Penn State Nittany Lions field hockey
Field hockey team of Penn State University
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Penn State Nittany Lions field hockey team is the intercollegiate field hockey program representing Pennsylvania State University. The school competes in the Big Ten Conference in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), although it was also previously a member of the Atlantic 10 Conference (A-10). The Penn State field hockey team plays its home games at Char Morett-Curtiss Field at the Penn State Field Hockey Complex on the university campus in State College, Pennsylvania. The Nittany Lions captured the Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (AIAW) national championship twice, in 1980 and 1981, and have won 10 regular-season conference titles as well as eight conference tournament championships. While Penn State has qualified for the NCAA tournament 30 times, and has made seven appearances in the semifinals and two in the championship game, it has never won the NCAA national championship.
| Penn State Nittany Lions | |
|---|---|
 | |
| University | Pennsylvania State University |
| Conference | Big Ten Conference |
| First season | 1964[1] |
| Athletic director | Dr. Patrick Kraft |
| Head coach | Hannah Prince 2026 season |
| Field | Char Morett-Curtiss Field at the Penn State Field Hockey Complex[2] Capacity: 1200 |
| Location | State College, Pennsylvania |
| Colors | Blue and white[3] |
| NCAA Tournament championships | |
| 1980 (AIAW), 1981 (AIAW) | |
| NCAA Tournament Runner-up | |
| 1979 (AIAW), 2002, 2007 | |
| NCAA Tournament Final Four | |
| 1982, 1986, 1990, 1991, 1993, 2002, 2007, 2022 | |
| NCAA Tournament appearances | |
| 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2021, 2022 | |
| Conference Tournament championships | |
| 1989, 1990, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2011, 2012, 2016 | |
| Conference regular season championships | |
| 1988, 1989, 1990, 1993, 1997, 1998, 2005, 2008, 2012, 2013,[1] 2022[4] | |
Penn State's head coaching position became open for just the second time since 1986 in December 2025, when the team did not renew the contract of Lisa Bervinchak Love after three seasons.[5] On January 13, 2026, former Saint Joseph's head coach Hannah Prince was hired to become the seventh head coach in program history.[6] Three days later, Prince appointed Mark Wadsley, with whom she had coached at Saint Joseph’s from 2023 to 2025, as Penn State associate head coach.[7]
History
Field hockey has been a varsity sport at Penn State since 1964. In 1980 and 1981, the Nittany Lions won back-to-back Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (AIAW) national championships.[1][4] Penn State played in the Atlantic 10 Conference (A-10) between 1988 and 1990, and has been a member of the Big Ten Conference since 1992.[1][8] The team has won 10 regular-season conference titles (three in the A-10 and seven in the Big Ten) as well as eight conference tournament championships (two in the A-10 and six in the Big Ten).[1][8][9] The Nittany Lions have appeared in the NCAA tournament 30 times, including seven appearances in the semifinals and two in the championship game, but have never won the NCAA national championship.[1][4]
Season-by-season results
_(5028154138).jpg)
_(5031545725).jpg)
_(5090356487).jpg)
.jpg)
_(6184130694).jpg)
_(6312836555).jpg)
_(6316507707).jpg)
| Year | Head coach | Overall | Pct. | Conf. | Pct. | Conf. Place |
Conf. Tourn. |
Postseason |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1964 | Pat Seni | 4–0 | 1.000 | – | – | – | – | – |
| 1965 | 1–3–1 | .300 | – | – | – | – | – | |
| 1966 | 1–2–1 | .375 | – | – | – | – | – | |
