UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa., February 10, 2005 - Penn State field hockey head coach Char Morett has announced that the team signed two of the nation's top high school players in Allison Scola and Jennifer Long.

Scola, a midfielder out of Hershey High School, was named an All-American last year, while also garnering All-State honors. She is training with the U.S. Under-21 team, and has a chance to compete in the Junior Pan Am Games in Puerto Rico in March.

"Allison is a feisty competitor," said Morett. "She has excellent vision on the field and does a tremendous job of setting up scoring opportunities. We've been watching her since ninth grade when she would come to our camps, and we are thrilled to welcome her as part of this team."

Long comes from Doylestown, Pa. where she attended Central Bucks East. A forward, Long was also a high school All-American and All-State selection.

"Jennifer is such a versatile player," Morett said. "She could play any position on the field for us, but we will probably use her talent on the attack and play her as a forward."

Long is also training with the U.S. Under-21 team with the chance to play in the Junior Pan Am Games. Morett said the Lions likely will add additional players to the roster during the coming weeks.

The Nittany Lions are coming off a 10-10 season and a fourth place Big Ten finish. Penn State loses three seniors in Karin Grap (Van Etten, N.Y.), Amanda Eckert (Lititz, Pa.) and Michele Rigby (Dover, Del.), but will welcome back some talented veterans including second-team All-American Bekah Hostetler (Hershey, Pa.), and 2004 Big Ten Freshman of the Year Kiersten Wood (Lititz, Pa.). Morett will be returning for her 19th year at Penn State. During her reign, Morett has led the Lions to a 293-104-8 record, 16 NCAA appearances, three Big Ten titles and four Big Ten Tournament titles.

Penn State also added former Lion standout Tara Maguire to the coaching staff. Maguire, who played from 1992 to 1996, will work primarily with the team's attack.