March 15, 2008
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The No. 19 Penn State women's lacrosse team (2-3) went toe-to-toe with the nation's No. 4-ranked squad for 60 minutes but came up just short and fell to Princeton (4-0), 7-6, on Saturday afternoon in University Park. The non-conference match-up was the first of the year at PSU's newly refurbished turf surface, Bigler Field, and the Nittany Lions' first home game played outdoors.
Penn State controlled play for much of the first half, building a 3-0 lead through its first 17 minutes. Goals by Kerry Shea (Baltimore, Md.), Jessi Lieb (Villanova, Pa.), and Laura Lesnick (Jarrettsville, Md.) gave the Lions an early commanding lead. However, Princeton would respond and outscore Penn State 4-1 for the remainder of the half. An unassisted goal from senior Kim Kontson (Davidsonville, Md.), her fifth of the 2008 season, was sandwiched in between a pair of two-goal Tiger scoring streaks.
The Nittany Lions went back on top, 5-4, at the 21:26 mark of the second half when sophomore Theresa Bucci (Hudson, Ohio), with an assist from classmate Erica Mihm (Annapolis, Md.), netted her sixth goal of the year.
A 3-0 run, which included goals by top scorers Holly McGarvie and Katie Lewis-Lamonica, over a 13-minute chunk of time would put Princeton ahead for the first time of the game. Super sub Mariel Bryan (Folsom, Pa.), just like she in Penn State's season opening loss to Temple, then tried to bring the Lions back when she converted on a free position attempt with 4:15 left in the game. But PSU would not find net again and the Tigers would escape with a slim win and their undefeated record in tact.
Senior goalkeeper Jess Boccio (Northport, N.Y.) had, perhaps, the finest game of her career, keeping Penn State in the game when its attack faltered. She recorded nine saves against 20 Princeton shots.
While six different Nittany Lions netted goals, Theresa Bucci led Penn State with two points, off a goal and an assist.
Next week, the Nittany Lions embark on a tough two-game road swing that will feature games at No. 5 Pennsylvania and No. 10 Vanderbilt. Penn State will first travel to Philadelphia to face the Quakers on Wed., March 19 in a 6 p.m. game at Franklin Field. A year ago, the Lions struggled in their match-up with Penn, falling 16-5 at Jeffrey Field. Penn State will then trek south to Nashville, Tenn. to open American Lacrosse Conference play against the Commodores on Sun., March 23 at 1:00 p.m. ET. In its all-time series with Vanderbilt, PSU is 6-4, including last season's 9-7 narrow home loss.