UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The Penn State women's lacrosse team may have saved its season Thursday night, as the Nittany Lions defeated No. 21 Johns Hopkins, 16-15, in Baltimore. The win ensures that Penn State can clinch a spot in the Big Ten Tournament with a win over Rutgers April 27 in the Big Ten regular-season finale.
A familiar name topped the score sheet for Penn State, as junior attacker Maria Auth put together another sterling performance. Auth led the Nittany Lions with five goals, including one with under four minutes to play to give Penn State a 15-14 lead, one they would not relinquish. Those five goals bring Auth to 25 on the season, the highest total on the team.
This performance came on the heels of three goals Tuesday against Duquesne, as well as a combined eight goals against Ohio State and Virginia before that. Those numbers garnered a Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week award last week.
"Honestly, I can usually account my performance to how the team is doing," Auth said. "It's never individual, it's all about how our offense is moving and how we're working together. Whenever someone has a big day, it's just a credit to the offense as a whole."
Auth, who led the team in points last year, has seen her role grow as a leader as well, continuing to provide positive encouragement to the team even though she wasn't always on the field.
"I've definitely had to take a little more vocal role out there," Auth said. "I think everyone on this team has stepped up in big ways. For me, I was injured a little bit at the beginning of the season and just trying to make an impact either on the sideline or on the field, I try my best to do what I can wherever I am."
That leadership has translated to a more aggressive style as well, with Auth creating her own scoring chances through her quickness and shot accuracy. But she understands that she won't always be clicking, and support for the rest of the team is just as important.
"I just need to go hard every time I have the opportunity," Auth said. "Trusting my teammates, really communicating out there so we get on the same page. If I have an off night, someone else can step up, and if someone else has an off night I'm there as well so just counting on each other and relying on each other and playing as a team will help us out."
Head coach Missy Doherty has taken note of Auth's growth as well, understanding how important she is as one of the main cogs of the offense down the stretch.
"She's done great, she's playing at a higher pace, deciding things quicker and putting her shots away," Doherty said. "She's been a difference-maker for us momentum-wise, so it's been nice to see her progress in these last couple games."
The offensive side of the ball as a whole has been a focus the last few weeks, and with recent performances the team is finally starting to see the fruits of their labor.
"We've really gotten a lot better this last half of the year," Doherty said. "After Ohio State, we played a great game against Virginia and some things are starting to click. We're building some new leaders as well. We're hoping that leadership continues. We also have to just take care of the ball. Let's limit our turnovers, be ready to be aggressive on the other team and get the ball back. The more we have the ball, the better chance we have to win."
With the game against Johns Hopkins moved from Friday to Thursday, Wednesday night's practice had a packed schedule, from team pictures at the start to turning around and getting ready with only a day between games.
Madison Carter provided a moment of motivation when she addressed the team postgame, leg brace and all.
"That's something we do at practice every day, someone speaks to the team," Auth said. "With Madison being injured, she's just been a constant inspiration to all of us. Helping us out on and off the field, she's just a role model to all of us."
The Nittany Lions will see if that inspiration carries into the final two regular season games, starting Tuesday at 4 p.m. against Stony Brook at Panzer Stadium.
