Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1482664
5 0 N O V E M B E R 2 0 2 2 W W W . B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M I t was a Tuesday, four days before the fifth-ranked Penn State field hockey team was set to host second-ranked Maryland, and junior forward Sophia Gladieux was already dwelling on the matchup. While sitting in class, she pulled out her phone and typed out a text message to her father. "I said, 'I'm in class. I'm so nervous. I shouldn't be texting, but my mind is just wandering,'" Gladieux told GoPSU- Sports.com. "He's my go-to guy when my nerves start to get out of control. "He just said, 'Take a deep breath, take things one day at a time. It's Tues- day, the game's not till Friday. Just fo- cus on practice. Focus on having a good practice. Focus on class when you're in class.'" Gladieux has put an emphasis on try- ing to stay in the moment rather than letting her mind race. It's one of two areas in which the two-time All-Amer- ican has sought to improve this year. If her statistical portfolio is any in- dication, she's succeeded. Through Penn State's first 16 matches, Gladieux was first in the Big Ten in goals (20) and game-winning goals (7), and second in points (43). Those numbers include two goals in PSU's much-anticipated showdown with the Terrapins. She evened the score at 1-1 late in the first quarter, and then contributed to a three-goal second- quarter barrage, helping the Nittany Lions cruise to a 5-1 victory. Head coach Char Morett-Curtiss called it "a very good win for us against a good opponent." Gladieux's goal-scoring prowess is a testament to the other area she has prioritized this year. Known primarily for her potent backhand shot, she went into the season looking to find other ways of scoring. "My freshman and sophomore years, the majority of my goals were scored on my backhand," she said. "I think that's pretty much known by everyone who's watched me play. I'm really good at my backhand. "This year, I've not scored that many on my backhand. I still have that, but I've really grown in that aspect. I'm scoring in different ways. "That not only makes me a better player, but it's harder for other teams to scout me now. I've had girls come up to me and say, 'Our coach tells us, get her on her forehand, because she's really good on her backhand.' "It's like, 'All right, now what are they going to tell you, because I have a little bit more in my toolbox.' It's refreshing knowing that I do have those different goal-scoring skills." Even before she began working to expand her repertoire, Gladieux was a goal-scoring force for the Nittany Lions. She had been a four-time all- state player and three-time MAX Field Hockey All-American at Oley (Pa.) Val- OLYMPIC SPORTS Heading into Penn State's regular-season finale against Rutgers, Gladieux was tied for the Big Ten lead with 20 goals. PHOTO COURTESY PENN STATE ATHLETICS Goal Oriented High-scoring forward Sophia Gladieux keeps the PSU field hockey team rolling M AT T H E R B | M A T T. H E R B @ O N 3 . C O M