March 4, 2011
Virginia: Live Stats | Listen
Loyola (Md.):
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The Penn State women's lacrosse team will begin a challenging two-game road swing this weekend when it meets No. 5 Virginia (2-2) in a 1 p.m. Sunday showdown at Klöckner Stadium in Charlottesville. The Nittany Lions will then wrap up the trip just two days later in Baltimore when it faces No. 7 Loyola (Md.) (1-0) at the Greyhounds' Ridley Athletic Complex on Tues., March 8 at 7 p.m.
Penn State (1-2) gained its first win of the season and the first of the Missy Doherty head coaching era on Wednesday, routing regional opponent Bucknell, 22-2, in Holuba Hall. The Nittany Lions' 22 goals were the most scored by a PSU team since 2000, a 23-8 win over Lafayette, and the 20-goal margin of victory was the largest since Penn State dismantled Shippensburg by 27 in 1990 (31-4).
Despite not starting, senior midfielder Laura Lesnick (Jarrettsville, Md.) scored a game-high four goals and senior attacker Jen Steadman (Sykesville, Md.) notched five points to lead Penn State. Thirteen different Nittany Lions accounted for the team's 22 goals while a total of 15 players tallied at least one point.
Virginia will be looking to redeem itself on Sunday versus Penn State after its record fell to .500 following an 18-6 home defeat at the hands of ACC archrival No. 1 Maryland on Friday night. The Cavaliers got to 2-2 by starting the year with a 15-8 road loss to Loyola before bouncing back with convincing wins over Richmond (23-13) and then-No. 8 Syracuse (21-11). The UVa attack is spearheaded by a threesome of double-digit goal scorers in Charlie Finnigan (12), Julie Gardner (11), and Ainsley Baker (11). Gardner, a junior midfielder, shares the team lead in assists (6) and tops Virginia in points with 17. The Cavalier defense, which has allowed an average of 14.25 goals through the season's first four games, is anchored by sophomore goalkeeper Kim Kolarik along with senior Marghi Walters and junior Bailey Fogarty.
Heading into a weekend road match-up with Towson, Loyola has played just one regular season game, a key 15-8 victory over Virginia on Feb. 19. The Greyhounds are fronted by a pair of Tewaaraton Award watch list nominees in midfielders Grace Gavin, the 2010 BIG EAST Attack Player of the Year, and Abby Rehfuss, a two-time Second Team All-BIG EAST selection. Gavin led Loyola in goals (64), assists (23), and points (87) a year ago whole Rehfuss topped the team in draw controls to go along with 23 goals and seven assists. Junior goalkeeper Kerry Stoothhoff, voted the team's MVP in 2010, started her 19th consecutive game in the opener versus Virginia, making eight saves in the face of 22 shots.
Virginia has served as Penn State's nemesis over the years, as the Nittany Lions have fewer wins against the Cavaliers, four, than any other team they have played 20 or more times in program history. Penn State has dropped five straight meetings in the series, last winning in 2005, a 10-7 triumph in Charlottesville. The Lions are 13-11 all-time versus Loyola, including 2010's 9-8 season opening upset of the Greyhounds in Holuba Hall.
Fans can follow all of the action as Penn State clashes with Virginia and Loyola with live stats and instant scoring updates. An online radio stream for the PSU-UVa game is also available. Find links on the official website of Nittany Lion athletics, www.GoPSUsports.com.
The Nittany Lions return to Happy Valley next weekend to start a home stretch that features four games in the span of 12 games, beginning on Sat., March 12 when Delaware visits for a 12 p.m. non-conference contest. Penn State downed the Blue Hens last year in Newark, 12-8, upping its record in the all-time series to 23-7. Subsequent match-ups with No. 20 Hofstra (2-1) (March 16), No. 13 Vanderbilt (3-2) (March 20), and Lafayette (0-3) (March 23) will complete the Lions' longest home stand of the season.
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