UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Throughout decades of achievement and seasons of tradition, the Penn State field hockey program has remained consistent in success. A huge factor of the team’s history is the unwavering support of alumni, who have remain involved year after year. Nothing signifies this more than the recent addition of the Penn State Field Hockey Complex scoreboard, donated by field hockey alum Tara Maguire.
The brand new Tara Maguire Scoreboard was unveiled at the season-opening game against No. 3 Old Dominion, where the No. 9 Nittany Lions notched a 5-2 victory over the Monarchs. The following game, Maguire was present to watch Penn State defeat No.8 Virginia, 3-2, for the most successful opening-weekend since 2007. Head Coach Charlene Morett and the squad honored the All-American during halftime with a special presentation below the 20’ x 10’ video screen.
“You can see how it has totally enhanced our facility,” said Morett. “And just to have a player, that played so hard with such great passion and energy, be so generous to give us something so beautiful for our facility…for our fans and our players to meet her, and match her face and that energy with this scoreboard and what it represents is very special."
Tara “Dewey” Maguire played for the Penn State field hockey team from 1992 to 1996, becoming a First Team All-American, First Team All-Big Ten and Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year during the 1996 season as co-captain. A member of the 1995 U.S. National Team, the standout athlete took the season to train in Atlanta with the U.S. Olympic Team. Additionally, Maguire was a member of the U.S. Under-21 Team in 1992 and 1994, attended the 1994 U.S. Olympic Festival and earned All-Big Ten Second Team during her junior year.
In her career, Maguire tallied 44 goals and 20 assists for 108 points. The forward kicked off her rookie season for the Lions in style, scoring a hat-trick in the opening game against Syracuse. As a sophomore, she helped her team advance to the NCAA Semifinals by scoring a goal in the Quarterfinal contest. Maguire’s 28 goals in 1996 ranks fourth all-time, while her 71 points that season stands as the third-best single-season effort. During her senior campaign, she scored a career-high of four goals against Big Ten rival Michigan and a career-high of five game-winning goals.
A 1997 Penn State graduate, Maguire obtained a degree in Kinesiology and followed with an MBA from Saint Joseph’s University, as well as a Masters in Psychology. She is currently completing Oncology Research at the University of Pennsylvania.
Maguire has been described as an athlete who always played with heart and passion, as well as a remarkable motivator with her inspirational words and play.
“You never leave Penn State,” said Maguire at the dedication. “Once you’re a Penn Stater, you’re always a Penn Stater…Penn State is a huge part of my life, and I just wanted to give back and help the future field hockey players."
The entire Penn State Community is thankful to for her generous contributions and never ending support of the Penn State Field Hockey program.