Blue White Illustrated

October 2022

Penn State Sports Magazine

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O C T O B E R 2 0 2 2 15 W W W . B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M PENN STATE'S TOP PERFORMERS Paul DeNaples — Men's Ice Hockey In August, DeNaples became only the second player to be named Penn State's captain for multiple years, joining Tommy Olczyk, who wore the "C" during the 2012-13 and 2013-14 seasons. A super senior defenseman from Moscow, Pa., DeNaples was captain last year and an assistant captain in 2020-21. He hasn't missed a game for the Nittany Lions since arriving at PSU in 2018, having played in 133 consecutive games heading into this year's season opener against Canisius. DeNaples goes into his final season ranked eighth in program history in both points (34) and assists (27) by a defenseman. His career plus-minus mark — plus 50 — is tied for the best in PSU history. Sophia Gladieux — Field Hockey The junior forward from Boyertown, Pa., got Penn State's sea- son off to a strong start when she scored with 32 seconds left in regulation to lift the 11th-ranked Nittany Lions past visiting No. 12 Virginia 3-2 on Aug. 26. Penn State had never led at any point in the game until Gladieux fired a shot past Cavaliers goalkeeper Ty- ler Kennedy for an unassisted goal and a season-opening victory. Gladieux was coming off a sophomore season in which she led the Nittany Lions with 18 goals and 38 points. She's picked up right where she left off in 2022. Through Penn State's first seven games, she was second in the Big Ten in both goals (8) and points (19), helping the Lions rise to No. 6 in the national rankings. Peter Mangione — Men's Soccer A junior midfielder from Hunt Valley, Md., Mangione was named Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week and also earned a spot on the College Soccer News Men's National Team of the Week for his performance in wins over West Virginia and George Mason in early September. Against the 18th-ranked Mountaineers, he scored 2 goals, including a penalty kick that proved decisive in Penn State's 3-2 victory at Jeffrey Field. Three days later, Mangione scored on another penalty kick, giving the Nittany Lions an early lead in what would turn out to be a 3-1 victory over the host Patriots. Through Penn State's first six games of the season, Mangione was leading the team with 8 points on 3 goals and 2 assists. Kashauna Williams — Women's Volleyball Penn State got off to a blazing 11-0 start this year, rising to No 9 in the AVCA rankings through Sept. 18, and Williams was a big reason for the team's early-season success. Through 11 matches, the grad transfer from Long Beach State was leading PSU with an average of 3.31 points per set. She shared Big Ten Player of the Week honors after leading the Lions to a pair of five-set wins over ranked opponents at the Big Ten/Pac-12 Challenge in early Sep- tember. Against No. 11 Stanford and No. 18 Oregon, she averaged 3.65 points, 3.20 kills and 0.70 blocks per set. She was especially effective in the de- cisive fifth set of both matches, hitting .500 with 3 kills against the Cardinal and .444 with 4 kills and 3 blocks against the Ducks. — Matt Herb PSU Trustees Approve Plan For Alcohol Sales The Penn State board of trustees voted on Sept. 23 to approve an al- cohol plan that will bring beer and wine sales to the concourse level of Beaver Stadium for the first time. "Penn State Athletics is continu- ously looking for ways to provide additional amenities to fans to im- prove the game day experience," a news release said. "A 2021 Beaver Stadium study suggested there was an ever-growing need to improve the fan experience and amenities … with one of those recommenda- tions being the addition of the sale of alcohol in stadium." Penn State said the revenue gen- erated by alcohol sales will be used to pay for deferred maintenance projects at the stadium. University officials have not yet decided when sales will be- gin. They did note, however, that beer will be sold throughout the stadium except for areas near the student section. While the plan was a response to a fan survey, there is little double that new athletics director Patrick Kraft was instrumental in quickly getting it implemented. Kraft had said at Big Ten Media Days in July that the university had to find more ways to make money off Beaver Stadium. Selling alcohol at games fits with that imperative. Penn State said sales will end in the third quarter. Fans will be limited to two drinks per transac- tion and will be required to pres- ent identification proving they are over 21. They will be required to wear a wristband after their age is verified. In announcing the decision, Penn State noted that eight other Big Ten schools sell beer, wine or both at their games, as do nearly half of the schools in the Power Five conferences. — Greg Pickel

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