Oct. 4, 2013
| at #8 Penn State |
|
| Date | Friday, Oct. 5 | Noon CT |
| Location | Penn State Field Hockey Complex | University Park, Pa. |
| Live Stats | Gametracker |
| at Kent State |
|
| Date | Sunday, Oct. 6 | 11 a.m CT |
| Location | Murphy-Mellis Field | Kent, Ohio |
| Live Stats | KentStateSports.com |
EVANSTON, Ill. -- An inside track for the Big Ten regular-season field hockey title is on the line Saturday as No. 10 Northwestern begins a month-long road swing at No. 8 Penn State on Saturday. The contest is slated to get underway at noon Central time.
The Wildcats will then step outside Big Ten play Sunday as they square off against Kent State at 11 a.m. CT.
NU (10-2 overall) enters the match at Penn State with a 2-0 league mark, while the Nittany Lions have won their lone conference match to date. The two teams are the highest-ranked Big Ten squads in this week's Penn Monto/NFHCA Coaches Poll. Penn State won the conference title a year ago, while Northwestern finished second despite the 'Cats notching a 5-4 overtime win in Evanston.
The Wildcats got their Big Ten slate off to a great start last weekend, defeating No. 14 Iowa 4-3 in overtime on Friday before taking down No. 19 Michigan 4-1 on Sunday. Isabel Flens was named the Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week and Freshman of the Week for her efforts in the two contests. The native of Hattem, Netherlands, scored three goals with two game-winning scores, including the golden goal nine minutes into the first overtime session against the Hawkeyes. She followed it up by scoring two goals vs. the Wolverines.
Classmate Dominique Masters contributed her first collegiate hat trick in the Iowa match. Her two first-half goals helped NU jump out to a 2-0 halftime lead before her goal with 1:47 remaining in regulation forced overtime.
Northwestern's balanced attack features five players who have scored at least five goals, paced by senior Nikki Parsley who has eight tallies. The team leads the conference with an average of 10.50 penalty corners per game, an average of 1.00 more per game than second-ranking Penn State.
Defensively, the 'Cats rank eighth in the nation and first in the Big Ten with a 1.14 goals-against average behind goalkeeper Maddy Carpenter.
Scouting Penn State
The Nittany Lions (7-3, 1-0) rolled to a 4-0 win at Indiana in their Big Ten opener on Sunday. Laura Gebhart was named the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week for her efforts in wins over the Hoosiers and Miami University. Offensively, Taylor Herold and Ashtin Klingler are tied for the team lead with seven goals apiece. In goal, Kylie Licata sports a 1.60 goals-against average and a .660 save percentage. PSU has won its last six matches since starting the season 1-3. The Nittany Lions have allowed just one goal in its last four contests.
Scouting Kent State
The Golden Flashes take a 4-7 record into Friday's home game against Missouri State. Kent State enters Friday's match having lost its last five matches, most recently falling 1-0 at Lock Haven on Sunday. Julia Hoffman ranks first on the team with seven goals and five assists for 19 points. The team's average of 3.36 goals per game ranks eighth in the nation. In goal, Jahna Jordan has a 3.40 goals-against average and a .614 save percentage.
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