Feb. 19, 2013
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The No. 9/10 Penn State women's lacrosse team will open the 2013 campaign with a home matchup against Bucknell at Holuba Hall Wednesday, Feb. 20. Opening draw is set at 7 p.m.
The Nittany Lions, who are opening their season against the Bison for the second straight year, will enter 2013 looking to build off a 2012 campaign that produced the team's first NCAA tournament since 2005 and their third straight double-digit win season. Penn State compiled a 12-7 mark as it advanced to the NCAA quarterfinals and defeated five ranked opponents, including three top-10 teams.
The Nittany Lions will enter the 2013 season ranked in the top 10 in a pair of national polls. The IWLCA preseason poll placed Penn State at No. 10, while the deBeer/Inside Lacrosse Media Poll ranked the Nittany Lions ninth.
In 2013, Penn State will return eight starters, including leading scorer Maggie McCormick (Eldersburg, Md.), who led the Nittany Lions with 59 points (29g, 30a) as a freshman en route to IWLCA All-West/Midwest First Team and All-ALC Second Team honors. Midfielder Tatum Coffey (Toms River, N.J.), who was the nation's only freshman to earn IWLCA All-America honors (third team) in 2012, led the team with 53 draw controls and ranked third in points (40).
Leading the midfield will be senior captain Katie Guy (Whitby, Ont.), who, along with Coffey, is one of two returnees who collected double-digit ground balls (23), draw controls (30) and caused turnovers (13) from a season ago. Sophomore Kelly Lechner (Silver Spring, Md.), who recorded 25 points (20g, 5a), 23 ground balls and 20 draw controls, also returns at midfield.
Redshirt senior Colleen Shea (Baltimore, Md.), who ranked third on the team with 27 ground balls, will help anchor the Nittany Lion defensive unit, along with sophomore Cat Layne (Downingtown, Pa.). As a freshman, Layne started Penn State's final eight games and collected 10 ground balls.
Bucknell will enter the midweek matchup at 0-1 after a 20-5 setback against No. 18 Stony Brook Feb. 16. Five different Bison reached the back of the net, while three of their markers came on free-position shots. In the all-time series, Penn State leads Bucknell, 16-0, in a regional rivalry that dates back to 1978.
Following Wednesday night's game, the Nittany Lions will return to action Saturday, Feb. 23 when they travel to Loyola for an 11 a.m. matchup.