Feb. 21, 2017
PITTSBURGH, Pa. - The sixth ranked Penn State women's lacrosse team makes their first road trip of the season as they travel to Duquesne University for the Dukes' opening game of the 2017 slate at 4 p.m. on Wednesday afternoon.
THE MATCH-UP
- Penn State is 5-0 all-time versus the Dukes as the two teams have met each of the previous five seasons. The Lions are outscoring Duquesne 78-26 and have won the last two seasons by 30 combined goals including a 16-0 victory in Pittsburgh in 2015.
MOVIN' ON UP
- Penn State entered the season ranked No. 7 in the IWLCA preseason coaches' poll and following a 3-0 start to the season the Nittany Lions have climbed to No. 6 in the first IWLCA regular season poll released on Monday.
STARTING FAST
- The Nittany Lions have raced out to commanding leads early in each game as they have grabbed 7-1, 7-0 and 8-1 advantages midway through the first half in all three games leading to a 25-12 scoring edge in the first half so far this season.
EYEING AN HISTORIC START
- PSU is currently 3-0 and while the Lions began the 2015 season with that same record it hasn't been since 2009 where they have started a season 4-0 and it hasn't been since 1993 where they have won the first five games on their schedule.
- Facing a Duquesne team in their first game of the season it is safe to say the Lions have the edge Wednesday, but traveling to a tough Cornell team ranked No. 14 on Saturday will be the first true test of the young season for Penn State.
LAZO LENDS A HAND
- Senior Steph Lazo currently leads the Big Ten and is third in the nation with 22 points while her 10 assists also pace the conference and tie for third in the nation.
- With 56 career assists she is just three shy of tying for 15th on the all-time Penn State assist list.
- Lazo's 12 goals is also good for third in the Big Ten and tied-11th in the country. The senior is also shooting at a .750 clip for the season.
YOU `MAD'ISON BRO?
- Sophomore Madison Carter erupted for five goals against Lehigh last week to pass teammate Steph Lazo for first on the team and the Big Ten with 14 goals on the year, which tied for eighth in the nation.
- Carter has also added a pair of assists for 16 points, which is good for second in the Big Ten behind Lazo.
OFFENSIVE DOMINANCE
- Penn State has dominated on offense early in the season scoring double-digit goals in each contest and are leading the Big Ten averaging 17 goals per game. This is also good for ninth in the country.
DRAWING A PICTURE FOR SUCCESS
- Penn State is fourth in the nation in draw controls per game as they are averaging 18.67 to lead the Big Ten. This is leading to more time on offense and has contributed to the early 3-0 start.
- Madison Carter is first in the Big Ten and tenth in the nation averaging 7.33 draw per game including a career-high 10 in the season opener against Albany.
NEXT UP
- Penn State remains on the road as they travel to Cornell for a 1 p.m. affair on Saturday afternoon.