UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The No. 23 Penn State women's lacrosse team fell 17-6 against No. 2 Maryland on Thursday at Panzer Stadium. The Nittany Lions jumped out to an early 3-1 lead, but the Terrapins made a couple key runs to pull away. Penn State is now 4-5 overall and 0-2 in Big Ten play. Maryland improved to 9-0 overall and 2-0 in league action.
Thursday's game was broadcast on ESPNU, marking the first nationally televised game in Panzer Stadium history.
Junior Maria Auth and senior Kayla Brisolari each scored two goals to lead the Nittany Lions. Sophomore Quinn Nicolai added a goal and an assist. Freshman Sydney Wolfington contributed a goal and sophomore Sophia Triandafils had an assist. Freshman Taylor Suplee made a career-best 16 saves in goal.
Maryland was led by Brindi Griffin's six points, with a goal and five assists, while Grace Griffin had four goals and an assist. Kali Hartshorn tallied three goals, an assist and 11 draw controls. Megan Taylor made eight stops in goal.
Auth got the Nittany Lions on the board early with a goal at the 28:54 mark. She found the net off a dish by Nicolai. Four minutes later, Wolfington increased the PSU lead, wrapping around the defender to sent it to the back of the net. The Terrapins answered with a tally by Grace Griffin. Two minutes later, Nicolai found the net in a man-up situation, off a feed by Triandafils, to give the Nittany Lions a 3-1 advantage with 22:09 to go in the half.
The Terrapins tied the game after goals by Grace Griffin and Erica Evans, however, Brisolari put the Nittany Lions back in front, 4-3, hitting the top of the net with 10:57 remaining in the period.
Maryland ended the half on a 4-0 run, collecting goals by Brindi Griffin, Hartshorn, Caroline Steele and Grace Griffin to take a 7-4 lead into the break.
The Terrapins opened the second half scoring with a goal by Jen Giles at the 28:35 mark. The Nittany Lions answered with a snipe by Auth two minutes later to cut the deficit to 8-5.
Maryland's Hartshorn ignited a 9-0 run, which included two goals by Hartshorn and two by Steele and ended with Meghan Siverson giving the Terrapins a 17-5 lead with 4:03 remaining.
Brisolari found the net for the second time of the day with 2:57 to go.
The Nittany Lions continue Big Ten action next Thursday, March 28, when it travels to No. 5 Northwestern. The contest will be broadcast on Big Ten Network with an 8 p.m. ET first draw.
Freshman Taylor Suplee made a career-high 16 saves