UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. October 22, 2004 - The Penn State field hockey team (9-7, 3-2) came alive offensively, rolling over Northwestern, 6-3, in Evanston, Ill. on Friday. It was the most goals scored in a game by the Nittany Lions this year. Michele Rigby (Dover, Del.) put up a hat trick off seven shots in the game. Karin Grap (Van Etten, N.Y.) scored twice and Mallory Weisen (Middleburg, Pa.) found the back of the cage once.

Grap scored the first two goals of the game, the first coming at the 12:54 mark off a centering pass from Bekah Hostetler (State College, Pa.). Grap then fired a second shot just six minutes later off a pass from Carey Maser (Medford, N.J.)

Northwestern fired back, scoring at the 32:55 mark to pull within one. But with just 30 seconds left in the half, Penn State's Rigby scored off a pass from Amanda Eckert (Lititz, Pa.). Rigby scored the next two goals in the game for Penn State, both unassisted an in the second half. Weisen's goal came off a Kiersten Wood pass at the 58:43 mark of the contest.

Penn State doubled Northwestern in shots, 20-10, and also held an 11-5 edge in penalty corners.

The Nittany Lions will stay in Evanston for a 2 p.m. matchup vs. Duke on Saturday. The team plays at Bucknell oon Oct. 26, and hosts Michigan Oct. 30 for the final home game of the season. That contest against the Wolverines will be the last for seniors Grap, Rigby and Eckert, and the trio will be honored before the game.