Feb. 18, 2009
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The Penn State women's lacrosse team (1-0) began the 2009 season in dominating fashion, whipping visiting Lafayette (0-1), 20-7, in a non-conference match-up on Wednesday night in Holuba Hall. Ten Nittany Lions netted goals, 11 tallied points, and all 34 players on the roster saw action in the lopsided victory.
Sophomore attacker Jen Steadman (Sykesville, Md.) led all scorers with four goals and three assists. Junior Maria Valderas (Catonsville, Md.) netted a single-game career high three goals while sophomore Katy Wick (Winter Park, Fla.) recorded not only the first goal of her collegiate career but the second and the third. Senior Megan McGuire (Eldersburg, Md.) and junior Erica Mihm (Annapolis, Md.) each contributed one goal and three assists.
The game's outset was played evenly but sloppy, with each team committing turnovers and misconnecting on passes. Knotted 4-4, with Steadman accounting for three of Penn State's four goals, the Nittany Lions began to exert themselves and take control of the game at the 18-minute mark. With strong defense and well-coordinated offense, the Lions put together a 6-0 run, highlighted by two goals from senior Laura Lincicome (Berwyn, Pa.) and Katy Wick's first goal as a Nittany Lion.
After Kristin Ruminski, Lafayette's leading returning scorer, made the score 10-5 with her lone goal of the game, Penn State reeled off seven consecutive and unanswered goals through the first half's final 4:37. In the stretch, Wick and sophomore Jackie Eastman (Springfield, Pa.) netted two each while freshman Mary Dean (Wyncote, Pa.) put in her first collegiate score. As the teams went to the break, Penn State held an overwhelming 17-5 advantage.
In the second half, after scoring two quick goals, one each by Mihm and Valderas, Penn State held the ball on offense and cleared the bench. Still pressuring on defense, the makeshift Nittany Lion line-up limited Lafayette to just two goals. Freshman Elaine Welch (Bernardsville, N.J.) capped off the PSU scoring, netting her first career goal with 1:13 remaining.
Junior Stephanie Ellis (Bryn Mawr, Pa.) started in goal, recording her first career victory. Freshman goalkeeper Dana Cahill (Towson, Md.) played the entire second half, collecting two saves.
Penn State outshot Lafayette, 32-14, for the game, owned a 31-21 advantage in ground balls, and totaled 21 draw controls to the opposition's eight.
The Nittany Lions remain at home next week when Bucknell visits University Park on Wed., Feb. 25 for a 6:30 p.m. game at Holuba Hall. Penn State holds a perfect 12-0-0 record all-time versus the Bison. Prior to last year, when the match-up was cancelled due to the weather, the Nittany Lions won each meeting in the three years previous by a combined score of 57-14.