Feb. 20, 2011
COLLEGE PARK, Md. - The No. 16 Penn State women's lacrosse team fell to defending national champion Maryland (3-0), 13-2, in its 2011 season opener on Sunday afternoon at the top-ranked Terrapins' Lacrosse & Field Hockey Complex in College Park, Md.
Freshman attacker Mackenzie Cyr (Westminster, Md.) led the Nittany Lions in points with two, garnering the first two assists of her career. Senior midfielder Laura Lesnick (Jarrettsville, Md.) and junior midfielder Elaine Welch (Bernardsville, N.J.), who got the start for the first time in her career, accounted for Penn State's goals.
Junior goalkeeper Dana Cahill (Towson, Md.) played all 60 minutes in net, recording 13 saves in her first collegiate start.
After Maryland's Brandi Jones gave the Terps a 1-0 lead 1:25 into the game, Penn State (0-1) responded by scoring the next two goals to take its only lead of the contest. Lesnick struck first, netting her first of the season at the 23:26 mark. Welch then put the Lions up 2-1 with nearly 21 minutes remaining in the first half.
After Maryland knotted the game at 2-2 with a free position goal at the 19:49 mark, the teams played even for the next six minutes before the Terrapins were able to gain control. Maryland would go on to reel off 12 consecutive unanswered goals while Penn State was held scoreless for the remainder of the game. Three Terrapins, Sarah Mollison, Katie Schwarzmann, and Kristy Black each notched a hat trick. Lacrosse Magazine Preseason National Player of the Year Karri Ellen Johnson was held without a goal, after scoring 12 through the first two games, but contributed three assists.
Penn State was hampered by 17 turnovers and an 0-for-5 effort on free position attempts. Maryland outshot the Nittany Lions, 37-16, and had a slight 10-7 advantage in draw controls.
The Nittany Lions will be back in action next weekend, welcoming Albany to Happy Valley for their 2011 home opener on Sat., Feb. 26. Game time is set for 1 p.m. with the location yet to be determined. The Great Danes, which were selected to place second in the America East Conference preseason poll and received votes in the initial IWLCA rankings, open the year at home against Siena on Feb. 22 before meeting the Nittany Lions. Penn State has never faced Albany in program history but is 14-2 all-time versus America East opponents.