Feb. 28, 2010
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Seven members of the No. 14 Penn State women's lacrosse team (3-1) notched three or points, fueling a dominating 17-7 Nittany Lion victory over Colgate (1-2) on Sunday afternoon in Holuba Hall.
Senior Erica Mihm (Annapolis, Md.), who had been quiet on the offensive end up to this point this season, exploded for four goals, tying a single game career high, on 100 percent shooting. Five other Nittany Lions scored multiple goals, led by junior Laura Lesnick (Jarrettsville, Md.) and sophomore Elaine Welch (Bernardsville, N.J.), who each netted hat tricks. Junior Mary Dean (Wyncote, Pa.) set a career high by tallying four of Penn State's nine total assists.
Penn State wasted little time asserting itself after the opening whistle, reeling off four unanswered goals, scored by four different Nittany Lions, through the game's first five-plus minutes. After Colgate cracked the scoreboard at the 24:05 mark, PSU went on another 4-0 run, spurred by two goals from Mihm and Welch's first of the game and the season.
The Raiders stemmed the Nittany Lion tide with a goal with 14:02 remaining in the half but the momentum stopper would be short-lived as Penn State responded with five consecutive goals. Lesnick and sophomore Theresa Zichelli (Severna Park, Md.) would record their second goals of the game, freshman Molly Fernandez (Baltimore, Md.) would net her first, and Welch would cap off her hat trick with back-to-back goals.
Owners of a commanding 13-2 advantage, Penn State would surrender two goals before the half's end but still headed into the break with an insurmountable nine-goal lead.
The paced slowed significantly in the second half, as the team combined for just seven goals, with Penn State outscoring Colgate, 4-3. Mihm, Lesnick, Fernandez, and junior Jen Steadman (Sykesville, Md.) accounted for the Nittany Lion goals.
Senior Stephanie Ellis (Bryn Mawr, Pa.) started in net for Penn State and played the entire first half, registering four saves, before giving way to sophomore Dana Cahill (Towson, Md.). In the face of a barrage of 14 Colgate shots, Cahill recorded a career-high eight saves.
With the win, the Nittany Lions move to 10-0 in program history versus Colgate. In the teams' last five meetings, all won by Penn State, it has compiled an 81-24 scoring advantage. The Lions also upped their all-time mark against Patriot League opponents to 59-2.
The Nittany Lions will wrap up their three-game homestand next weekend when ACC power No. 13 Virginia visits Happy Valley for a 1 p.m. match-up on Sun., March 7. The Cavaliers began the season with a surprising 15-11 home loss to Loyola and will face Richmond, No. 6 Syracuse, and No. 2 Maryland before meeting Penn State. The Lions hold a 4-16 all-time record versus Virginia, losing four straight in the series, including last season's 12-11 overtime heartbreaker in Charlottesville.