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'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. On January 13, 2026, former Saint Joseph's head coach Hannah Prince was hired to become the seventh head coach in program history. 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.
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. 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. 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). 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.
Season-by-season results
Year Head coach Overall Pct. Conf. Pct. Conf. Place Conf. Tourn. Postseason 1964 Pat Seni 4–0 – – – – – 1965 1–3–1 – – – – – 1966 1–2–1 – – – – – 1967 3–2 – – – – – 1968 2–2–1 – – – – – 1969 Nancy Bailey 3–3 – – – – – 1970 Tonya Toole 1–5–1 – – – – – 1971 5–3 – – – – – 1972 4–3–1 – – – – – 1973 3–2–3 – – – – – 1974 Gillian Rattray 5–2–2 – – – – – 1975 6–4–2 – – – – – 1976 9–3–2 – – – – – 1977 8–8 – – – – – 1978 13–1–3 – – – – – 1979 18–3 – – – – AIAW Runner-Up 1980 20–0–2 – – – – AIAW Champions 1981 19–2–1 – – – – AIAW Champions 1982 14–6 – – – – NCAA Final Four 1983 14–3–5 – – – – NCAA 2nd Round 1984 14–8–1 – – – – NCAA 1st Round 1985 16–4–1 – – – – NCAA 1st Round 1986 18–5–2 – – – – NCAA Final Four 1987 Charlene Morett 14–5–2 – – – – NCAA 1st Round 1988 15–6–1 2–0 1st (West) 2nd NCAA 2nd Round 1989 18–3–1 4–0–1 1st 1st NCAA 1st Round 1990 21–4 4–1 T1st 1st NCAA Final Four 1991 18–3–1 – – – – NCAA Final Four 1992 16–5–1 8–2 2nd – NCAA 2nd Round 1993 20–2 9–1 1st – NCAA Final Four 1994 13–7–2 6–3–1 2nd T3rd NCAA 2nd Round 1995 15–9 6–4 T2nd 1st NCAA 2nd Round 1996 14–9 6–4 T2nd 1st NCAA 1st Round 1997 18–6 7–3 T1st 1st NCAA 2nd Round 1998 18–5 8–2 1st 1st NCAA 2nd Round 1999 17–5 8–2 2nd T3rd NCAA 1st Round 2000 17–6 5–1 2nd 2nd NCAA 1st Round 2001 12–7 3–3 T4th T5th – 2002 19–5 4–2 3rd T3rd NCAA Runner-Up 2003 18–7 3–3 4th 2nd NCAA 2nd Round 2004 10–10 3–3 4th T5th – 2005 17–4 6–0 1st T3rd NCAA 1st Round 2006 16–6 4–2 T2nd 2nd NCAA 2nd Round 2007 16–8 3–3 4th T3rd NCAA Runner-Up 2008 13–7 5–1 1st T3rd NCAA 1st Round 2009 7–13 1–5 T6th T3rd – 2010 14–6 4–2 3rd T3rd NCAA 1st Round 2011 17–6 4–2 3rd 1st NCAA 2nd Round 2012 18–4 5–1 1st 1st NCAA 2nd Round 2013 13–6 5–1 T1st T3rd NCAA 1st Round 2014 16–6 5–3 4th T3rd NCAA 2nd Round 2015 9–10 4–4 T4th T3rd - 2016 17–2 6–2 2nd 1stNCAA 1st Round 2017 16–4 6–2 T2nd 2ndNCAA 2nd Round 2018 12–6 6–2 3rd T5thNCAA 1st Round 2019 8–12 4–4 T5th 2nd - 2020 7–7 5–2 2nd T5th - 2021 14–6 6–2 T2nd T3rd NCAA 1st Round 2022 17-4 7–1 1st T3rd NCAA Final Four 2023 Lisa Bervinchak-Love 9-8 4-5 T4th T5th - 2024 8-9 2-6 T7th – - 2025 7-10 2-6 8th – -2026Hannah Prince5-4.5561-1.5005th*N/AN/A *season in progress
Season-by-season results through the ninth game of the 2026 season.
