By Jackson Thibodeau, GoPSUsports.com Student Staff Writer
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The seniors of the Penn State field hockey team took the field on Sunday afternoon with bouquets of flowers in hand and jubilant tears streaming down their faces.

Nearing the end of their collegiate playing days, the four seniors were recognized in a pregame ceremony prior to the team's highly anticipated matchup and 5-1 victory over Iowa.

"The seniors really led this win today," said head coach Charlene Morett. "They came out and were very aggressive at the start--I'm so proud of them."

Surprising her fans and teammates was redshirt senior goalkeeper Ayla Halus, who sang the national anthem before Sunday's contest.

The joyful and reminiscent emotions didn't last long, however, as the team shifted focus to what they knew would be a physical matchup against the Hawkeyes.

"That's just the way it is. It is a physical game. It's a Big Ten game," said Morett.

The Nittany Lions took the field fully expecting a gritty battle with their conference foes, but by no means did that cause them to back down.

Before the game, Penn State football head coach Bill O'Brien spoke to the team about how to feed off of the game's intensity.

"He told us 'They're not going to come on our field and push us around,'" said senior Kelsey Amy. "I think we went out there and played aggressively, kept our composure and played a great game."

The intensity remained strong throughout the entire showdown, as a total of five penalty cards were issued to the teams (three to Iowa and two to Penn State).

Amy had a terrific day in front of the 600-person crowd, registering three goals and one assist.

Two of her goals came by way of one of the strongest aspects of this year's squad--penalty corner execution.

"They were right on," said Morett in reference to her team's penalty corner success. "The thing that I am really proud of is that we didn't even give up a corner and they have some dangerous corners."

The Nittany Lions have registered a combined 80 more penalty corners than their opponents this season.

Penn State continued that dominance on Sunday, registering 12 penalty corner attempts compared to the Hawkeye's zero.

Penalty corners weren't the only means by which the Nittany Lions found the back of the cage--extreme physicality and relentless defensive pressure in the midfield transitioned into fast breaks for Penn State.In the midst of the offensive pushes was junior Ashtin Klingler, who registered two goals on the day.

The 11th-ranked Hawkeyes came into University Park with the best goals-against-average in the Big Ten, giving up just 1.57 goals per game.

This impressive statistic didn't hold up long in Happy Valley as Penn State put three goals up on the board in the first 15 minutes of the matchup on their way to a four-goal victory.

"Bill O'Brien told our team to play complementary field hockey today and that's what he does with his football team," said Morett.

"When the defense comes up with a great play or an interception then the offense has to turn it into points--that's what the girls did today."

The tough midfield defense was complemented by precision passing and a well-executed offensive attack in the decisive victory.

"I think we did a great job of finding each other today and that's why we were so successful," said Amy.

With just two conference games remaining this season for the Nittany Lions, the victory over Iowa puts them in prime position to secure a Big Ten regular season title.

As long as the squad can earn wins against both Ohio State and Michigan State, they will own the regular season crown, holding the tiebreaker over Iowa.

Penn State is set to take the field again on Friday afternoon as they travel to Columbus to square off against Ohio State. Game time is slated for 3 p.m.

By Jackson Thibodeau, GoPSUsports.com Student Staff Writer
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.- Every effort counts. Whether it is a single game in the quest for a Big Ten Championship or a small donation to assist in finding a cure for breast cancer, each step factors into achieving the ultimate goal at hand.

For Coach Charlene Morett and the Penn State field hockey team, Sunday's victory over California served as a step in the right direction in the quest of tackling two goals very important to the program--beating breast cancer and winning a Big Ten regular season championship.

The Nittany Lions wore pink and white uniforms in their 6-2 thrashing of the Golden Bears for their annual "Pink Zone" game.

"Obviously, it affects every one of us in some way," said Morett in reference to disease.

