| Kim Kontson had two goals in the Nittany Lions' 16-10 win over Loyola. For more photos of today's action, click here. |
Box Score
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UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.; April 2, 2006 - With its 10-6 victory over Loyola Sunday afternoon at Jeffrey Field, the No. 15 Penn State women's lacrosse managed to accomplish two things at once--the Nittany Lions snapped a two-game losing streak while securing a historic program milestone. Penn State evened its record at 5-5 with the non-conference victory as it heads into a critical two-game road stretch over the next 10 days. Also, the defeat of Loyola (4-6) clinched the program's 400th Division I win, an impressive achievement 41 years in the making.
The Nittany Lions were able to claim those accomplishments thanks in large part to a dominating second period performance. Stifling defense, strong goalkeeper play, and an opportunistic offense helped Penn State outscore Loyola 7-3 and wrap up the win.
Up 9-7 at halftime, Penn State bolted from the gates to score the first five goals of the second period. The offensive onslaught was a balanced one, as five different Lions found net. Freshman Megan McGuire (Eldersburg, Md.) continued to pick up where injured classmate and offensive star Kerry Shea (Baltimore, Md.) left off, scoring her seventh goal of the season and Penn State's first of the second period at the 26:25 mark. Goals by Jessi Lieb (Villanova, Pa.), Mariel Bryan (Folsom, Pa.), Kim Kontson (Davidsonville, Md.), and Lindsay Dutch (Ellicott City, Md.) followed in succession.
The clock read 6:51 before Loyola could cut into Penn State's 14-7 lead when the Greyhounds' Emily Lawrence scored. Loyola would score two more times before the end of the game but goals by Lions Karen Long (Ellicott City, Md.) and Lori Havrilla (Devon, Pa.) ensured that the Greyhounds' comeback attempt would fall short.
Goalkeeper Cammie Jurkowsky (Annapolis, Md.) anchored the defense by making several key saves, collecting seven in the final period. For the game, the junior netminder totaled a career- and season-high 12 saves.
The first period was an offensive showcase with a total of 16 goals being tallied between the teams. Two scores by Havrilla and one from Lieb, Dutch, and Kontson helped Penn State fashion a 5-2 lead just over seven minutes into the contest.
Loyola fought back though, netting three consecutive goals to even the game at 5-5. A well-timed timeout by head coach Suzanne Isidor, called immediately after the game-tying goal, got Penn State refocused and the Lions would go on to outscore the Greyhounds 4-2 the final 11 minutes of the opening period. Two goals by the Lions' leading scorer Shari Maslin (New City, N.Y.) highlighted the stretch.
Lori Havrilla led Penn State with five points (three goals, two assists) while Jessi Lieb (three goals, one assist) and Kim Kontson (two goals, two assists) each collected four. The eight assists amassed by the Lions tied a season high.
Loyola was headlined by the offense of Maura Kenny, who recorded four goals. Kate McHarg, one of the nation's most potent offensive players, was rendered a non-factor by the efforts of Renee Cipro (Ellicott City, Md.) and the Penn State defense, as she was able to add only two goals to her sizeable 2006 total.
After its short one-game home stand, Penn State heads back to the road for its next two match-ups. The Nittany Lions will face Pennsylvania in Philadelphia on Wed., April 5 at 7:00 p.m. They will then take on Delaware one week later on April 12 in a 7:00 p.m. contest in Newark.