March 21, 2013
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UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The No. 10/11 Penn State women's lacrosse team's high-powered offense will be put to the test Friday, March 22 when the Nittany Lions battle the Drexel Dragons at Vidas Field at 7 p.m.
The Nittany Lions (5-3, 1-0 ALC) will enter the contest boasting the nation's 10th-ranked scoring offense with 14.38 goals per game, while Drexel (6-2, 0-0 CAA) ranks 13th in the country in scoring defense (7.88 goals per game). Penn State has netted at least 10 markers in all eight games this season, while the Dragons have held their opponents to fewer than 10 goals six times (5-1).
Leading the charge for Penn State is sophomore attacker Maggie McCormick (Eldersburg, Md.), who ranks ninth in the country in points (39) and 12th in points per game (4.88). The Eldersburg, Md., native paces the squad in goals (23), assists (16) and points (39) and is on pace to break her career highs in all three categories.
In addition to McCormick, six Nittany Lions have recorded at least 10 points, while five have notched at least 10 goals. Junior Mackenzie Cyr (Westminster, Md.), who ranks second on the team in goals (19), assists (11) and points (30), has registered a 15-game point-scoring streak dating back to last season.
ALC Rookie of the Week Jenna Mosketti (Fallston, Md.), who has 17 points on the season, tallied seven points (5g, 2a), seven ground balls, five draw controls and four caused turnovers in action against then-No. 14/16 Cornell and Vanderbilt last week.
On the defensive end, senior Katie Guy (Whitby, Ont.), who earned ALC Defensive Player of the Week recognition, ranks 15th in the nation in caused turnovers per game (2.0) and leads the team in ground balls (23) and caused turnovers (16). Sophomore midfielder Tatum Coffey (Toms River, N.J.) has added 12 ground balls and eight caused turnovers, while freshman Madison Cyr (Westminster, Md.) has collected eight in both categories.
In its last game, Penn State defeated Vanderbilt, 20-14, to open its 12th ALC season. McCormick recorded a game-high six points (5g, 1a), while senior Molly Fernandez (Baltimore, Md.), Cyr and Mosketti added three goals each. Freshman goalkeeper Emi Smith (Denver, Colo.) made seven saves.
Along with the nation's top-15 defense, Drexel goalkeeper Teresha Bradley ranks 10th in the NCAA with a 7.60 goals-against average. Kelli Joran paces the squad in goals (21), points (27) and draw controls (30), while Kristin Kopenhaver's nine caused turnovers are a team high. The Dragons, who are 1-0 against ranked opponents, will host Penn State in the third game of a season-high four-game homestand. In their last matchup, the Dragons fell to Louisville, 9-8.
Drexel is led by 11th-year head coach Anna Marie Vesco, a 1988 Penn State graduate and four-year Nittany Lion standout. Vesco was a two-time All-American and helped lead Penn State to the 1987 national championship.
Penn State is 2-0 all-time against Drexel after winning both of their matchups in the 1994 and 1995 seasons. Following Friday night's game, the Nittany Lions will return to action Saturday, March 30 when they return to conference play against No. 2 Florida.