Coaching history Years Head coach Overall Pct. Conf. Pct. 1964–1968 Pat Seni 11-9-3 - - 1969 Nancy Bailey 3-3 - - 1970–1973 Tonya Toole 13-13-5 - - 1974–1986 Gillian Rattray 174-49-16 - - 1987–2022 Charlene Morett 530-221-6 172-73-2 2023–2025 Lisa Bervinchak-Love 24-27 8-17 2026-presentHannah Prince5-4.5561-1.500 Sources:
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. 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. 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 Round20135–113–6Big TenNCAA 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 YearPlayer 1982 Brenda Stauffer
All-Americans Key First-team selection Second-team selection Third-team selection
SeasonPlayerRemarks 1977 Charlene Morett 1978 Chris Larson 1978 Charlene Morett Second first-team selection 1979 Candy Finn 1979 Jeannie Fissinger 1979 Charlene Morett Third first-team selection 1979 Jan Snyder 1980 Candy Finn Second first-team selection 1981 Brenda Stauffer 1982 Tracy Houston 1982 Judy Mahaffey 1982 Brenda Stauffer Second first-team selection 1985 Mary McCarthy 1985 Chris Vitale 1986 Mary McCarthy Second first-team selection 1987 Tami Worley 1988 Lisa Bervinchak 1988 Tami Worley Second first-team selection 1989 Kristen Winters 1990 Chelle Frates 1990 Eleanor Stone 1990 Kristen Winters Second first-team selection 1991 Susann Bisignaro 1991 Michelle Brennan 1991 Stacy Gilburg 1991 Christine McGinley 1991 Jen Stewart 1991 Eleanor Stone Second first-team selection 1992 Becca Main 1992 Christine McGinley Second selection 1992 Amy Stairs 1992 Jen Stewart Second selection 1993 Kirstie Benedict 1993 Chris Blais 1993 Becca Main Second selection 1993 Christine McGinley Third selection; Second first-team selection 1993 Shelly Meister 1994 Chris Blais Second selection 1994 Sharon Kuntz 1994 Jill Pearsall 1995 Jen Coletta 1995 Meghann Spratt
SeasonPlayerRemarks 1996 Heather Gorlaski 1996 Tara Maguire 1997 Heather Gorlaski Second selection 1997 Kim Hicks 1997 Dawn Lammey 1997 Sonje Volla 1998 Traci Anselmo 1998 Heather Gorlaski Third selection; Second first-team selection 1998 Dawn Lammey Second selection 1998 Jamie Smith 1998 Sonje Volla Second selection 1999 Traci Anselmo Second selection 1999 Maegan Gaile 1999 Tracy Larson 1999 Mandy Robinson 2000 Traci Anselmo Third selection; Second first-team selection 2000 Kiley Kulina 2000 Jill Martz 2001 Kiley Kulina Second selection 2001 Timarie Legel 2001 Jill Martz Second selection 2002 Kelly Concini 2002 Heather Conroy 2002 Timarie Legel Second selection 2002 Jill Martz Third selection; Second first-team selection 2003 Heather Conroy Second first-team selection 2003 Timarie Legel Third selection 2003 Neilye Stoner 2004 Amanda Eckert 2004 Bekah Hostetler 2005 Natalie Berrena 2005 Sara Cahill 2005 Kiersten Wood 2006 Jen Beaumont 2006 Annelise Legel 2006 Jen Long 2006 Kiersten Wood Second selection
SeasonPlayerRemarks 2007 Jen Long Second selection 2007 Allison Scola 2007 Mallory Weisen 2007 Kiersten Wood Third selection; Second first-team selection 2008 Jen Beaumont Second selection 2008 Jen Long Third selection; Second first-team selection 2008 Allison Scola Second selection 2010 Kelsey Amy 2010 Ayla Halus 2010 Jessica Longstreth 2011 Kelsey Amy Second selection 2011 Laura Gebhart 2011 Ayla Halus Second selection 2012 Kelsey Amy Third selection; Second first-team selection 2012 Laura Gebhart Second selection 2012 Brittany Grzywacz 2013 Laura Gebhart Third selection 2013 Brittany Grzywacz Second selection 2014 Laura Gebhart Fourth selection 2014 Taylor Herold 2016 Aurelia Meijer 2016 Moira Putsch 2017 Skyler Fretz 2017 Moira Putsch Second selection 2018 Gini Bramley 2018 Cori Conley 2018 Moira Putsch Third selection 2019 Maddie Morano 2020 Sophia Gladieux 2021 Mackenzie Allessie 2021 Sophia Gladieux Second selection; First first-team selection 2022 Mackenzie Allessie Second selection 2022 Brie Barraco 2022 Sophia Gladieux Third selection; Second first-team selection 2022 Anna Simon 2023 Mackenzie Allessie Third selection 2023 Sophia Gladieux Fourth selection; Third first-team selection
Olympians OlympicsPlayerCountry 1980 Chris Larson Charlene Morett 1984 Chris Larson Charlene Morett Brenda Stauffer 2024 Sophia Gladieux Individual honors through the end of the 2023 season
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. The scoreboard was upgraded in 2012 to include a 20' x 10' video screen. 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).
See also List of NCAA Division I field hockey programs
References
External links