During a timeout late in Saturday's 5-1 loss to No. 8 Michigan State, offensive players for the Penn State field hockey team gathered around coach Char Morett.
Inside the small huddle, Morett talked to her forwards -- not about offense -- but about getting back and helping on defense.
Heading into the Big Ten tournament, Morett hasn't changed her team's focus.
"To win championships, you've gotta play defense," Morett said. "It starts with the forwards, like when I took the forwards out after the time out and got them together, a lot of that was about their pressuring."
It will take a full team effort for the seventh-seeded Nittany Lions to extend their season and have a possibility to win the conference championship. The Lions open with the tournament Thursday against No. 12 Ohio State.
The Lions won a tight contest Oct. 2 against the Buckeyes 2-1 in overtime behind a breakout game by junior goalie Ali Meves. In the game, Meves recorded 11 saves, including three saves within 30 seconds in overtime.
However, Morett isn't looking at the past and said the Big Ten tournament is a whole new season.
"Look at the best games we've had individually, let's look at the best performances we've had as a team and take all that into the tournament," Morett said. "I think Ali's very experienced and hopefully opening against Ohio State is a boost for her. Their top two kids are very, very good, so Ali has to really be ready."
Meves' teammates have confidence in her, as senior captains Laura Cahill and Bethany Marvel echoed their support. Cahill said Meves has stepped up all season and doesn't think it will be any different in the tournament.
Marvel said Meves has come up with big saves all season long and gives the rest of the team confidence with her behind them. She said that confidence allows them to be more aggressive knowing Meves has their backs.
In order for Meves to have an impact, she'll need help from the defenders in front of her, Morett said.
"Last week, our major point of emphasis was to play tough defense, and looking at the tape, I thought we were aggressive in the midfield," Morett said. "I didn't think we were so much inside our defensive 25. We're gonna work a lot today on being sharper on our marks and our goal is absolutely defense."
Marvel said it's important to keep the Buckeye's out of the circle in order to avoid giving up penalty corners and limit the offensive chances.
A veteran group of seniors Cahill, Amy Bonenberger and Jen Miller, along with redshirt freshman Kristen Schaefer will be the backs in charge of stopping opposing offenses.
Cahill feels the Lions have a good group in the back and believes it will help them in the tournament.
"I definitely think it's an advantage because we do have a lot of experience in the backfield," Cahill said. "Ali has stepped up. I think if our defense plays well all over the field. Our attackers play good defense. That will definitely help us be successful."
