March 13, 2010
NEWARK, Del. - On the same day that Penn State women's lacrosse Director of Operations Tara Hohenshelt celebrated the birth of a baby girl, the 14th-ranked Nittany Lion women's lacrosse team (4-2) marked the occasion by claiming its second road victory of the season with a 12-8 decision over Delaware (1-4) on Saturday afternoon at Rullo Stadium in Newark, Del.
Senior midfielder Theresa Bucci (Hudson, Ohio) scored a career-high five goals, including the game winner, and added one assist to lead Penn State. Freshman Molly Fernandez (Baltimore, Md.) totaled four points, scoring one goal and tallying three assists, while junior Mary Dean (Wyncote, Pa.) notched her first career hat trick and junior Jen Steadman (Sykesville, Md.) posted a three-point game (2 goals, 1 assist).
The first half was a back-and-forth affair featuring five ties. Senior Erica Mihm (Annapolis, Md.) gave Penn State an early 1-0 lead when she put in her sixth goal of the year at the 28:06 mark. After Delaware jumped on top with back-to-back scores, Steadman, who assisted on Mihm's goal, got her second point of the game when she knotted it at 2-2 with her eighth of the season. Bucci then put the Lions back in the lead just over three minutes later. Steadman and Bucci would score again later in the half, with each goal breaking ties. Mary Dean provided Penn State with a 6-5 halftime advantage when she converted on a free position with 2:55 remaining.
The second half told a different story as Penn State was able to wrest control of the game and outscore Delaware, 6-3. Bucci had a hat trick in the second half while Dean added two. Molly Fernandez capped the scoring off for the Nittany Lions with her 11th goal of the season with just under three minutes remaining. The Penn State defense held the Blue Hens to just one goal in the game's final 15 minutes.
Senior goalkeeper Stephanie Ellis (Bryn Mawr, Pa.) made her sixth consecutive start, recording six saves against 18 Delaware shots.
The Nittany Lions will begin conference play next weekend when they visit Nashville, Tenn. for a 2 p.m. ET match-up with ALC rival No. 19 Vanderbilt (2-3) on Sun., March 21. Penn State owns a 6-6 record in program history versus the Commodores, losing three consecutive games. The Lions last victory in the series came on the road, a 9-8 triumph in 2006.