March 3, 2017
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The sixth ranked Penn State women's lacrosse team closes out their three-game road swing as they travel to Loyola Maryland for a 3 p.m. affair on Saturday afternoon.
THE MATCH-UP
- Both teams have met every year since 1986 except in 2009. Penn State leads the all-time series 16-14.
- The series has gone back-and-forth throughout the years with Penn State dominating early winning seven of the first eight meetings before Loyola took over and won eight straight from 1994-2001.
- The Nittany Lions have since regained control and have won eight of the last 11 since 2005 including three straight contests.
FIVE AND OH YEAH
- Penn State is 5-0 to start the season for the first time since 1993 and have a chance to improve to 6-0 for the first time since 1991 with a win this weekend. The Nittany Lions opened the 91 campaign 8-0 en route to a National Semifinal Berth.
- Penn State is one of just 11 teams who remain unbeaten through the first month of the season.
DISHING IT OUT
- Senior Steph Lazo dished out four assists during Penn State's most recent win at No. 14 Cornell. The senior is now tied for the national lead with 16 assists on the year while her 62 career helpers place her 12th on the Penn State all-time list. With just three more assists, Lazo will crack the top-10.
- Lazo also leads the Big Ten in points with 34, which is good for third in the entire nation.
CARTER STARTING FAST
- Sophomore Madison Carter has already potted 20 goals in the first five games of the season while adding three assists for 23 points. Her 20 goals currently lead the Big Ten and rank seventh in the nation.
- Carter is also second in the Big Ten in points only behind the 34 of Lazo. Her 23 points rank tied for 15th nationally.
CONTROLLING POSSESSION
- Penn State currently leads the Big Ten averaging 17.4 draw controls per game, good for fourth in the country, while Carter paces all individuals in the conference with 6.40 per game, good for 10th in the nation.
WE WANNA SCORE MORE
- Penn State was held to their fewest goal total so far this season during last Saturday's 9-8 victory over Cornell. The Lions currently rank 11th in the country averaging 15.8 goals per game.
- Penn State is also 14th in scoring margin as they have beaten their opponents by 6.6 goals per game.
- The Nittany Lions are also 2-0 this season in games separated by two goals or less proving they can win big and also hang on in the close ones.
FIRST HALF DOMINANCE
- Penn State has scored first in four out of their five games so far this season and are doubling up opponents in the first half outscoring them 40-20.
- The Lions have been consistent in the shot department in each half as they have exactly 80 shots in both the first half and second half so far this season. However, the defense has been tighter in the opening 30 minutes allowing 10 less shots and 13 less shots on goal.
TEWAARATON WATCH LIST
- Senior Abby Smucker landed on the Tewaaraton Watch List earlier this week for the second consecutive season as she is joined by Lazo and Carter as part of the initial 50-player list.
ABOUT THE GREYHOUNDS
- Loyola is coming off a 14-6 season in 2016 and a perfect 9-0 Patriot League record as they won the Patriot League regular season and tournament championship.
- Loyola returns seven scorers last season who registered double-digits points as they only lost their leading scorer Maddy Blakeman who scored 39 goals and added 23 assists for 62 points.
- However, The Greyhounds lost their top goalie Molly Wolf who started every game last season turning in a .519 save percentage and an 8.50 goals against average. They also are without the services of their top defender in Maddy Lesher who paced the team with 63 ground balls and 50 caused turnovers.
- So far this season The Greyhounds are led by Cami Whiteford with nine goals and a pair of assists for 11 points. Sabrina Tabasso has scored five goals while Hannah Powers and Frankie Kamely have each added four.
- The Hounds are being outscored 42-30 in their first three games all against ranked opponents.
NEXT UP
- Penn State returns home to battle James Madison on Wednesday afternoon at 4 p.m.