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UNIVERSITY PARK — The Penn State Nittany Lion field hockey team (4-3, 0-1 B1G) hosts Michigan State (3-4, 901 B1G) on Friday, Sept. 26, at 4 p.m. in a B1G Network national telecast. Two days later, Penn State visits Syracuse (6-2) on Sunday, Sept. 28, for a 12 p.m. contest. Syracuse hosts Duke on Friday night while Penn State hosts Michigan State.
Penn State is coming off two tough road losses. The Nittany Lions opened up Big Ten play last Friday, falling 3-1 at Maryland. The team then ventured to Easton, Pa., and lost a hard-fought 3-2 double-overtime contest on penalty shots. Natalie Freeman and Joji Purdy lead Penn State with seven points each (both on three goals and an assist). Morgan Snyder checks in with six points off two and two. Keeper Aby Deverka has 19 saves and a 2.07 goals against average.
Michigan State will enter the week with a 3-4 mark, 0-1 in conference action. The Spartans lost to Michigan 5-0 on Friday and then dropped a 3-1 non-conference game to Miami, Ohio, on the road. The Nittany Lions lead the all-time series with the Spartans 39-10.
Syracuse, which hosts Duke Friday night while PSU hosts Michigan State, enters the weekend with a 6-2 mark. The Orange lost a hard-fought 2-1 overtime game to Wake Forest on Friday before falling to Virginia 2-1 at home. Penn State leads the all-time series 24-7-1.
The Nittany Lions hit the road for two Big Ten games next weekend. Penn State is at Michigan on Friday, Oct. 3, at 5 p.m. Two days later the Nittany Lions visit Ohio State on Sunday, Oct. 5, for a 12 p.m. contest.