Michigan to Wrap Up Regular Season at No. 7 Penn State

» No. 2 Michigan wraps up its regular season at No. 7 Penn State at 6 p.m. on Friday (Oct. 29) in State College, Pa.
» Michigan and Penn State currently share the second spot in the Big Ten standings with matching 5-2 conference records.
» Michigan is ranked fifth in the nation in scoring average (3.54) and scoring margin (2.57); Sofia Southam ranks second individually with a team-best 17 goals and 1.31 goals-per-game average.

THIS WEEK
Friday, Oct. 29 -- at Penn State (State College, Pa.), 6 p.m.
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The No. 2-ranked University of Michigan field hockey team (13-2, 5-2 Big Ten) will conclude its regular-season slate on the road this weekend, traveling to State College, Pa., to face No. 7 Penn State (12-4, 5-2 Big Ten) at 6 p.m. on Friday (Oct. 29) at the PSU Field Hockey Complex. It will be the first meeting between the programs in two years.

Wolverine Bites

• Michigan lists second in the Big Ten Conference standings, tied with Rutgers and Penn State, with a 5-2 record in league play. Iowa has locked up the No. 1 seed for the Big Ten Tournament, while U-M could be seeded as high as No. 2 with a win in its regular-season finale.

• The Wolverines remain No. 2 in the most recent NFHCA coaches poll -- behind No. 1 Iowa. U-M owns eight wins over ranked teams, including No. 1 North Carolina (3-2, Aug. 27) in the season opener and, more recently, No. 6 Northwestern (2-1, Oct. 8), No. 3 Louisville (2-1, Oct. 10) and No. 3 Rutgers (3-0, Oct. 22). The Big Ten Conference boasts six teams in the top 10, including six of the top seven spots. [ NFHCA Coaches Poll ]

• Michigan lists fifth nationally with a 3.54 scoring average and fifth with a 2.57 scoring margin. Senior Sofia Southam ranks second with a 1.31 goals-per-game average this season -- behind North Carolina's two-time NFHCA National Player of the Year Erin Matson with 1.50. Southam has tallied 17 goals in 13 appearances this season and boasts four multi-goal games and four game-winners. She entered the season with 11 career goals, while her previous season best was five as a freshman.

• Michigan ranks fifth nationally with a 0.97 goals-against average, while senior goalkeeper Anna Spieker individually lists ninth with a 1.04 GAA. The Wolverines have earned five shutouts, with three complete-game efforts for Spieker. With 21 career shutouts, Spieker owns the second spot on Michigan's career leaders list. Sam Swenson (2014-17) owns the program record with 23 career shutouts.

Scouting the Opposition

Penn State -- The Nittany Lions enter the weekend with a 12-4 record and are 5-2 in Big Ten play after defeating Ohio State 4-0 and Michigan State 1-0 on the road last weekend (Oct. 22-24). Goalkeeper Brie Barraco carries a .755 save percentage and 1.35 goals-against average, while Sophia Gladieux leads the Nittany Lions with 15 goals. Michigan trails, 27-23, in the all-time series against PSU, but has claimed eight of the last 10 meetings.

Last Time Out

The Wolverines hosted two Big Ten games last weekend, earning a 3-0 shutout win over No. 3 Rutgers before falling to No. 8 Maryland 2-1 for just their second loss of the season and first at home. U-M was awarded a combined 12 penalty corners and allowed none over the homestand. Michigan outshot both Rutgers and Maryland 14-3 and 13-9, respectively, while four different Wolverines scored goals -- Abby Tamer, Kathryn Peterson, Anouk Veen and Sofia Southam. [ Recaps: Rutgers | Maryland ]

Up Next

Thu-Sun., Nov. 4-7 -- at Big Ten Tournament (Piscataway, N.J.)