| 1967 | 3–2 | .600 | – | – | – | – | – | |
| 1968 | 2–2–1 | .500 | – | – | – | – | – | |
| 1969 | Nancy Bailey | 3–3 | .500 | – | – | – | – | – |
| 1970 | Tonya Toole | 1–5–1 | .214 | – | – | – | – | – |
| 1971 | 5–3 | .625 | – | – | – | – | – | |
| 1972 | 4–3–1 | .563 | – | – | – | – | – | |
| 1973 | 3–2–3 | .563 | – | – | – | – | – | |
| 1974 | Gillian Rattray | 5–2–2 | .667 | – | – | – | – | – |
| 1975 | 6–4–2 | .583 | – | – | – | – | – | |
| 1976 | 9–3–2 | .714 | – | – | – | – | – | |
| 1977 | 8–8 | .500 | – | – | – | – | – | |
| 1978 | 13–1–3 | .853 | – | – | – | – | – | |
| 1979 | 18–3 | .857 | – | – | – | – | AIAW Runner-Up | |
| 1980 | 20–0–2 | .955 | – | – | – | – | AIAW Champions | |
| 1981 | 19–2–1 | .886 | – | – | – | – | AIAW Champions | |
| 1982 | 14–6 | .700 | – | – | – | – | NCAA Final Four | |
| 1983 | 14–3–5 | .750 | – | – | – | – | NCAA 2nd Round | |
| 1984 | 14–8–1 | .630 | – | – | – | – | NCAA 1st Round | |
| 1985 | 16–4–1 | .786 | – | – | – | – | NCAA 1st Round | |
| 1986 | 18–5–2 | .760 | – | – | – | – | NCAA Final Four | |
| 1987 | Charlene Morett | 14–5–2 | .714 | – | – | – | – | NCAA 1st Round |
| 1988 | 15–6–1 | .705 | 2–0 | 1.000 | 1st (West) | 2nd | NCAA 2nd Round | |
| 1989 | 18–3–1 | .841 | 4–0–1 | .900 | 1st | 1st | NCAA 1st Round | |
| 1990 | 21–4 | .840 | 4–1 | .800 | T1st | 1st | NCAA Final Four | |
| 1991 | 18–3–1 | .841 | – | – | – | – | NCAA Final Four | |
| 1992 | 16–5–1 | .750 | 8–2 | .800 | 2nd | – | NCAA 2nd Round | |
| 1993 | 20–2 | .909 | 9–1 | .900 | 1st | – | NCAA Final Four | |
| 1994 | 13–7–2 | .636 | 6–3–1 | .650 | 2nd | T3rd | NCAA 2nd Round | |
| 1995 | 15–9 | .625 | 6–4 | .600 | T2nd | 1st | NCAA 2nd Round | |
| 1996 | 14–9 | .609 | 6–4 | .600 | T2nd | 1st | NCAA 1st Round | |
| 1997 | 18–6 | .750 | 7–3 | .700 | T1st | 1st | NCAA 2nd Round | |
| 1998 | 18–5 | .783 | 8–2 | .800 | 1st | 1st | NCAA 2nd Round | |
| 1999 | 17–5 | .773 | 8–2 | .800 | 2nd | T3rd | NCAA 1st Round | |
| 2000 | 17–6 | .739 | 5–1 | .833 | 2nd | 2nd | NCAA 1st Round | |
| 2001 | 12–7 | .632 | 3–3 | .500 | T4th | T5th | – | |
| 2002 | 19–5 | .792 | 4–2 | .667 | 3rd | T3rd | NCAA Runner-Up | |
| 2003 | 18–7 | .720 | 3–3 | .500 | 4th | 2nd | NCAA 2nd Round | |
| 2004 | 10–10 | .500 | 3–3 | .500 | 4th | T5th | – | |
| 2005 | 17–4 | .810 | 6–0 | 1.000 | 1st | T3rd | NCAA 1st Round | |
| 2006 | 16–6 | .727 | 4–2 | .667 | T2nd | 2nd | NCAA 2nd Round | |
| 2007 | 16–8 | .667 | 3–3 | .500 | 4th | T3rd | NCAA Runner-Up | |
| 2008 | 13–7 | .650 | 5–1 | .833 | 1st | T3rd | NCAA 1st Round | |
| 2009 | 7–13 | .350 | 1–5 | .167 | T6th | T3rd | – | |
| 2010 | 14–6 | .700 | 4–2 | .667 | 3rd | T3rd | NCAA 1st Round | |
| 2011 | 17–6 | .739 | 4–2 | .667 | 3rd | 1st | NCAA 2nd Round | |
| 2012 | 18–4 | .818 | 5–1 | .833 | 1st | 1st | NCAA 2nd Round | |
| 2013 | 13–6 | .684 | 5–1 | .833 | T1st | T3rd | NCAA 1st Round | |
| 2014 | 16–6 | .727 | 5–3 | .625 | 4th | T3rd | NCAA 2nd Round | |
| 2015 | 9–10 | .474 | 4–4 | .500 | T4th | T3rd | - | |
| 2016 | 17–2 | .895 | 6–2 | .750 | 2nd | 1st | NCAA 1st Round | |
| 2017 | 16–4 | .800 | 6–2 | .750 | T2nd | 2nd | NCAA 2nd Round | |
| 2018 | 12–6 | .667 | 6–2 | .750 | 3rd | T5th | NCAA 1st Round | |
| 2019 | 8–12 | .400 | 4–4 | .500 | T5th | 2nd | - | |
| 2020 | 7–7 | .500 | 5–2 | .714 | 2nd | T5th | - | |
| 2021 | 14–6 | .700 | 6–2 | .750 | T2nd | T3rd | NCAA 1st Round | |
| 2022 | 17-4 | .810 | 7–1 | .875 | 1st | T3rd | NCAA Final Four | |
| 2023 | Lisa Bervinchak-Love | 9-8 | .529 | 4-5 | .444 | T4th | T5th | - |
| 2024 | 8-9 | .471 | 2-6 | .250 | T7th | – | - | |
| 2025 | 7-10 | .412 | 2-6 | .250 | 8th | – | - | |
Season-by-season results through the end of the 2025 season[1][4][8][9][10][11][12][13]
