Feb. 24, 2009
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The Penn State women's lacrosse team (1-0) will play the second contest of the program's first-ever season opening four-game home stand on Wed., Feb. 25 when it welcomes Bucknell (2-0) to Holuba Hall for a 6:30 p.m. non-conference match-up.
Fueled by 17 first half goals, the Nittany Lions opened the 2009 season in dominating fashion last week, crushing visiting Lafayette, 20-7, on Feb. 18. Penn State's 20 goals represent the largest total in a season opener since it racked up 23 in a win over Lehigh in 2000. Ten different Nittany Lions netted goals while 11 tallied points in the lopsided victory.
Sophomore Jen Steadman (Sykesville, Md.) led the Lions 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 the first three goals of her collegiate career. Senior Megan McGuire (Eldersburg, Md.) and junior Erica Mihm (Annapolis, Md.) each contributed one goal and three assists.
Bucknell is off to a 2-0 start in 2009, claiming wins over Wagner (14-5) and Davidson (9-8). Senior midfielder Bonnie Buechel (6 goals) and junior midfielder Chelsea Peters (4 goals, 2 assists) lead the Bucknell offense with six points. Junior attacker Carol Donohue (2 goals, 2 assists), who broke the Bucknell record for assists and points in a season in 2008, is also a scoring threat. Sophomore Ashley DeLorenz has started both games in goal, compiling a 6.25 goals against average while collecting 22 saves, including 12 in the come-from-behind victory over Davidson.
Penn State possesses an unblemished 12-0 record in its all-time series with in-state rival Bucknell. Prior to last year, when the match-up in Lewisburg was cancelled due to inclimate weather, the Nittany Lions won each meeting in the three years previous by a combined score of 57-14.
The Nittany Lions will play its third consecutive Patriot League opponent on Sun., March 1 when conference-favorite Colgate visits University Park for a 1 p.m. contest. The location of the non-conference contest is tentatively scheduled to be played indoors at Holuba Hall. At halftime, a special ceremony will honor Penn State's 1989 national championship team. Last season, 10 different Nittany Lions scored in an 18-3 throttling of the Raiders in Holuba Hall.