March 2, 2011
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The Penn State women's lacrosse team gained its first win of the 2011 season and the first of the Missy Doherty head coaching era in dominating fashion on Wednesday night, cruising past regional foe Bucknell, 22-2, in Holuba Hall. With the victory, the Nittany Lions up their all-time record versus the Bison to 15-0.
Thirteen different players accounted for Penn State's 22 goals, led by senior midfielder Laura Lesnick (Jarrettsville, Md.), who netted a game-high four. Senior attacker Jen Steadman (Sykesville, Md.) topped PSU in points, notching five on one goal and four assists. A total of 15 Nittany Lions earned the team's 34 overall points, including nine who either tallied her first of the season or the first of her career.
As much as Penn State's potent offense was responsible for the non-conference win, so was a stifling effort on the defensive end. The Nittany Lions limited Bucknell to just five shots for the game and caused 20 of the Bison's 29 turnovers, led by a game-high six from junior midfielder Theresa Zichelli (Severna Park, Md.). Junior goalkeeper Dana Cahill (Towson, Md.) started and played the first 30 minutes, recording her first career win, before giving way to freshman Melissa Lloyd (West Chester, Pa.) for the entire second half.
Junior midfielder Elaine Welch (Bernardsville, Md.) opened the offensive floodgates when she gave Penn State an early lead, scoring her fourth goal of the season just over two minutes into the first half. The Lions would go on to net four more goals, getting scores from Lesnick, junior Aly Adams (Springfield, Pa.), senior Maggie Dunbar (Cockeyville, Md.), and sophomore Katie Guy (Whitby, Ont.), before Bucknell mustered its first shot at the 15:29 mark.
After freshman Lizzy Carney (West Chester, Pa.) gave PSU a 6-0 with her second goal of the year, the breakneck offensive pace slowed and, for nearly an eight-minute span, the game was scoreless. However, three goals in the span of four-plus minutes ballooned the Lions' lead to 9-0. Bucknell managed to get one back, converting on its second shot of the game with 59 seconds left on the first half clock, but would head to the break down by eight goals.
Bucknell cut the Penn State advantage to 9-2 early in the second half but that's as close as the Bison would get. The Nittany Lions would go on to score the game's final 13 goals to punctuate the blowout win. Highlighting the offensive onslaught was back-to-back goals by freshman Evan Foulsham (Madison, N.J.), the first two of her career, two scores each by Lesnick, senior Mary Dean (Wyncote, Pa.), and sophomore Hayley Sofarnos (Williamstown, Australia), and senior defender Katy Wick (Winter Springs, Fla.), who reverted back to her former spot on the attack late in the game to net her first goal of the season.
For the game, Penn State outshot Bucknell 48-5, held an 18-8 advantage in draw controls, and collected 34 ground balls as compared to the Bison's 18.
The Nittany Lions begin a two-game road swing this weekend when they visit Charlottesville, Va. for a 1 p.m. Sunday showdown with ACC power No. 5 Virginia (2-1) at Klöckner Stadium. The Cavaliers, which are coming off a 21-11 whipping of then-No. 9 Syracuse and face Maryland on Friday, have taken five straight in the series. Penn State will then head north to the Charm City to take on No. 7 Loyola (Md.) (1-0) on Tuesday evening at 7 p.m. The Lions knocked off the Greyhounds, 9-8, in the 2010 season opener at Holuba Hall.
Follow Penn State women's lacrosse on Facebook at www.facebook.com/pennstatewomenslacrosse.