Penn State Braves Elements, Tops Tribe
from press release
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- The No. 14 Penn State
women's lacrosse team (6-3) used a fast start to claim a lead it
would never relinquish in its Sunday afternoon match-up with No. 17
William & Mary (5-4) at Jeffrey Field, going on to secure an
impressive 11-8 victory. The game was the Nittany Lions' first
outdoor home game of the 2010 season, and they were greeted with
chilly temps, a biting wind, and a second-half driving rain.
Penn State netted three unanswered goals to start the game and held
William & Mary scoreless for the first 16-plus minutes to set
the tone. The eight goals allowed by PSU was the second lowest
offensive output by the Tribe this year and was four goals shy of
its season average. Leading the way for Penn State was junior
defender Maggie Dunbar (Cockeysville, Md.), who totaled two goals,
one assist, six ground balls, four draw controls, and two caused
turnovers. Senior goalkeeper Stephanie Ellis (Bryn Mawr, Pa.) was
spectacular in net, registering eight saves, six ground balls, and
one caused turnover.
Junior midfielder Laura Lesnick (Jarrettsville, Md.) recorded a
team-high three goals while junior attacker Jen Steadman
(Sykesville, Md.) contributed two goals and one assist. Seven
different Nittany Lions scored goals while nine tallied at least
one point. Penn State's margin of victory could have been greater
but it had four shots either hit off the post or the crossbar.
Steadman, Dunbar, and junior Mary Dean (Wyncote, Pa.) helped Penn
State build its early 3-0 advantage. After William & Mary
finally cracked the scoreboard at the 13:56 mark, the Lions got
goals from Lesnick, Dunbar, and freshman Hayley Sofarnos
(Williamstown, Australia) to account for another 3-0 run, putting
PSU in control, 6-1. Back-to-back goals by the Tribe's Molly Wannen
in the half's final 3:24 made the game 6-3 at the break.
Penn State began the second half as it did the first, scoring three
straight to build its largest lead of the game at 9-3. Goals came
from Lesnick, sophomore Theresa Zichelli (Severna Park, Md.), and
Steadman. William & Mary outscored the Lions, 5-2, over the
remainder of the game but never to pulled to within fewer than
three goals.
The Penn State-William & Mary contest will be broadcast by the
Big Ten Network on Tues., March 30 at 5 p.m., as part of its
Student U line-up. Big Ten Student U programming consists of
student-produced events that originally aired live on
BigTenNetwork.com, allowing students interested in a career in
sports television to get real-world working experience using
state-of-the-art equipment.
The Nittany Lions will return to the road this week, traveling to
Gainesville, Fla. to take on, for the first time in program
history, ALC newcomer Florida (6-3) in a noon game on Sat., April 3
at its state-of-the-art home, Donald R. Dizney Stadium. The Gators
will be seeking their first ALC win in their first home conference
game after falling to Johns Hopkins (16-8) and Ohio State (14-9) on
the road earlier this season.
