April 16, 2013
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The No. 6 Penn State women's lacrosse team will host Lafayette Wednesday, April 17 in its regular-season home finale at the Penn State Lacrosse Field. Opening draw for the final game of Penn State's season-high three-game homestand is set at 7 p.m.
Except for authorized personnel, no one attending Penn State events through Sunday, April 21 will be permitted to bring in any bags, backpacks, umbrellas, footballs, strollers, purses or diaper bags. Anyone with a medical need to carry a bag should place their medical supplies in a clear, one gallon, zip-close style plastic bag. Parents with a need to carry diapers and wipes also may place their supplies in a clear, one-gallon zip-close style plastic bag so the contents are visible.
The Nittany Lions (9-4, 3-1 ALC) are 6-0 at home for the first time since 1991 and will look for their first undefeated home campaign in 22 seasons. Penn State, which is ranked sixth in the IWLCA and deBeer Media polls for the first time since 2007, finished the 1991 campaign with an unblemished 8-0 home record.
In 2013, the Nittany Lions, who are in search of their fourth straight 10-win season, have relied heavily on their underclassmen. Penn State has started as many as eight freshmen and sophomores, while the two classes have attributed for 74 percent of the team's goals. Sophomore Maggie McCormick (Eldersburg, Md.) leads the team in goals (33), assists (23) and points (56), while classmate Kelly Lechner (Silver Spring, Md.) has collected a team-high 32 draw controls.
In addition, ALC Rookie of the Week Jenna Mosketti (Fallston, Md.) leads all conference rookies in caused turnovers per game (1.31) and ground balls per game (1.85) and is one of four underclassmen, joining Tatum Coffey (Toms River, N.J.), Madison Cyr (Westminster, Md.) and Lechner, with at least 10 ground balls, draw controls and caused turnovers.
Along with McCormick, junior Mackenzie Cyr (Westminster, Md.) has continued to be a dominant force on attack. The Westminster, Md., native has recorded at least one point in a team-high 20 straight games and is one of two Nittany Lions with double-digit goals and assists. Against Ohio State, the junior notched three assists to up her career total to 63, good for a tie for ninth on the program's all-time list.
Senior defender Katie Guy (Whitby, Ont.) paces Penn State with a career-high 33 ground balls and 24 caused turnovers and is just eight draw controls away from matching her 2012 total. In the cage, freshman goalkeeper Emi Smith (Denver, Colo.) has amassed a 9-4 record with a 10.79 goals-against average and .391 save percentage.
Lafayette (8-7, 2-3 Patriot League) will face the Nittany Lions in its final non-conference game before wrapping up the regular season against Patriot League foe Colgate. The Leopards, who scored victories against Penn State opponents Lehigh and Bucknell earlier this season, are led by a pair of 40-goal scorers.
Senior attacker Addie Godfrey ranks seventh in the NCAA in goals (47) and 26th in points (56), while junior midfielder Ana White, who has netted 40 markers, ranks 10th in the country in caused turnovers per game (1.87) and draw controls per game (5.2) and 18th in points (59).
The Nittany Lions, who have won 15 straight games against the Leopards, are 20-2 all-time against Lafayette. Last season, Coffey led Penn State with four goals as the Nittany Lions recorded a 14-10 victory in Easton, Pa.
Following Wednesday evening's game, Penn State will return to ALC play with a trip to Johns Hopkins Sunday, April 21. The noon matchup will air live on ESPNU.