AstroTurf Field proves to be popular locale
The home of Penn State field hockey, AstroTurf Field, once again proved to be one of the friendliest home fields in the country in 2006, both on the field and in the stands. Penn State, which went undefeated on AstroTurf Field in its first year in 2005, was ranked fifth in the country in home attendance for the 2006 season under head coach Char Morett. The 2006 attendance figures for field hockey were released last week by the NCAA.
Penn State also ranked tops among Big Ten schools in home attendance. The Nittany Lions came in just ahead of Michigan, which finished sixth with an average of 355 per game, and far outdistanced Ohio State (11th), Michigan State (16th), Northwestern (22nd), Iowa (29th) and Indiana (34th). This was the first year that the NCAA tracked attendance numbers for field hockey.
Cavagnaro, Gaffney nab Big Ten awards
Matt Cavagnaro was named the Big Ten Player of the Week while Scott Gaffney was named the Big Ten Pitcher of the Week yesterday, giving Penn State a sweep of the conferences' weekly awards for this week. Both turned in outstanding performances in Penn State's opening weekend of play in Shreveport, La. this past weekend.
Cavagnaro hit .421 (8-for-19) in Penn State's four games. The senior from Brightwaters, N.Y. hit in all four games, which included three multiple-hit games and a three-hit game. He now has a seven-game hitting streak dating back to the final three games of last season. Cavagnaro also knocked in two RBI, had a run scored, a double and nine total bases on the weekend. Also noteworthy was that he was perfect in the field in 17 total chances and he has now been perfect is his last 88 fielding chances dating back to last year as well.
Gaffney started and won Sunday's 7-6 victory over Centenary for Penn State's first win of the year. It was the first pitching start of his collegiate career and his first start since he was 12 years old in Little League. Gaffney, who is also the team's starting shortstop and who had just 12 pitching appearances in his first two years at Penn State, all in relief, pitched six solid innings against the Gents, allowing just three runs, eight hits, all of which were singles, and struck out five while walking three. He left the game with a 6-3 lead.
