Red-Hot Penn State Rocks William and Mary
from press release
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Penn State's Jen Steadman (2g) attacks the goal Sunday in the Nittany Lions' 17-8 victory at No. 16 William and Mary, their fifth straight. © Jim Agnew |
WILLIAMSBURG, Va. -- The Penn State women's
lacrosse team continued its red hot play of late, securing its
second win against a ranked opponent in the last week by knocking
off No. 16 William & Mary (4-4), 17-8, on Sunday afternoon in
Williamsburg, Va. The victory was the Nittany Lions' fifth
consecutive, the program's longest winning streak since 1999, and
improved their season record to 6-4.
Penn State's trademark this season has been a balanced offense and
that trend was on display again against William & Mary. Despite
getting hat tricks from both senior Mary Dean (Wyncote, Pa.) and
junior Theresa Zichelli (Severna Park, Md.), nine different Lions
scored goals. Zichelli, who notched a team high four points, was
one of four PSU players to tally both a goal and an assist.
Tewaaraton Trophy candidate Maggie Dunbar (Cockeysville, Md.) was a
force for PSU, totaling one goal, one assist, four draw controls,
three ground balls, and three caused turnovers.
A stout Penn State defense was also key to the win, limiting
William & Mary to just eight goals, tying a season low, and
zero assists. In the second half, the Nittany Lions thwarted any
comeback attempt by holding the Tribe to just one goal in the final
20-plus minutes of the game.
The game unfolded as a back-and-forth affair through the first 20
minutes. Penn State tallied the first three goals, getting
consecutive scores from Jackie Eastman (Springfield, Pa.), Dean,
and Jen Steadman (Sykesville, Md.). However, William & Mary
responded with three straight goals of their own to knot the game
at 3-3 with just over 10 minutes expired.
After senior Aly Adams (Springfield, Pa.) netted the first of her
two scores, the Tribe answered with back-to-back goals to stake its
first and only lead of the game at the 12:16 mark.
Penn State would end the half on a 5-0 run, getting two goals each
from Zichelli and Dean and one from junior Elaine Welch
(Bernardsville, N.J.), to take a 9-5 lead into halftime.
The teams traded four goals through the second half's first 10
minutes, with Dunbar and Welch accounting for the Nittany Lions'
scores.
Penn State would finish the game strong, outscoring William &
Mary, 6-1, including netting three free position attempts, through
the final 20 minutes. Sophomore Katie Guy (Whitby, Ont.) scored two
goals, a single-game career high, and freshman Mackenzie Cyr
(Westminster, Md.) put in her sixth of the year in that span.
The Nittany Lions will be back in action next weekend when they
host No. 9 Florida (10-1) on Saturday, April 2 in a key ALC
match-up. Penn State will be looking to avenge a 13-11 setback to
the Gators in the programs' inaugural meeting in Gainesville a year
ago. The road game will be Florida's first since traveling locally
to play Jacksonville University on Feb. 16.