"With the Pink Zone, what Coquese [Washington] has done is just outstanding. We just want to keep building from every athletic standpoint to make sure we're doing our best to try and find a cure."

Washington, along with the entire Penn State women's basketball team, was in attendance on Sunday, supporting the field hockey team and the fight against cancer.

During the matchup, fans helped the Nittany Lions in their quest to tackle their goals by way of purchasing raffle tickets proceeding breast cancer research and cheering the Lions one game closer to a pivotal matchup against Iowa next week with Big Ten title implications on the line.

"We have to stay focused at the task at hand," said junior Ashtin Klingler, who registered her ninth goal of the season on Sunday.

Defeating Cal doesn't directly benefit the Lions regarding a Big Ten regular season title, but the game served as an important confidence boost and way to work out some kinks before hosting Iowa next Sunday.

"I said to the team, 'It's a way to come back'," said Morett. "To have that win and to make a statement today...what's really important right now is to focus back on Big Ten competition with Iowa on Sunday."

A great defensive effort, constant communication and offensive execution carried Penn State to the victory over the Golden Bears.

"I think that our defense really stepped up in this game," said Klingler. "They really came through and came up with interceptions that kept it out of our circle."

Klingler and junior Whitney Reddig exhibited tremendous communication and chemistry with one another during the contest, forcing California turnovers and pushing the ball together into the scoring territory.

"From the start, we always say 'Let's try to work well together this game'," said Reddig in reference to her communication strategy with Klingler.

The two juniors pieced together a flawless drive down the field in the first half following a Reddig forced turnover, leading to a Klingler score.

"Our communication as a team has gotten so much better since the Northwestern game," said sophomore Taylor Herold.

Penn State lost a heartbreaker to Northwestern last weekend, falling in overtime to the Wildcats. Several Nittany Lions cited some communication issues in the loss, but there was no sign of that during Sunday's victory.

As for placement in the Big Ten, the Nittany Lions (2-1 in the conference) sit one game behind the Hawkeyes (3-0 in the conference). Each team has three Big Ten games remaining, including the matchup against each other on Sunday.

"I think for us, we know if we're going to try and vie for that Big Ten Championship, it's going to go through Iowa," said Morett.

The teams will square off at the Penn State Field Hockey Complex on Sunday, Oct. 14 at noon.

By Jackson Thibodeau, GoPSUsports.com Student Staff Writer
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.- As a member of both the Penn State field hockey and women's lacrosse teams, junior Lauren Purvis enjoys being in-season all year long.

"It is just great to always have a game to look forward to," said Purvis.

Purvis, referred to by her teammates as "LP", wears the No. 10 jersey for both squads. Her jersey number, however, isn't the only consistency that she displays on both fields.

"What allows Lauren to be so successful in both sports is that she is really such a strong athlete and has great endurance," said head field hockey coach Charlene Morett.

"Both lacrosse and field hockey are running games, and Lauren's amazing fitness level is an asset to both teams."

Purvis has been an integral contributor to both teams in her two seasons with lacrosse and what is now her third season with field hockey.

She has registered 13 career goals and six career assists as a starting forward/midfielder on the field hockey field, and five career goals coming off the bench as a midfielder on the lacrosse team.

As for balancing academic and personal life with two Division I sports, Purvis claims that her busy and structured lifestyle assists her in staying focused and being productive.

A typical day in her shoes consists of classes from 8 a.m. until 2 p.m., followed by practice, dinner, homework and then eventually--sleep.

Although each sport only competes during one season--field hockey in the fall and lacrosse in the spring, athletes are involved with their sport year-round.

For Purvis, this involvement is a bit more challenging.

"Field hockey is the sport I focus on during the fall, that's it," said Purvis. "The day after field hockey ends...it is lacrosse season."

Come November, Purvis undergoes a physical and mental transition from one sport right into the next.

