Feb. 25, 2009
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The Penn State women's lacrosse team (2-0) used a potent offense and a stout defense to gain its second consecutive decisive victory, blowing out visiting Bucknell (2-1), 18-5, on Wednesday night at Holuba Hall.
Senior attacker Marisa Lozano (Pittsburgh, Pa.) led the Nittany Lions with four points, totaling three goals and one assists. After being shutout in the season opening dismantling of Lafayette, senior midfielder and preseason All-ALC selection Kerry Shea (Baltimore, Md.) caught fire versus the Bison, netting three goals. Freshman Mary Dean (Wyncote, Pa.) (2 goals, 1 assist) and senior Amanda Longobucco (1 goal, 2 assists) (Sea Cliff, N.Y.) each contributed three points.
After falling behind early, 2-1, through the game's opening 13-plus minutes, Penn State gained control, posting six straight goals to earn a 7-2 halftime advantage. Six different Nittany Lions netted goals, including freshman Theresa Zichelli (Severna Park, Md.), who scored her career first, and Shea, who put in her first of the season.
Penn State maintained that domination after the break, scoring the first six goals of the second half, extending its lead to 13-2. Kerry Shea bookended the run with her second and third scores of the game. Also, sophomore Laura Lesnick (Jarrettsville, Md.) and senior Aly Carter (Summit, N.J.) each registered her first goal of the 2009 season.
After Bucknell recorded back-to-back goals, Penn State ended the game on a 5-1 scoring streak. Mary Dean netted two while Amanda Longobucco and senior attacker Mariel Bryan (Folsom, Pa.) each recorded her first goal of the year.
Penn State dominated not only on the field but also in the box score. The Lions outshot Bucknell, 37-14, held a 28-16 advantage in ground balls, and forced 13 of the Bison's game-high 19 turnovers.
The Nittany Lions will play their 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.