April 17, 2011
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Senior attacker Jen Steadman (Sykesville, Md.) scored a game-winning goal 45 seconds into double overtime, sending the No. 15 Penn State women's lacrosse team to a thrilling come-from-behind 11-10 sudden victory win over No. 19 Ohio State (8-5, 1-2) on Sunday afternoon at Jeffrey Field. The victory was the Nittany Lions' sixth consecutive over the conference rival Buckeyes.
Steadman made her final regular season game at Jeffrey Field an unforgettable one, tying her career-high by netting five goals and tallying one assist in leading the Nittany Lions to the Senior Day win. Another senior, Laura Lesnick (Jarrettsville, Md.) represented Penn State's only other multiple goal scorer, as she registered two, including the game-tying goal late in the second half. Steadman, Lesnick, and fellow classmates Ashley Boccio (Northport, N.Y.), Mary Dean (Wyncote, Pa.), Maggie Dunbar (Cockeysville, Md.), Jackie Eastman (Springfield, Pa.), Megan Hollerbach (Annapolis, Md.), and Katy Wick (Winter Springs, Fla.) were recognized in a ceremony preceding the key ALC contest.
Junior Dana Cahill (Towson, Md.) was stellar in goal for Penn State, recording a career-high 14 saves against a firestorm of 37 Ohio State shots. The Nittany Lion defense was solid, limiting OSU's Brittany Zerhusen, who entered the game tied for the team lead with 38 goals, to zero scores and just one point. Junior Colleen Shea (Baltimore, Md.) topped PSU with three caused turnovers.
Penn State (8-6, 2-2) found itself behind early on, as Ohio State's Jayme Beard netted her 17th goal of the season just 27 seconds into the game. The Lions responded with back-to-back goals by junior Aly Adams (Springfield, Pa.) and Steadman to take their first of just two leads for the game.
Ohio State answered back, embarking on a mini 2-0 run, which featured goals from Jacqueline Orona and Maghan Beaudrault, to retake the lead at 3-2 with 13:50 left in the half.
Off an assist from redshirt sophomore Bridget Callahan (Moorestown, N.J.), Lesnick then pulled Penn State even with the Buckeyes with her first goal of the game. However, Ohio State would go on outscore Penn State, 3-1, in the remainder of the half, including a goal by Beard with just two seconds on the clock, to head to halftime with a 6-4 advantage.
Penn State chipped away at the Ohio State lead soon after the opening draw of the second half, as Mary Dean put in her 15th of the season. After OSU's Alayna Markwordt scored the first of her three second half goals, the Lions fought back to tie the game for the first time in 20-plus minutes, getting goals from Steadman and Maggie Dunbar.
Ohio State then reclaimed its largest lead of the game, a margin of two goals, with consecutive scores from Markwordt and Gabby Capuzzi in the span of less than two minutes.
Steadman again came through when a goal was needed, stemming the Buckeyes tide by notching her third of the game to make the score 9-8 in favor of OSU.
Following an Ohio State goal at the 4:21 mark, down 10-8, Penn State looked to be running out of chances and time. But the duo of Steadman and Lesnick proved to be clutch once again as each senior netted a goal in the remaining time and send the game to overtime. Lesnick and Dunbar also earned assists on the scoring plays.
Six minutes of scoreless overtime play ensued, setting the stage for Steadman's sudden victory heroics. Taking a pass from Jackie Eastman, Steadman beat OSU goalkeeper Annie Carruthers to score her fifth goal of the game and her team-high 28th of the season, lifting Penn State to the crucial win.
Penn State will finish out its 2011 regular season schedule with a two-game road swing, beginning on Saturday, April 23 when it travels to Baltimore to face Johns Hopkins in a pivotal ALC contest. Game time is set for 1 p.m. at the Blue Jays' Homewood Field. A year ago, the Nittany Lions fell to Johns Hopkins, 12-7, at Jeffrey Field, dropping their series record versus JHU to 6-3 all-time.