April 16, 2008
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The Penn State women's lacrosse team (3-9, 0-2 ALC) will look to build momentum as the regular season draws to a conclusion and the postseason nears when it hosts Cincinnati (2-11) and travels to Ohio State (8-6, 0-2 ALC). The Nittany Lions will first welcome the Bearcats to Jeffrey Field on Fri., April 18 for a 4 p.m. non-conference contest. Then, on Sun., April 20, Penn State will visit Columbus, Ohio to play the Buckeyes in a 1 p.m. game at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium.
Due to activities surrounding Blue-White weekend, a special parking advisory has been issued. Fans attending the Penn State-Cincinnati game should enter with their cars off of Park Avenue at the traffic light by the old baseball field. Parking will be available in the paved lower portion of the Stadium West parking lot and the lower part of the grass fields that are located south of Jeffrey Field. Fans will be able to enter Jeffrey Field at the spectator gates on the University Drive side of the field only.
Last weekend, Penn State matched three-time defending national champion and No. 1-ranked Northwestern play-for-play for 60 minutes but came up short in its upset bid, falling 13-12 at Bigler Field. The loss was Penn State's third one-goal loss to a highly ranked opponent this season. Sophomore Erica Mihm (Annapolis, Md.) lead Penn State in points with four (2 goals, 2 assists) and added a game-high six draw controls. Mihm is ranked second in the ALC in draw controls per game (2.75) and 29th nationally. Freshman Jen Steadman (Sykesville, Md.) topped the team with three goals while junior Laura Lincicome (Berwyn, Pa.) was a surprise contributor, coming off the bench to tally two goals and an assist.
Cincinnati is experiencing the growing pains typical of a first-year program, winning just two games thus far this season, road contests against Saint Mary's (12-7) and Howard (16-4). One of its 11 losses was a 20-4 setback versus Loyola (Md.), a team Penn State defeated 10-7 on March 30. The Bearcat attack is led by Lindsey Marshall (24 goals, 2 assists), Lynsey Burton (18 goals, 1 assist), and Jamie Desautels (10 goals, 7 assists). Ohio University transfer Jen Mott heads the defense from her goalkeeper position. She tops the team in ground balls with 51 and owns a 2-9 record and a 13.80 goals against average.
Ohio State snapped a three-game losing streak in its last outing by defeating former ALC member Davidson, 15-5, in Columbus. The OSU defense has struggled of late, as in the three games prior, the Buckeyes gave up 22, 21, and 17 goals in losses to North Carolina, Maryland, and Vanderbilt. The Ohio State attack has had little troubles this season, fueled by Kristen Slahor's team-high 69 points (21 goals, 48 assists). Brittany Zerhusen leads the Buckeyes in goals scored with 28 while Maghan Beaudrault tops the team in draw controls (26), ground balls (30), and caused turnovers (16). Kristen Gilwee (10 starts) and Annie Carruthers (3 starts) have split time in goal for Ohio State, combining for an 11.58 goals against average.
Penn State possesses a 9-3 all-time record versus Ohio State, including a 1-1 mark a year ago. The Nittany Lions fell to the Buckeyes, 9-8, in the regular season but later avenged the loss by defeating OSU, 9-7, in the first ever ALC Tournament game. Penn State was victorious in its last trip to Columbus, downing the Buckeyes, 19-12, in 2006.
Fans can follow all of the Penn State women's lacrosse action versus Cincinnati and Ohio State on the Internet with live stats and instant scoring updates. For the home game versus Cincinnati, fans can also follow along with live video in the first-ever women's lacrosse webcast from Jeffrey Field. Find links on the official website of Nittany Lion athletics, www.GoPSUsports.com.
The Nittany Lions will conclude the 2008 regular season on Sat., April 26 when they host ALC foe Johns Hopkins (6-7, 0-1 ALC) in a 1 p.m. Senior Day match-up. Six seniors, Jess Boccio (Northport, N.Y.), Christina Buttle (Northport, N.Y.), Lindsay Hagemann (Watertown, N.Y.), Kim Kontson (Davidsonville, Md.), Jessi Lieb (Villanova, Pa.), and Linsey Shea (Baltimore, Md.), will play their final home regular season game in a Penn State uniform when they take the field versus the Blue Jays. A special ceremony to honor their careers and contributions will precede the contest. Location of the conference contest has yet to be determined. Check the official website of Penn State athletics, www.GoPSUsports.com, next week for an official announcement.