March 1, 2009
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The Penn State women's lacrosse team (3-0) gained a third consecutive decisive win to start the 2009 season, dispatching visiting Patriot League preseason favorite Colgate (2-2) by a 16-6 count on Sunday afternoon in Holuba Hall.
Sophomore midfielder Laura Lesnick (Jarrettsville, Md.) had the best game of her young career, scoring a single game high four goals on 100% shooting. Senior co-captain Kerry Shea (Baltimore, Md.) put together another stellar offensive performance, netting three goals for the second straight game. Junior Maria Valderas (Catonsville, Md.) moved into the team lead in goals with seven by recording two while junior Erica Mihm (Annapolis, Md.) topped the Nittany Lions with three assists.
Unlike its first two dominating wins, Penn State started quickly, building a 3-1 advantage four minutes into the game. Lesnick scored two of the early goals, getting assists from senior Megan McGuire (Eldersburg, Md.) and Mihm on well-executed plays. The teams then traded goals over the next couple of minutes with Colgate's Ashley Didio's pulling the Raiders to within one at 4-3 at the 23:23 mark.
But that's as close Colgate would get. The Nittany Lions would go on to reel off 10 unanswered goals through the first half and into the early minutes of the second half, fashioning an insurmountable 14-3 lead. Junior midfielder Theresa Bucci (Hudson, Ohio), a preseason All-ALC selection, triggered the run by scoring her first goal of the season with 20:28 remaining in the first. Goals by McGuire, Kerry Shea, Marisa Lozano (Pittsburgh, Pa.), Valderas, and Lesnick followed to provide the Lions with a 10-3 advantage at the break.
Scores from Kerry Shea, Lesnick, Valderas, and Aly Carter (Summit, N.J.) through the second half's opening six minutes completed Penn State's 10-goal scoring streak. With the Nittany Lions' lead exceeding 10 goals and the clock running, Penn State slowed the game down and conceded three final goals to Colgate over the remaining 20 minutes.
Penn State's defense once again played a major role in a victory, forcing 11 of 15 Colgate turnovers, led by three from junior Margo Josephs (Reisterstown, Md.). The Raiders also did not help themselves, as they were saddled with 31 fouls, including seven yellow cards.
Junior goalkeeper Stephanie Ellis (Bryn Mawr, Pa.) earned the win, her third of the season, nearly going the distance before giving way to freshman Dana Cahill (Towson, Md.) for the game's final 2:23. Ellis registered a season-high five goals in the victory.
The Nittany Lions will be back in action in just two days, taking on Mount St. Mary's (0-3) in Holuba Hall at 6:30 p.m. on Tues., March 3. The meeting will be Penn State's first with a Northeast Conference opponent in the four-decade plus history of the program.