April 11, 2010
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The No. 18 Penn State women's lacrosse team slipped to 7-5 overall and 0-3 in American Lacrosse Conference play following its 13-6 loss to No. 1 Northwestern (11-0, 2-0 ALC) on a sun-splashed Sunday afternoon at Jeffrey Field.
Senior midfielder Theresa Bucci (Hudson, Ohio) extended her offensive hot streak, scoring three goals, giving her a total of nine in the three games since she returned to the line-up after breaking her nose. Bucci currently tops the Nittany Lions with 22 goals. Junior attacker Jen Steadman (Sykesville, Md.) was PSU's only other multiple-point scorer, notching two assists, moving her into the team lead with 11.
Senior goalkeeper Stephanie Ellis (Bryn Mawr, Pa.) recorded a season-high 12 saves against a barrage of 34 Northwestern shots. Seeing her most extensive playing of the season, freshman defender Katie Guy (Whitby, Ont.) fared well, totaling three draw controls, one caused turnover, and one ground ball.
Northwestern took early control on, going on a 4-0 run through the first 13-plus minutes, and looked like it would run away with the game. However, Penn State withstood the onslaught and showed its heart by fighting its way back into the contest. Bucci put the Lions on the scoreboard at the 15:21 mark and a subsequent goal by sophomore midfielder Theresa Zichelli (Severna Park, Md.) and another by Bucci in the span of less than two minutes cut the NU lead to just one.
Momentum then shifted back, as Penn State went scoreless for the half's final 13:49 while the Wildcats netted two goals. At the break, Northwestern held a 6-3 lead.
The second half began much the same way the first did, as Northwestern posted four answered goals to extend its lead to 10-3. Then, Jen Steadman fed freshman attacker Molly Fernandez (Baltimore, Md.) with a pass on her 17th goal of the season with 12:34 remaining and Bucci converted on free position attempt just over four minutes later, making the game 10-5.
Penn State would get one more goal, an unassisted score by senior attacker Erica Mihm (Annapolis, Md.), but Northwestern would counter with three, including two in the final two minutes of the game with a five-goal lead.
The Penn State-Northwestern contest will be re-aired on the Big Ten Network on Mon., April 12 at 8 p.m. and again at 1 and 7 a.m. on Tues., April 13, as part of its Student U line-up.
Penn State returns to the road but remains in conference play next weekend when it travels to Columbus, Ohio for an ALC match-up with No. 20 Ohio State (7-4, 1-2 ALC). The Nittany Lions and Buckeyes will square off on Sun., April 18 at 1 p.m. at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium. The Lions have taken three straight from the Buckeyes, including a regular season and postseason win last year, and own a 12-4 record in the all-time series.