Whether it is the beginning of the game, the start of the second half or after a goal, the No. 8 Penn State field hockey team plays the ball the same way every game.

A quick push pass back by the center forward to the midfield and then a high flick by junior Mallory Weisen sends the ball flying over the oppositions heads, putting the Nittany Lions in an offensive position and allowing them to get situated.

"We haven't really had too many people who are able to lift," senior co-captain Carey Maser said. "This year we thought it would be a great way to get the ball deep so we didn't have to worry about it."

Weisen's shot was added to the Lions repertoire this year, giving them another element to their strategy. It is these advanced stick skills that has made her crucial to the team's success.

With three years of collegiate playing experience, Weisen has seen action in the backfield and the midfield. As a freshman, she was primarily a sweeper, playing in all 20 games and starting 17.

"When Mallory came in, we had a strong midfield so we kept her in the back," Penn State women's field hockey coach Char Morett said. "Mal has good game sense, so she can be a good distributor with the ball, and we are looking for [her] to really run the midfield, which is a tough job."

Last year, her playing time dropped off because of an injury. Weisen suffered a broken toe on her left foot, but continued to play. Constant pressure on her foot caused a stress fracture and she had to sit out for most of the season.

Nevertheless, Weisen's skills were still an asset to the team. Against Iowa and Ohio State last year, she came off the bench in two stroking situations, scoring both times and putting the games out of reach. This year she scored her third goal of the season by taking a stroke against the No. 18 Michigan Wolverines.

"She can make them and she knows she can make them," Morett said. "I think that helps us because it's like money in the bank."

Indoor field hockey was where Weisen learned most of the skills she uses during strokes. In the indoor game, players cannot take hard shots and every pass must be a push or a flick. For Weisen, this was no problem and she found that she looked forward to playing indoor more than outdoor.

It is Weisen's hard shot on corners, however, that makes her a danger to other teams. When she lines up, there is always a chance that the ball will either go into the goal or another Lion will take the rebound and score.

"You see defense be very honest," Morett said. "When you have a girl who can take straight shots and score from it that's about as good as it gets. Mal, having the ability to score on a corner, really puts the defense back on its heels."

This year, Weisen has been one of the most crucial players for Penn State. In the first week of September, she was named Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week for her goals against Northeastern and UConn. With a goal on Friday against then-No. 5 North Carolina, Weisen set her career-high in goals, with four.

Moving from sweeper to center midfielder, Weisen's role is to control the game. She is constantly looking for situations and ways to get the ball up the field and into the circle.

"I try to distribute it to Kiersten [Wood] on the right side or I transfer it over to Annelise [Legel] and she can use her speed on the left side and get the ball to Ali [Scola] or [Natalie] Blasco," Weisen said. "Being in the middle, it's important to get the ball to the outside and then in again. [With] Kiersten's skills, Shaun [Banta's] skills and Annelise's speed, it's just really effective and that really helps set up plays for the forwards.

With Legel on the left, Wood on the right and Weisen controlling the game in the center, the midfield is one Penn State's strongest areas. Each player brings her own abilities to the game, but it is Weisen who plays on all ends of the field, taking shots on offensive corners and blocking shots on defensive corners. Her presence on the field helps keep the Lions in control of the game and the outcome.

"She has just grown as a player so much and she sees the field in ways that most people don't," Maser said. "She's awesome."