Physically, the transition isn't too drastic. She is in shape from months of field hockey competition, and the move from one sport to the other simply means picking up her things and crossing the hallway in the East Area Locker Room Building from the field hockey locker room into the lacrosse locker room.

Purvis takes advantage of holiday breaks from academics to switch gears from a field hockey shape and mentality into that of lacrosse.

"I'm always a little bit rusty after field hockey season, but I have been playing since I was so young that the concepts and feel for the game are always there," she said.

"It comes down to refining concrete things like my stick skills."

As for her involvement with one team while she is in-season with another team, it all comes down to circumstance.

Given her commitment to both squads, she will be in attendance for postseason team functions and meetings for field hockey as long as they don't conflict with anything lacrosse-related.

"Lauren has tremendous leadership qualities and she contributes so much to this team on and off the field," said Morett. "We wish we could see more of her in the spring."

Purvis, a talented athlete and proud Penn Stater, comes from a long line of Nittany Lion athletes.

Her mother, Sue Purvis, was a member of the field hockey team from 1977-79 and was teammates with Coach Morett when Morett was a student-athlete. Lauren's aunt was also a member of the field hockey team from 1971-73, while her grandfather ran track and cross country for the Nittany Lions from 1949-51.

Lauren also had the opportunity to play on the same squad as her sister, Jenny Purvis, who was a standout on the field hockey team from 2007-10.

"I've had a close relationship with the family and I recruited Lauren and Jenny ever since they were toddlers," said Morett. "Like their mother, they are both such great competitors and I always wanted both of them on my team."

For Purvis, she might be a member of two different squads in the fall and the spring, but she is truly just a member of one team, and that team is Penn State.

"Both teams work extremely hard and have so much heart and hustle," said Purvis. "It's nice to have such hard working teams and great coaches."

By Jackson Thibodeau, GoPSUsports.com Student Staff Writer
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The similarities between last year's Penn State field hockey team and the 2012 squad are striking.

After 10 regular season games, the Nittany Lions find themselves with one more win than they had at the same mark during last year's campaign. 

For head coach Charlene Morett, the similar successes can be attributed to a focus on fundamentals and an existing chemistry among her team that carries over from last season.

"This program has always been built on team chemistry and togetherness," said Morett. "You hear coach Bill O'Brien talk about what a special group of players he has--well we feel the same way about our team."

This season's squad returned all but four members of the 2011 Big Ten Tournament Championship team, and only added three newcomers.

"This team is so similar to last year's," said senior Kelsey Amy. "We brought back pretty much everyone so I think working with each other from last year has carried into this season and has really united us as a team."

In 2011, the program defeated Michigan in the Big Ten Tournament title game in Happy Valley, but ended up dropping a close contest to Connecticut in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.

But the question lingers--how can this group of Nittany Lions avoid last year's NCAA Tournament fate and get the program back to their first Final Four appearance in five seasons?

Stay united and execute on fundamentals as the season winds down.

"There are a lot of things that have to happen before we get back to that point again," said Morett in reference to a return to the national semifinals.

"If we can do our job in the defensive end of the 25, not give up unnecessary shots and execute on offense--we will be ok."

The Nittany Lions faced four top-10 teams in the first half of the season--a tough schedule that has primed them for the rigor of Big Ten play.

"We can go back to those games and see why we were successful against some of those high quality opponents and know that's the type of effort we need to bring into the Big Ten," said Morett.

Penn State has certainly brought the effort into conference play since joining the Big Ten in 1992.

They lead the conference in inter-conference victories at 106, and are tied with Michigan for the lead in Big Ten Tournament titles at five apiece.  The Lions are already off to a strong start to conference play, picking up wins over No. 24 Indiana and No. 17 Michigan over the weekend.

Now, as the Nittany Lions prepare to face three more top-25 opponents in the final six games of the season, they look back to the season's beginning and learn from what they've achieved so far.

