UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The No. 24 Penn State Women's Lacrosse team continues Big Ten play on Thursday as it travels to No. 5 Northwestern. First draw is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET at Martin Stadium with a broadcast on Big Ten Network. Mike Monaco, play-by-play, and Sheehan Stanwick Burch, color analyst, will be on the call.
The Nittany Lions, led by Head Coach Missy Doherty, are 4-5 overall and look for their first win in Big Ten action. Last Thursday, Penn State fell 17-6 against No. 2 Maryland. The blue and white sits 24th in the IWLCA Poll.
Northwestern, coached by Kelly Amonte Hiller, is 6-3 overall and 1-0 in the Big Ten. The Wildcats are coming off a 24-4 win over Marquette. They are ranked No. 5 in the IWLCA rankings.
Follow the action on our social media pages on Facebook (PennStateWomensLacrosse) and Twitter/Instagram (@pennstatewlax).
NATIONAL AUDIENCE
The Nittany Lions will play their second nationally televised game this year.
Last Thursday,, Penn State hosted Maryland in the first nationally televised game in Panzer Stadium history, on ESPNU. The stadium opened this year with full broadcast capabilities.
Thursday will be the first of three Big Ten Network Broadcasts. PSU will also be on BTN on April 4 vs. Ohio State, a 7 p.m. matchup, and April 27 vs. Rutgers, an 11 a.m. game.
The blue and white also face No. 18 Johns Hopkins in an ESPNU matchup on April 19.
THIS WEEK'S MATCHUP
The Nittany Lions travel to Evanston to take on Northwestern on Thursday. Penn State trails 22-9 in the series but has won five of the last eight matchups.
Three of the last five games have come in the Big Ten Semifinal. Last year, the teams split the season series, with the Nittany Lions earning a 21-16 win. Madison Carter led PSU with six goals, while Maria Auth tallied three goals and five assists.
SCOUTING THE WILDCATS
Northwestern, led by Head Coach Kelly Amonte Hiller, is 6-3 this season, including a 1-0 in start in Big Ten play. In its Big Ten opener, Northwestern topped Rutgers, 23-13.
Last Saturday, the Wildcats earned a 24-4 win over Marquette. Three Wildcats tallied six points. Izzy Scane had five goals and an assist, while Lindsey McKone had four goals and a dish and Selena Lasota tallied three goals and three assists. Julie Krupnick made 10 saves in the win.
The Wildcats lead in the nation, scoring 19.1 goals per game. They also pace the country in shot percentage, at .544, and place fourth in shots on goal per game, 28.0. Northwestern is seventh in the Big Ten allowing 14.1 goals per contest. Lasota leads the Big Ten, and ranks 12th nationally, averaging 3.75 goals per game. She is also fourth in the country in free-posiiton percentage (.750), and eighth in points per game (5.25). Brennan Dwyer is seventh in the country, winning 7.56 draws per game.
BRISOLARI ON TEWAARATON WATCH LIST
Kayla Brisolari was added to the Tewaaraton Award Watch List last Thursday. She joined teammate Madison Carter on the watch list.
Brisolari has collected 13 goals, five assists, 21 ground balls, 33 draw controls and 14 caused turnovers this season, leading the Nittany Lions in ground balls, draw controls and caused turnovers. She ranks third on the team in points. Her top offensive performance this year came at Loyola when she scored four goals. Last year, Brisolari was a third-team All-America selection by the IWLCA.
Carter was named to the Tewaaraton Award Watch List on February 28. It marked her third straight season on the watch list. The two-time All-American leads PSU with 17 goals and 21 points this year.
STEADY PRESENCE IN GOAL
Freshman goalie Taylor Suplee has emerged as a consistent force at the back of the Penn State defense.
She has posted five double-digit save totals this year, including a career-high 16 stops against Maryland. Eleven of her 16 saves came in the first half. The Maryland native collected 14 saves, including 10 in the first half, at Michigan. She also made 11 stops at Cornell.
She was named the Big Ten Freshman of the Week on March 12 after making 11 saves against James Madison and eight against Albany.
Suplee sits No. 2 in the Big Ten in saves per game (9.78) and third in total saves (88). She is also No. 4 in save percentage (.481).
SECOND HALF SURGE
PSU is currently averaging 6.3 goals per second half, outscoring opponents 57-49.
Penn State outscored Michigan, 7-5, in the second half on March 16, including a 5-1 run to start the period. The Nittany Lions found the net eight times in the second half against Albany, including a 4-0 run to start the period. The Nittany Lions scored seven times in the second half against Princeton, led by Carter's five goals. Against Lehigh, PSU scored the first seven goals of the second half, including two goals each from Lauren Craft and Delaney Muldoon. PSU outscored Lehigh, 9-2 in the half. In the season opener, PSU scored 10 goals in the second half against Towson, starting the period on a 6-1 run.
IN THE POLLS
The Nittany Lions dropped to No. 24 in this week's IWLCA Poll. The blue and white is receiving votes in the Inside Lacrosse Poll. PSU was selected third the Preseason Big Ten Poll behind Maryland and Northwestern.
FIRST WIN IN PANZER
The Nittany Lions earned a 15-5 win over Lehigh in the first ever regular season game at Panzer Stadium on February 16. The state-of-the-art venue was dedicated on September 23, 2018. The facility features a new videoboard, permanent concessions, accessible bathrooms and a ticket office.
The first goal in Panzer Stadium history was scored by Kristin Roberto with 26:50 left in the first half.
Sophomore Sophia Triandafils