Coaching history
| Years | Head coach | Overall | Pct. | Conf. | Pct. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1964–1968 | Pat Seni | 11-9-3 | .543 | - | - |
| 1969 | Nancy Bailey | 3-3 | .500 | - | - |
| 1970–1973 | Tonya Toole | 13-13-5 | .500 | - | - |
| 1974–1986 | Gillian Rattray | 174-49-16 | .762 | - | - |
| 1987–2022 | Charlene Morett | 530-221-6 | .704 | 172-73-2 | .700 |
| 2023–2025 | Lisa Bervinchak-Love | 24-27 | .471 | 8-17 | .320 |
Awards and accolades
National championships
Before the advent of NCAA field hockey, Penn State won two AIAW national championships, in 1980 and 1981. Since the NCAA has sanctioned field hockey, the Nittany Lions have appeared in the NCAA tournament 30 times, including seven appearances in the semifinals and two in the championship game, although they have never won the NCAA national championship.[1]
| Year | Coach | Opponent | Score | Record |
| 1980 | Gillian Rattray | California Golden Bears | 2–1 | 20–0–2 |
| 1981 | Temple Owls | 5–1 | 19–2–1 |
Conference championships
Penn State has won 11 conference titles, three in the Atlantic 10 Conference (A-10) and eight in the Big Ten Conference.[1]
| Year | Coach | Conference Record | Overall Record | Conference | NCAA Result |
| 1988 | Charlene Morett | 2–0 | 15–6–1 | A-10 | NCAA 2nd Round |
| 1989 | 4–0–1 | 18–3–1 | A-10 | NCAA 1st Round | |
| 1990 | 4–1 | 21–4 | A-10 | NCAA Final Four | |
| 1993 | 9–1 | 20–2 | Big Ten | NCAA Final Four | |
| 1997 | 7–3 | 18–6 | Big Ten | NCAA 2nd Round | |
| 1998 | 8–2 | 18–5 | Big Ten | NCAA 2nd Round | |
| 2005 | 6–0 | 17–4 | Big Ten | NCAA 1st Round | |
| 2008 | 5–1 | 13–7 | Big Ten | NCAA 1st Round | |
| 2012 | 5–1 | 18–4 | Big Ten | NCAA 2nd Round | |
| 2013 | 5–1 | 13–6 | Big Ten | NCAA 1st Round | |
| 2022 | 7–1 | 17–4 | Big Ten | NCAA Final Four | |
| 11 Conference Championships 3 A-10 Championships, 8 Big Ten Championships | |||||
National Player of the Year winners
| Year | Player |
|---|---|
| 1982 | Brenda Stauffer |
All-Americans
| Key | ||
|---|---|---|
|
First-team selection |
Second-team selection |
Third-team selection |
|
|
|
Olympians
| Olympics | Player | Country |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Chris Larson |  United States |
| Charlene Morett | ||
| 1984 | Chris Larson | United States |
| Charlene Morett | ||
| Brenda Stauffer | ||
| 2024 | Sophia Gladieux | United States |
Individual honors through the end of the 2023 season[1][4][15]
Stadium
Penn State has played its home games at the Penn State Field Hockey Complex since its opening in 2005. The complex was renovated in 2022-2023, increasing the seating capacity to 1,200 as well as adding an enclosed press booth, locker room space for officials, a ticket office, public restrooms and concession areas. Upgrades were also made to the home and visiting team dressing areas.[16] The scoreboard was upgraded in 2012 to include a 20' x 10' video screen.[17] The field itself boasts an advanced field watering system as well as floodlights that allow for the playing of night games. Built adjacent to Bigler Field, the former home of the Nittany Lions field hockey program, the Penn State Field Hockey Complex has witnessed success both on the field and in the stands; in both 2005 and 2006, Penn State did not lose a home game all season, while in 2006 the school finished fifth in the country in home attendance (2006 was the first year that the NCAA kept attendance statistics for field hockey). Before the Nittany Lions field hockey team moved to the complex in 2005, it had previously played at four other venues: Pollock Field (1964–75), Lady Lion Field (1976–88), Holuba Hall (1989–95), and Bigler Field (1996–2004).[2]
