UNIVERSITY PARK — The Penn State Nittany Lion field hockey team (4-1, 0-0 B1G) opens up Big Ten play this Friday, Sept. 12, at Maryland (4-2, 0-0 B1G). Action in College Park, Md., begins at 5 p.m. The Nittany Lions then trek to Lafayette (3-3) for a non-conference game on Sunday, Sept. 14, at 12 p.m. Lafayette battles Lehigh Friday night as well.

Penn State is coming off two home wins last weekend, extending its win streak to four games. Penn State beat Bucknell 2-1 and Kent State 5-2 to improve to 4-1. Freshman Joji Purdy leads Penn State with seven points off three goals and an assist. Natalie Freeman has five points off two goals and an assist. Keeper Aby Deverka has 13 saves on the year.

Maryland enters the weekend with a 4-2 mark. The Terrapins beat Penn 3-1 on Friday night and St. Joseph’s 1-0 on Sunday. Penn State leads the all-time series with the Terrapins 28-20-1.

Lafayette, which is at Lehigh on Friday night while Penn State battles Maryland, enters the weekend with a 3-3 overall record. Lafayette lost to Temple and Syracuse this past weekend. Penn State leads the all-time series with Lafayette 22-2-0.

The Nittany Lions host Michigan State next Friday, Sept. 26, at 4 p.m. in a B1G Network national telecast. Two days later, Penn State visits Syracuse on Sunday, Sept. 28, for a 12 p.m. contest.