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Box Score | Photo Gallery | Postgame Comments Uninversity Park, Pa. • Penn State Lacrosse Field • Attendance: 502 | 18 |
March 8, 2014
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Paced by sophomore midfielder Madison Cyr's (Westminster, Md.) career-high six points (4g, 2a), the No. 9/9 Penn State women's lacrosse team rolled past No. 12/12 Loyola, 18-11, at the Penn State Lacrosse Field Saturday afternoon.
The Nittany Lions, who evened their all-time series with the Greyhounds at 14 wins apiece, improved to 3-3 overall (0-0 ALC) with their first victory against Loyola (2-4, 0-0 Patriot League) since 2010.
Cyr, who matched her career high in assists (2) and added a pair of caused turnovers and a ground ball, dominated the Greyhounds all over the field as she set personal bests in goals (4), points (6) and draw controls (5). Both midfielders Kelly Lechner (Silver Spring, Md.) and Jenna Mosketti (Fallston, Md.) netted four-goal games, while freshman Abby Smucker (Bel Air, Md.) notched her first three-marker performance.
In addition, senior attacker Mackenzie Cyr (Westminster, Md.) and junior attacker Maggie McCormick (Eldersburg, Md.) added a goal and three assists each, while classmate Jess Loizeaux (Mullica Hill, N.J.) collected a three-point game (1g, 2a). In all, seven Nittany Lions recorded at least three points.
On the defensive side, sophomore midfielder Ally Heavens' (Garnet Valley, Pa.) career-high four ground balls paced the team, while senior Lauren Purvis (Maple Glen, Pa.) secured a personal best in caused turnovers (3). Freshman goalkeeper Cat Rainone (Newtown Square, Pa.) turned aside six shots as she earned the win, while junior Natalia Angelo (Summit, N.J.) made one stop in relief.
In the first half, Penn State stormed out of the gate en route to a 9-3 halftime advantage. The Greyhounds twice cut the deficit to two in the opening stanza, but Penn State ratcheted up the pressure and closed out the opening 30 with four straight goals.
After a pair of quick strikes early in the second extended the Penn State advatange to 11-3, the Greyhounds found their most success, scoring four straight goals to make it an 11-7 contest. The Nittany Lions then responded with a 5-0 run as they pushed their lead to 16-7. Loyola closed the game on a 4-2 run, but Penn State earned the seven-goal victory.
The Nittany Lions out shot the Greyhounds by a 32-21 margin and held advantages in ground balls (16-12) and draw controls (20-11). Penn State finished a perfect 13-for-13 on clears and went 3-for-7 on free-position shots, while Loyola ended 13-for-13 and 2-for-4, respectively.
The Nittany Lions will return to action Wednesday, March 12 when they travel to future Big Ten rival Rutgers. Opening draw is set for 3 p.m.