In the first five games of the campaign, all but two of the contests were decided by just one goal. As the team started to become more fundamentally sound and form an even closer bond, those margins of victory jumped to an average of five goals per game leading up to the beginning of conference play last weekend.

The fundamentals--passing, scoring on penalty corners and playing consistent defense have all been coachable aspects of the game for Coach Morett, but the true driving force behind this 10-2 team is their togetherness.

"This is the closest team I've ever been on and I have been here for five years," said fifth-year senior Hannah Allison.

Not only does this team stay close and communicate on the field, but they stand right by one another in matters that aren't even related to field hockey.

"We are closer than ever this year," said goalkeeper Ayla Halus. "We have a lot of fun on and off the field--especially going to watch other teams play."

"We are all one team here at Penn State."

By Jackson Thibodeau, GoPSUsports.com Student Staff Writer
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.- Speechless.

For what many describe to have been a first in her 29-year coaching career, field hockey head coach Charlene Morett was at a loss for words following her milestone victory over Indiana.

The dominant, 7-1 thrashing of the Hoosiers served as Morett's 400^th career victory as the head coach of the Nittany Lions--a feat that has only been accomplished by three other coaches in NCAA history.

"It is an honor and a privilege for be to be a coach here and to represent all the other coaches here and everybody that has been a part of the Penn State athletic family," said Morett.

Morett began her collegiate field hockey career at the place that she likes to call home--The Pennsylvania State University.

As a Nittany Lion, she netted 50 goals in four years, and became the only player in Penn State field hockey history to be named a First-Team All-American three seasons in a row.

Her phenomenal scoring abilities and leadership earned her the role of team captain of the undefeated 1978 team, and propelled her to a career at the international level as she became a two-time Olympian.

Morett's 26 seasons at Penn State are a testament to her loyalty and determination--qualities that were even evident in her career as a player.

After her playing days in Happy Valley were over, she remained a member of the Nittany Lion team as a graduate assistant and stayed with the squad during her Olympic training.

Her loyalties weren't only extended to Penn State--but her country as well.

In 1980, when Morett was scheduled to make her first appearance on the Olympic stage, the U.S. boycotted the Moscow Games, and the team didn't see any Olympic action.

This didn't stop her. She continued to train and traveled the world to play in numerous international matches to ready herself for her next goal, the 1984 Olympics.

She went on to win bronze in '84, and 27 years after the 1980 boycott, was awarded a Congressional Gold Medal.

After her playing days ended, she became the head field hockey and lacrosse coach at Boston College. In just three seasons with the Eagles, she resurrected the program and earned herself the ticket she had been waiting for--a ticket back home.

In 1987, Morett returned to Happy Valley and was named the head coach of the Nittany Lion field hockey team, filling the shoes of her former coach and mentor Gillian Rattray.

"So many people made my experience at Penn State as an athlete so wonderful and rewarding that I wanted to come back and give back to the program," she said.

In 26 seasons leading the program, she has given back in many forms. But most recognizably in the form of 24 winning seasons, 36 First-Team All-Americans, two Final Four appearances, and of course--400 wins.

But this milestone isn't all about statistics and isn't even solely about Morett. It is about the Nittany Lion family.

"I have the greatest job in the world because I am coaching at a university that I love and coaching with my best friend," said associate head coach Lisa Bervinchak-Love.

Bervinchak-Love, referred to as "LB" by Morett, has been an assistant on the Penn State sideline for 18 seasons and played for the Nittany Lions for three seasons.

The trend of player becoming a coach at the same university hasn't been a rare occurrence in the Penn State field hockey program.

Morett and LB are joined in this list by current volunteer assistant coach Jen Long, who was a standout for the Nittany Lions from 2005-2008, and former assistant coach and player Tara Maguire, among others.

So what is it about Happy Valley that brings these Nittany Lions back and retains them here for so long?

For LB and Morett, it's the unity of the entire university, the athletic program, and the community that surrounds it.

