With senior day approaching for the Penn State field hockey team, four years of playing at Bigler Field will come to an end for three Nittany Lions.

Saturday's game against Michigan will actually be the final game ever played on Bigler Field, period. The field can, and will be, replaced; but replacing Michele Rigby, Karin Grap and Amanda Eckert is an entirely different matter.

"I think it's harder on the parents and on me, as far as seeing them leave, than it is for them," coach Char Morett said.

Rigby is the team's leading scorer and shooter this season, and her efforts have not gone unnoticed. She was selected as an alternate to the North-South All-Star game next month.

Rigby had only taken 38 shots her entire career coming into this season, but dwarfs her teammates in the shot column this year with 96 so far -- the entire team only has 166.

"Michele has really stepped up this second half of the season, she's added a lot to our offense," Morett said.

Tri-captain Karin Grap sometimes appears to be the embodiment of a pinball -- quickly bouncing from one part of the field to the next.

She moves so fast that opposing players have trouble keeping up with the forward.

Grap, who Morett always credits as being a valuable spark, has found the back of the cage nine times this season.

"I don't know that we've had a player like Karin in a while, and I don't know that we have one once she leaves," Morett said.

And then there's Amanda Eckert. The tri-captain from Lititz is a microcosm of the vast majority of this Lion team -- very friendly; intense on the field, but easy-going off of it. Her captaincy seems to be one that future team leaders can learn from.

"She's just willing to do whatever it takes for the team," Morett said.

"I see her growing into that leadership role more effectively every day."

Eckert agrees, saying that she began the season leading by example, but has now taken a vocal leadership role as well.

On Tuesday Eckert was named to the North Senior All-Star team, an honor that all who've watched her feel is well deserved.

Eckert has played through a broken thumb for all of October, and is hoping to lead the Lions on a run into late November -- healthy thumb or not.

"We're going to miss her stick skills, and just her big brown eyes," Morett said.

"She's a real gem."

Mark it eight, Dude

With the their 4-0 victory over Bucknell on Tuesday, the Lions recorded their eighth shutout of the season -- the team's highest such total since 2000.

The Lions are giving up an average of just one goal per game, and three of their 18 goals allowed this season have come after regulation.

Looks like another close one...

"Michigan typically has provided a strong rivalry and a very competitive game, so I expect nothing less on Saturday," said Morett.