Penn State gets set to play Maryland in regular season finale

In the final weekend of the women’s field hockey season, the Nittany Lions will play host to the Maryland Terrapins in the afternoon battle after Halloween.

Penn State enters the contest ranked No. 18 in the country as they take on Maryland checking in at No. 6 in the NCAA’s recent rankings.

Penn State lost their last matchup this past weekend 1-0 on the road against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights. A win in the season finale will push them over the .500 mark for the season.

It hasn’t been as many people would say, easy for the blue and white, considering they’ve had an up-and-down season with a 6-0 loss against Michigan, along with a 5-0 win at Ohio University.

Nothing has been consistent, to say the least, but it is how you finish that matters now for the Nittany Lions.

And Maryland will be no easy task.

The Terrapins have an impressive 11-5 record this season, which includes a big win at home against a Top 10 Michigan Wolverines team.

The Big Ten is no joke in field hockey at the Division I level, and Maryland has passed the test for the majority of the season with a 5-2 conference record.

A player to keep your eye on this Friday is Hope Rose for the visitors. Rose comes into the matchup with nine goals and 19 points on the season to lead the team.

Maryland has had a nice offensive attack this season that has helped their offense out tenfold in numerous games where they have needed a goal.

That will make the Penn State defense have to work harder this weekend.

Penn State has one of the best players in the country, Sophia Gladieux, who will likely be doubled in the game by the Terrapins.

Another player to look out for in this one is Julienne van Bekkum, Bekkum has three goals this season, second to Gladieux, and will hopefully see more opportunities in the final contest of the season.

Both teams wrap up their season during the first weekend of November as they prepare for the Big Ten tournament which starts next Thursday.

Maryland will be the host of the tournament this year.

Giustino Racchini is a second-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email gar5448@psu.edu.