"It's too hard not to love this place," said Bervinchak-Love. "I couldn't see myself anywhere else. I love being a part of the Penn State family."

The unity and loyalty that has been displayed by the coaching duo and by so many other Penn State student-athletes and coaches isn't something that is necessarily coached--but something that is acquired and inherited while playing under the shadow of Mt. Nittany.

"A lot of credit goes to the athletes that come here and that they understand the tradition of success," said Morett.

This year's squad has a clear understanding of the Penn State tradition of success and the importance of togetherness. Even after a monumental win for their coach and their season, the focus remains the same.

"Coach is just a great person and she consistently tries to make us better on and off the field," said junior Lauren Purvis. "Today's game was a great way to open up against the Big Ten and we have a big game on Sunday."

So just like that, 400 wins and a 7-1 victory aside, this squad is heading back to work and focusing on what lies ahead--a tough conference schedule and an exciting postseason opportunity.

By Jackson Thibodeau, GoPSUsports.com Student Staff Writer
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.- Finishing on offense. It's a concept that field hockey head coach Charlene Morett and her team stressed at practice leading up to Wednesday's matchup with Lock Haven.

But how do you finish and find the back of the cage?

The answers drawn up at practice were simple for the Nittany Lions--and during Wednesday night's decisive 5-0 victory over Lock Haven, it became evident that the team had found these answers.

Vision, selflessness, and scoring from the field.

"It was awesome--there was just so much more fluidity," said sophomore Laura Gebhart, who registered a goal and an assist against the Lady Eagles.

"We just opened up and were there for each other. We had a lot of support passes and just built up for each other."

Gebhart scored the first goal of the game for Penn State and was one of five Nittany Lions who put a goal on the board in the contest.

"I thought during the Cornell game we were a bit too individual," said Morett.

The Nittany Lions certainly weren't too individually minded in Wednesday night's shutout of Lock Haven.

Not only did five different Penn Staters tally a goal, seven players recorded a point (goal or assist) and 11 members of the squad registered a shot.

Among the players making a big impact in the victory was junior Whitney Reddig, responsible for two assists against the Lady Eagles.

"I thought we did really well and I didn't think there was any changes when subs came in," said Reddig. "We did keep our heads up and we possessed [the ball] pretty well."

Reddig's two assists came via her specialty--inserting a pass during a penalty corner.

The first was a beautiful insert directly to senior Kelsey Amy who fired it into the back of the cage. The second got even more Nittany Lions involved as Reddig rocketed the pass into Gebhart, who stopped the ball in its tracks and set up a Hannah Allison shot and goal.

"We have really great shooters at the top of the circle and really great stoppers," said Reddig.

Reddig's impact was certainly felt for Penn State, as she was on the field for all five of the Nittany Lion's goals.

"She just has such a strong insert," said Morett. "When she is not in the game we are very mindful of that."

Penalty corners are a focus of the Coach Morett's strategy and are the source of many Penn State goals. Following Wednesday's victory, the Nittany Lions totaled 38 more combined penalty corners than their opponents.

As for what makes Penn State's penalty corner strategy so effective compared to opponents--a lot of Lions getting a touch on the ball.

"It all starts with getting the foul first and then Whitney's hit out and then the shot on cage," said junior Ashtin Klingler, who also registered a goal against Lock Haven.

The team veterans weren't the only influential factors in the game for Penn State. Given the sizeable lead, Morett was able to display some of her younger talent.

Among the talented youth for the Nittany Lions getting in-game action was freshman Ally Lauth. The forward, praised for her speed and competitive nature, displayed an impressive amount of hustle late in the contest.

"Ally is just a great competitor and she will dive after everything so she can be so dangerous," said Morett. "She has that spark."

Getting some playing time in the cage was redshirt sophomore Kylie Licata, who entered the contest about midway through the second half.

In 21 minutes of action, Licata registered three saves and allowed no goals.

"It was just great to see Kylie get some action and get some saves," said Morett.

