March 10, 2011
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The Penn State women's lacrosse team will open its longest home stand of the season, a stretch that features four games in the span of 12 days, on Saturday when it welcomes Delaware (2-3) to Bigler Field for a 12 p.m. non-conference clash.
The Nittany Lions are coming off a tough two-game road trip marked by losses to top 10 teams Virginia and Loyola (Md.). On Sunday in a driving rainstorm in Charlottesville, five different players scored but it was not enough as Penn State (1-4) fell to the Cavaliers, 10-5. Two days later on Tuesday evening, the Nittany Lions led early in the second half, 5-1, but couldn't hold off the Greyhounds and went down to defeat, 10-7. Senior midfielder Laura Lesnick (Jarrettsville, Md.) scored a game-high four goals, giving her a team best 10 for the season, while senior attacker Mary Dean (Wyncote, Pa.) netted two.
Delaware enters Saturday's match-up mired in a two-game losing streak after dropping consecutive road games to Rutgers (13-5) and UMBC (8-5). The Blue Hens' offense is fronted by senior midfielder Corinne Drost, who tops the team in goals (9) and points (11). Ali Libertini (7 goals, 3 assists) and Hollis Burman (4 goals, 4 assists) are also keys to the UD attack. Sophomore Morgan Leonard is an end-to-end player, leading Delaware in ground balls (9), draw controls (8), and caused turnovers (9). Senior goalkeeper Makenzie Worthington has played every minute this season, compiling a 10.00 goals against average and .400 save percentage.
Penn State owns a 23-6 record in its all-time series with Delaware, playing the Blue Hens every year since 1979 with the exception of the 1981-82, 1994, and 2009 seasons. The Nittany Lions won 16 of the first 17 meetings but has gone 7-5 since. Penn State has not hosted UD in Happy Valley since 2007, a 15-10 PSU victory.
The Nittany Lions will continue their four-game home stand on Wed., March 16 when they hosts Hofstra in a 7 p.m. non-conference contest. The Nittany Lions have never played the Pride in program history but are 79-23-1 all-time versus Colonial Athletic Association teams.
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