March 26, 2010
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The No. 14 Penn State women's lacrosse team (5-3) will make its 2010 outdoor home debut at Jeffrey Field on Sunday when it clashes with No. 17 William & Mary (5-3) in a key non-conference contest set for 1 p.m. All four of the Nittany Lions' previous home games this season have been played indoors at Holuba Hall, where they posted a 2-2 record.
Penn State finished out a three-game road stretch on Wednesday in successful fashion by dominating in-state foe Lafayette in a 19-5 rout in Easton. Junior Mary Dean (Wyncote, Pa.) sparked the Lions with a career offensive day, totaling seven points on four goals and three assists. Senior Erica Mihm (Annapolis, Md.) matched Dean's goal-scoring effort, netting four for the second time this season, while junior Jen Steadman (Sykesville, Md.) contributed a two-goal, two-assist performance for the second consecutive game.
Offensive balance has been always been a hallmark of a Suzanne Isidor-led team and this season in no exception. Through eight games, six Nittany Lions have reached double-digits in goals and points, led by freshman Molly Fernandez (Baltimore, Md.), who has a team-high 16 goals and 23 points. In total, 14 PSU players have netted goals, including 12 with multiple scores, while 15 have tallied at least one point.
William & Mary, selected to finish second in the Colonial Athletic Association in the preseason coaches' poll, is coming off a narrow 10-8 home win over California on Wednesday. The Tribe's biggest win of the year to date came in its season opener, a 15-14 victory over then-No. 16 Ohio State, but has since dropped all of its match-ups with ranked teams, falling to Duke (16-9), Boston University (15-10), and Virginia (14-7). On offense, William & Mary is led by the trio of Mary Zulty (21g, 10a), Ashley Holofcener (10g, 19a), and Tewaaraton Trophy candidate Grace Golden (18g, 6a). Defensively, the Tribe has surrendered 105 goals in eight games, a 13.12 average, but has caused 115 turnovers, led by Sarah Jonson's 26.
Penn State owns a 22-7-1 all-time record in its series with the Tribe, including last season's 14-12 victory in Williamsburg, highlighted by three goals from Marisa Lozano (Pittsburgh, Pa.) and four points from Jen Steadman. Penn State last hosted William & Mary in 2008, earning an 18-12 win.
Fans can follow all of the action of the Penn State women's lacrosse action this weekend with live stats and instant scoring updates from GameTracker or with a live video webcast from Jeffrey Field. Find links on the official website of Nittany Lion athletics, www.GoPSUsports.com.
The Nittany Lions will return to the road next week, traveling to Gainesville, Fla. to take on, for the first time in program history, ALC newcomer Florida (6-3) in a noon game on Sat., April 3 at its state-of-the-art home, Donald R. Dizney Stadium.