March 8, 2013
Watch | | Game Notes
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The No. 7/9 Nittany Lion women's lacrosse team will head to College Park, Md., in search of their fourth straight victory when they face top-ranked Maryland Saturday, March 9. Opening draw at the Terrapins' Field Hockey & Lacrosse Complex is set at noon.
A live, pay-per-view stream of Saturday afternoon's contest, as well as live stats, will be available through UMTerps.com.
The Nittany Lions (4-1), who are 1-1 against top-10 teams in 2013, will enter the contest following a 13-12 victory against James Madison at Holuba Hall March 6. Sophomore attack Maggie McCormick (Eldersburg, Md.) led Penn State with a career-high six goals, while junior Mackenzie Cyr (Westminster, Md.), who collected two assists, garnered her third straight three-goal game.
Head coach Missy Doherty will also face her alma mater for the sixth time as a head coach. A four-year standout defender for the Terrapins (1994-97), Doherty helped lead Maryland to three straight NCAA titles (1995-97) and was an integral member of the team's NCAA record 50-game winning streak.
In 2013, McCormick, who also matched her career high with eight points against the Dukes, paces the squad in points (26) and assists (14). Cyr's 13 goals lead the team, while senior defender Katie Guy (Whitby, Ont.) ranks first in ground balls (17) and caused turnovers (10). Sophomore midfielder and reigning ALC Offensive Player of the Week Kelly Lechner (Silver Spring, Md.) leads the team with 19 draw controls.
The top-ranked Terrapins (6-0) boast the nation's second-ranked offense with 17.60 goals per game and, as a team, rank eighth in draw controls. Senior Alex Aust leads the Maryland attack as she ranks third in the country in points (32), fourth in goals (19) and sixth in assists (13). Senior goalkeeper Kasey Howard ranks 10th in the nation in saves (39).
Penn State, which has faced the Terrapins more than any other opponent, is 14-34-1 all-time against Maryland as it searches for its first victory in the series since 2005. The Nittany Lions will also look to defeat its first top-ranked opponent since the 2005 season. During that campaign, Penn State topped No. 1 Virginia, 10-7, March 11 before knocking off top-ranked Princeton, 14-13, in overtime March 19.
Following their matchup against Maryland, the Nittany Lions will return to action Wednesday, March 13 when they visit Cornell.