The Nittany Lions will take the field again on Friday when they head to Bethlehem to take on Lehigh. Game time is slated for 6 p.m.

By Jackson Thibodeau, GoPSUsports.com Student Staff Writer
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - A quick glance at the stat sheet would give the impression that the Penn State field hockey team enjoyed a comfortable win over Cornell on Sunday.

The Nittany Lions recorded 32 shots compared to Cornell's three, but the contest was much closer than the uneven spread would suggest.

Giving the edge to Penn State in the low scoring affair was junior Brittany Grzywacz, whose two penalty stroke goals in the first half served as the only two scores in the Nittany Lion's 2-0 victory over the Big Red on Sunday.

There was no question for head coach Charlene Morett and the Nittany Lions as to who would take the penalty strokes--Grzywacz had established herself as the team's own penalty stroke specialist.

"I think she really stepped up when we needed her," said senior captain Hannah Allison in regards to Grzywacz's penalty strokes. "She practices those strokes every day and clearly came through in the clutch."

Grzywacz's two goals brought her tally to six on the season, four of which have come from penalty strokes.

Her perfect success rate from the charity strike isn't by chance--for she has been shooting, and scoring, to that same lower left corner of the cage all season.

"It's the same spot that I've been going to since I've been stroking," said Grzywacz. "It is just repetition and practicing it over and over again."

The two Nittany Lion scores came within the first eight minutes of the contest against the Big Red, leaving 62 minutes of scoreless hockey and missed opportunities by both squads.

"We need to finish," said Allison. "We are getting the shots, we are getting the corners, but it's all about finishing now and I'm sure that will be in the practice plan this week."

For Coach Morett and the Nittany Lions, finishing on offense and finding the back of the cage is just a matter of generating as many opportunities as possible.

"I really thought that we weren't drawing enough corners which is really our bread and butter," said Morett. "In the first half I thought we were just missing our mark and we weren't keeping possession."

Despite the scoring difficulties, Morett and the Nittany Lions were pleased with how they moved and possessed the ball in the second half.

"We did a really good job of getting the ball down the field and into the circle," said Grzywacz. "We talked at halftime about trying to draw a foul in the circle to get more corners."

Following the conclusion of the low-scoring affair, Penn State players and coaches stuck around the Penn State Field Hockey Complex to host a youth clinic.

"I give our players a lot of credit for staying out here and being enthusiastic," said Morett. "Field hockey is a great sport and if we don't promote it ourselves we can't ask others to do it."

Sunday's game against Cornell marked the third game in four days for the Nittany Lions, but the squad won't have long to rest as they prepare to host Lock Haven on Wednesday evening.

The team will get a break from practice on Monday, but will return to the film room and the field on Tuesday to draw up a game plan for the last home game before entering conference play.

By Jackson Thibodeau, GoPSUsports.com Student Staff Writer
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Fourteen minutes and 16 seconds. When fans, players, and coaches look for those clutch, crunch-time moments in a game, they usually think that there is much less time remaining on the clock than nearly a quarter of an hour.

Not for Penn State field hockey head coach Charlene Morett--because 14:16 is what the clock showed when she decided that her team needed to gain back some momentum in a heated defensive battle and 3-2 overtime loss to the Princeton Tigers on Thursday night.

At this key moment, Morett called a timeout--and had a clear message for her team. Be organized.

"We were getting a little tired and disorganized on the field," said Morett. "I thought I'd bring them back in, pep them up a little bit, and organize them better with our formation and our structure."

Prior to the timeout, the Nittany Lions had just surrendered a tie-breaking goal to the Tigers and were now more in need than ever to capitalize on one of their many goal-scoring opportunities.

In enters sophomore Katie Andrews off the bench for the Nittany Lions.

What was on her mind? Capitalize.

"Right spot at the right time. I just got in and got it finished," said Andrews in regards to the game-tying and eventually overtime-forcing goal that she scored after the crucial timeout.

