March 10, 2012
NEWARK, Del. - The No. 12 Penn State women's lacrosse team opened a three-game road swing in successful fashion on Saturday afternoon, cruising to a 12-6 victory over Delaware (2-5) at Delaware Stadium in Newark. With the win, the Nittany Lions remain undefeated on the year on the road, upping their record to 3-0.
Penn State went on 3-0 and 5-0 runs in the first half to build a commanding lead and never looked back to move to 5-2 overall on the year. Freshman Maggie McCormick (Eldersburg, Md.) had a game-high five points, scoring three goals and two assists all in the first 20 minutes of the game. Senior Theresa Zichelli (Severna Park, Md.) also netted a hat trick, her first of the season. Senior goalkeeper Dana Cahill (Towson, Md.) made nine saves against 19 Blue Hens shots.
Unassisted goals by Zichelli, McCormick, and freshman Kelly Lechner (Silver Spring, Md.) through the opening six-plus minutes set the tone for the game and provided Penn State with a quick 3-0 lead. When the Blue Hens cut into the Nittany Lion advantage with their first goal at the 21:28 mark it would prove to be the pinnacle for UD, as it could get no closer throughout the remainder of the game.
Penn State then took control of the game, as McCormick heated up and went on a tear. The Nittany Lions scored five unanswered and the freshman attacker had a hand in four of the goals. McCormick netted goals at the 11:23 and 9:56 marks and assisted on scores by sophomore Mackenzie Cyr (Westminster, Md.) and Zichelli. An unassisted goal by fellow freshman Tatum Coffey (Toms River, N.J.) with 3:59 on the clock ballooned the Penn State lead to 8-1.
Up a player after sophomore Lauren Purvis (Maple Glen, Pa.) was sent off with a yellow card, Delaware made the game 8-2, scoring just before the halftime break.
Penn State took its foot off the pedal in the second half, trading goals with Delaware throughout the period but never allowing the lead to dip below six goals. Three of the Nittany Lions' second half goals, netted by Zichelli, Purvis, and Cyr, came on free position conversions. Lechner also scored her second of the game, off a pass from junior Molly Fernandez (Baltimore, Md.).
Penn State will venture back out of the road next week, traveling to Hempstead, N.Y. for a mid-week game with Hofstra (2-3). The Nittany Lions and Pride will meet on Wednesday, March 14 at 3 p.m. at James M. Shuart Stadium. A year ago, Penn State used an 11-goal second half outburst to down Hofstra, 16-7, in Happy Valley in the first-ever meeting between the two programs.