward and 2024 Summer Olympian Sophia Gladieux found the back of the net three times, including the game-winning goal with only minutes remaining. Gladieux leads the team in goals with six and is the focal point of this Nittany Lion offense. She currently is tied for second in the nation in goals.

The Penn State Nittany Lions field hockey team is looking to pick up its second consecutive win for the first time this season. Currently holding a 1-3 record, the Nittany Lions set their sights on Kent State as they travel to Ohio Friday night in hopes of adding to the win column.

The team will visit Murphy-Mellis Field to take on the Kent State Golden Flashes before returning home to host the Princeton Tigers on Sunday. On Friday, the Nittany Lions will face Kent State at 3 p.m., while the Princeton matchup will take place at noon on Sunday.

The Golden Flashes, still searching for their first win, are back home following a three-game losing streak on the West Coast. Friday’s game also marks the university’s celebration of 50 seasons as a varsity program at Kent State.

Under newly hired head coach Heather Hefner, Kent State has gotten off to a slow start, being outscored 15-4 over its first five games. Having yet to score more than one goal in any single game this year, the Golden Flashes may struggle to contain Gladieux and the rest of the Nittany Lions.

Following their match against Kent State, the Nittany Lions will return to the Field Hockey Complex on Sunday to play No. 15 Princeton, which comes into the matchup with a 1-1 record. Before Sunday’s game against Penn State, the Tigers will take on Miami (Ohio) on Friday.

The Tigers are coming off a weekend in Louisville, Kentucky, where they picked up a 1-0 shutout win over No. 7 Louisville and lost 2-0 to No. 2 North Carolina. Under head coach Carla Tagliente, the Tigers have reached the NCAA championship game and three NCAA Final Fours in just seven seasons.

Princeton aims to anchor its strategy around a formidable defense led by standout senior goaltender Robyn Thompson. Last season, Thompson earned All-Ivy League honorable mention and has played like a first-team All-Ivy League selection this year. Through two games, Thompson has allowed just two goals while making 11 saves.

Penn State faces a tough test in this weekend’s matches. After a rocky 1-3 start, the Nittany Lions have a chance to turn things around and reach .500 for the first time this season.

Joseph Granton is a fourth-year majoring in broadcast journalism.To contact him, email jlg6619@psu.edu.