Field Hockey

Outlook

No. 7 Penn State (13-3, 4-1 Big Ten) is coming off a 3-0 victory over No. 21 ranked Ohio State, which places them in a tie with No. 8 Northwestern atop the Big Ten. Bucknell (9-7, 3-1 Patriot League) defeated Lehigh, 6-2, in its last contest, which has earned them a spot in the Patriot League postseason.

Players to Watch

Senior forward Kelsey Amy is always a star to look for, but keep an eye on midfielders Whitney Reddig and Hannah Allison to provide the Nittany Lions with the backbone of their play. Reddig leads the team with 14 assists and has been in great form as of late, with two huge assists coming against Ohio State. Allison, the senior leader of the midfield, has a tendency to move up with the forwards and fire shots on goal. Out of the midfielders, she's second to only Laura Gebhart in shots on goal (43 to Gebhart's 45). The senior also provides plenty of communication and chemistry out of the midfield.

For Bucknell, sophomore midfielder Amie Pritchard had a hat-trick against Lehigh and will look to give the Nittany Lions' defense some issues. Her counterpart, Maggie Murphy, leads the team in assists (10). The duo are in good form and could be a difference for the Bison.

Significance

Realistically, with respect to Bucknell, the contest should be a warm-up game for the Lions as they focus on Saturday's matchup with No. 20 Michigan State. Expect some players who don't see regular playing time come in for the Lions, as well as plenty of Kelsey Amy goals. A victory here could help continue the Lions' momentum into the weekend.