Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/83706
A veteran PSU field hockey squad takes aim at the final four VARSITY VIEWS GREAT EXPECTATIONS BY RYAN JONES Blue White Contributor that are replenished year after year. Girls from the top high schools and traveling teams become young women who team up at top college programs or face off as rivals. They all know each other, and they tend to stay in touch. One of those pockets is northeastern H Pennsylvania, where high schools like Lake-Lehman and Crestwood annually feature some of the most competitive squads in the state. As a Lake-Lehman grad – not to mention an alumna of USA Olympic developmental squads – Kelsey Amy is immersed in that circle. She hears the chatter. And lately, a lot of the chatter is about her team. "You get text messages from people, and a couple of teams have even men- tioned it to us," Amy said. "We're defi- nitely getting that recognition. Now we need to recognize that we have the ability to be one of the top teams in the country." That recognition is the surest proof that the rest of the nation is taking Penn State seriously in 2012. The Nit- tany Lions are always competitive – the program's 26 NCAA tournament appearances rank third all-time – but coming off last season's 17-6 finish, and with most of the roster back this fall, expectations go beyond competitive. A more appropriate word for coach Char Morett's team is "dangerous." Amy is arguably the biggest reason why. A first-team All-American and Big Ten tournament MVP last fall, she accounted for 25 goals and 57 total igh-level field hockey is a relatively small community, the best players hailing from regions of proven talent Penn State won 11 of its first 14 match- es. That's fine with Morett, for whom defending the team's 2011 Big Ten tournament title is a primary goal. Simply put, there's a fine-line difference between last year's very good season and a great one this fall, and it comes down to nothing more than experi- ence. A look at last season's stat leaders makes it clear just how important that experience is. Penn State returned its top nine scorers from last season; more specifically, the players responsible for 77 of the team's 78 goals last year are back on the field this fall. "We're all accustomed to how we play," Amy said. "We basically just picked up where we left off last year." Even as she continues to carry an FAST START Penn State is surging this sea- son, thanks in large part to Amy, who had 12 goals in the team's first 10 games. Penn State Intercollegiate Athletics points, the sixth-highest total in the nation. With 12 goals through the team's first 10 games this season, Amy had pushed her career total to 64, tied for third on the Nittany Lions' all-time scoring list. For Amy, the vastly more important numbers in Penn State's opening 10 games were eight and two – as in 8-2, the team's record against a schedule that included four top-10 teams. The Nittany Lions opened the season with a 5-2 drubbing of No. 3 Old Dominion and followed that with a 3-2 win over No. 8 Virginia. Their only losses have come to No. 6 Connecticut and No. 4 Princeton, each by a goal. On paper, this start doesn't look all that different from last season's, when impressive percentage of the scoring load, Amy says the Nittany Lions are working to balance their attack. As of mid-September, she cited as her high- light of the season thus far an assist to sophomore Laura Gebhart in a 5-0 win over Lock Haven. "We were just passing it up and down the field," she beamed. "Char said it was one of the top five goals she's seen in her career." Penn State's play in back has been nearly as impressive – the Lions were giving up just 1.3 goals per game during their 8-2 start – and experience counts there, as well. The anchor is first-team All-Big Ten pick Ayla Halus, back for her third year as starter in goal. In front of her, the Lions are playing a retooled defensive formation brought in by former Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year and current volunteer assistant coach Jen Long. Amy jokes that she can't quite make sense of it – "It's some sort of diamond thing, and they're all moving around"– but the results can't be argued with. It's clear Morett has all the parts in place. All that's left is figuring out how to extend this run deep into November; the Lions last reached the NCAA final four in 2007, when they fell in the na- tional title game. "I've never been to a final four," Amy said. "Getting to the quarterfinals last year was great progress. I never want to make a pre- diction, but it's my senior year. I want to cap it off with a bang."