"The build up was awesome. A lot of our forwards touched the ball but I was just lucky to get that last touch on it."

The Nittany Lions' bench erupted after Andrews found the back of the cage. It was as if 45 minutes worth of frustration of not being able to find the cage, after so many close opportunities, was lifted off their shoulders.

"I thought Katie Andrews was just outstanding," said Morett. "She's the kid who came off the bench and was just a difference maker today."

Andrew's goal came with just under 14 minutes remaining in the contest against the Tigers. It was a clutch, momentum-gaining moment, but plenty of time still remained.

As possession switched back-and-forth between the teams, the clock dwindled down until the Nittany Lions found themselves with another opportunity--this time with only two and a half minutes remaining.

Senior forward Kelsey Amy found herself racing down the left side of the field with four Princeton defenders surrounding her, and was able to get the ball into her team's offensive zone.

For the next two minutes, the Nittany Lions offense was unable to get the ball out of the corner to create another legitimate goal-scoring chance.

With just seconds remaining in the contest, the Tigers showed that they weren't quite content with overtime. The Princeton attack drove down the field, and earned a penalty corner attempt with no time remaining on the clock.

The Tigers generated a great shot attempt out of the penalty corner, but Penn State goalkeeper Ayla Halus denied the shot with a kick save.

The game entered a sudden death, 15-minute overtime period.

"Heading into overtime, we were just talking about possession and about how once we get that breakaway, go with it," said Andrews. "We have fifteen minutes to get it done."

The Nittany Lions stormed down the field in the first minute of overtime, but the Princeton defense shut down Amy's scoring attempt and forced her into the corner.

Two minutes and 17 seconds after the overtime period began, Princeton capitalized on their transition play and scored the sudden death, game-ending goal under Halus' diving save attempt.

"I think we played a full 70 minutes today," said Andrews. "It was a tough loss, but our attitude and effort was a full 70 minutes today out there on the field and it was a full team effort."

The Nittany Lions will take the field again on Saturday as they travel to Philadelphia to take on Temple at 1 p.m.

By Jackson Thibodeau, GoPSUsports.com Student Staff Writer
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - "See the field...do your job and see the field," Penn State field hockey head coach Charlene Morett said to her team late in the second half of Sunday's 3-2 win over Lafayette.

The Nittany Lions took an early lead in the contest against the Leopards, scoring just 26 seconds into the game, but ran into trouble in the second half when they struggled capitalizing on scoring chances.

"I don't think we played with the competitive spirit that we have played with in all of our other games," said Morett. "Vision and communication for 70 minutes...we didn't accomplish that."

Penn State entered the half leading 3-1, and was looking to avoid the same second-half struggles that they encountered in Friday's loss to Connecticut.

Although the Nittany Lions had difficulty finding the back of the cage in the second half, it wasn't due to a lack of opportunity.

The squad managed to tally 14 shots on goal in the second half alone, compared to Lafayette's nine. They also had an astounding 11 penalty corner attempts, but Lafayette's eight saves in the period squandered any and all scoring chances.

"We really didn't capitalize on the opportunities that we did get," said junior Lauren Purvis. "Sometimes that's just how it is."

The final goal of the game, scored by the Leopards, came with almost 20 minutes still left to play. After the score, the Nittany Lions dominated possession and scoring chances up until a very hectic final minute in which Lafayette made an offensive push.

As the Leopards drove up the field through the Penn State defense to try to put the game-tying goal on the board, Morett said just one thing to her team from the sidelines. "Get back, get back...we need you all on defense."

After a few rushed Lafayette shot attempts as the clock dwindled down, the Nittany Lions were finally able to clear the ball across midfield and secure the victory as time expired.

The win wrapped up a very impressive opening week to the season, in which Penn State earned three home victories and defeated two ranked opponents.

