March 2, 2009
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The Penn State women's lacrosse team (3-0) will wrap up the program's first-ever season-opening four game home stand on Tuesday evening when it welcomes Mount St. Mary's (0-3) to Holuba Hall for a 6:30 p.m. non-conference contest.
The Nittany Lions ran roughshod over the Patriot League in putting together their three-game winning streak to start the season, punctuated by Sunday's 16-6 rout of preseason conference favorite Colgate. 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.
Mount St. Mary's is coming off back-to-back home losses to ranked opponents, falling to No. 20 Denver, 16-6, and No. 18 Towson, 15-8. A trio of players in Katelyn Catanese (6 goals, 1 assist), Kathleen Rosetti (2 goals, 4 assists), and Ashley Johnson (4 goals, 1 assist) headline the Mount's offense. Defender Aly Jost tops Mount St. Mary's with nine ground balls and is tied for the team lead in caused turnovers with four. Brigid McTavish has started all three games in goal, collecting 23 saves while allowing 35 goals.
Penn State's meeting with Mount St. Mary's will not only be its first with the Maryland school but it will also be the first against a Northeast Conference opponent in the four-decade plus history of the program.
The Nittany Lions will make their first road trip of the season to face their first ranked opponent in 2009 this weekend when they travel to Charlottesville, Va. to meet ACC powerhouse No. 2 Virginia (4-0). The game is scheduled for a noon start on Sun., March 8 at the home of the Cavaliers, Klockner Stadium. Penn State possess a 4-15 record in all-time games versus Virginia and has lost three straight in the series, including last year's 13-7 setback in University Park.