When Chris Hogan steps onto the field, opposing defenses take notice.
The 6-foot-3, 213-pound junior midfielder was a 2009 First Team All-ECAC selection and led the Nittany Lions with 29 goals last year.
But so far this year, with defense's game plans focusing on shutting him down, Hogan's numbers have taken a dip from last year's stellar season.
"I don't have the explanation for my numbers," he said. "Obviously I haven't been playing that great, but I can only go out every single game and try as hard as I can."
In 2009, Hogan posted a .218 shot percentage and put 46 percent of his shots on goal. Through five games this year, his shot percentage has slipped to .140 and he's only putting 40 percent of his shots on the cage.
"I've been struggling to hit the cage," he said. "And when I do, goalies have been making great saves on me."
Though frustration built early on in the season, Hogan remains confident and focused on improving.
In practices, he does extra shooting practice to work out the kinks in his technique. He'll take a step back and figure out why he's missing the cage and what he can do to improve his accuracy, he said.
As a team captain and returning All-Conference player, Hogan's taken on the burden of carrying the Lions' young offensive group.
And he's doing it all while dealing with defensive double-teams and long-poles tearing at his hands and elbows.
"He's certainly gonna get the quick slides to him," assistant coach Byron Collins said. "Every defense is gonna be keyed in on him."
But as expected, other Penn State attackmen will be left open as defenses make sure Hogan doesn't get the shot he wants.
Hogan's taking this opportunity to help his team out anyway he can, feeding his teammates for open shots.
"I'm being covered before I even come out of my dodge," he said. "So hopefully if my numbers aren't as high as they were, other guys can get their numbers up, and I'm opening up other opportunities for them."
Sophomore Matt Mackrides and freshmen Nick Dolik and Billy Gribbin have cashed in on these extra opportunities so far this season, combining for 33 of the Lions' 46 goals this year.
Ball movement is one thing that coach Glenn Thiel tries to emphasize to his entire offensive unit. The team obviously wants production from Hogan, but it's fine if it results in other attackmen catching and shooting, Thiel said.
This past weekend, even with awful weather conditions, Hogan was outside, practicing and working on his shot, all with the intentions of helping his team. It's that kind of extra work that makes Thiel happy to have a player like Hogan on his team.
"Things don't always work out the way you want them tom and it's how you handle that and the adjustments you make," Thiel said. "It is what it is, and you have to keep working hard, have attention to detail and focus on what you're expected to do."