Although the outcome of the contest against the Leopards will fall into the victory column, the Nittany Lions are aware that there is a lot to learn from the matchup that was too close for comfort.

"We've got the endurance, we've got the skill," said senior goalie Ayla Halus, who made three saves in Sunday's matchup. "We do so much at practice...it's just a matter of taking it into our own hands and finally playing 70 minutes."

As for what is contributing to the lack of execution in the second half for Penn State, some players feel that it can be related to playing better as a team and exhibiting more focus.

"It's just mental focus," said Halus. "We have to push each other through it and make a play. It's a team effort and we are working at it every practice and it's going to come."

After a hectic weekend that consisted of two games in three days and an emotional pregame appearance at the Penn State football season-opener, the Nittany Lions will have three days of practice to prepare for their next challenge - the Princeton Tigers.

Princeton, ranked fourth in the nation, has four players on their squad that have trained with the U.S. national team for the past year.

The matchup will serve as the fourth game against an opponent ranked in the Top 10 for the Nittany Lions.

Game time is set for 6 p.m. on Thursday at the Penn State Field Hockey Complex.

By Jackson Thibodeau, GoPSUsports.com Student Staff Writer
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - A playing career is often reflected upon and summarized by a list of statistics and figures. While a stat sheet can convey the success and accolades of an athlete, it cannot describe the passion and impact that the player brought to a program.

For field hockey head coach Charlene Morett, the impact that former Nittany Lion standout Tara Maguire has had on the program cannot be defined by just a list of goals, assists, and awards.

"It is honestly hard to even talk about because I'm just so grateful to Tara and the Maguire family," said Morett in regards to the 20' x 10' state-of-the-art video scoreboard that Maguire donated to the program. "You can see how it has totally enhanced our facility."

The Nittany Lions honored Maguire and officially unveiled the scoreboard during halftime of the team's upset victory over eighth-ranked Virginia last Sunday.

The new video board was installed at the Penn State Field Hockey Complex during the offseason, and was named "The Tara Maguire Scoreboard" to honor the former Nittany Lion for her generous donation.

Maguire was a four-year starter for the Nittany Lions from 1992 to 1996. Throughout her career, she earned honors such as a 1996 first-team All-American, a six-year member of the Olympic field hockey team, and the 1996 Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year.

Maguire, referred to as "Dewey" by the team, also served as an assistant coach for the Nittany Lions beginning in 2005, but has since gone on to research Oncology at the University of Pennsylvania.

"As far as the gift...you never leave Penn State," said Maguire. "Char played such an important role in my life other than field hockey. Penn State is a huge part of my life and I just wanted to give back."

While the crystal-clear video board is what players and fans will see as her gift to the team, Morett insists that Maguire brings another very important gift to this year's squad...passion.

"Just to have a player, that played so hard with such great passion and energy, be so generous to give us something so beautiful for our facility...for our fans and our players to meet her, and match her face with that energy and this scoreboard and what it represents is very special," said Morett.

Maguire's presence at Sunday's game against UVA certainly sparked a unique level of intensity and passion in the team.

Following the victory, the team gathered under the new scoreboard and sang the Penn State fight song--a very emotional moment for Morett and Maguire.

"They are a really strong team and a really together team," said Maguire. "They looked outstanding against UVA."

The opening weekend of the season was one to be remembered for the Nittany Lions. Not only did the team start off a fresh season with an updated facility, they took down two top-10 opponents in an impressive fashion.

The Tara Maguire Scoreboard is not the only update that the team has planned for the facility. Coach Morett and the team hope to hang banners and pictures around the facility to provide a more home-like environment for players and fans.

"Hopefully we will make it warm and comforting for our fans and challenging for the other team," said Morett.

The 2-0 field hockey team will take the field again on Friday evening as they take on the Connecticut Huskies in Storrs. The Nittany Lions will return home on Sunday, Sept. 2, when they face Lafayette at 2 p.m.