UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The Penn State Women's Lacrosse team hosts No. 8 Virginia on Sunday afternoon in a non-conference matchup. First draw is scheduled for 1 p.m. at Panzer Stadium. The game will be broadcast on BTN Plus.
It's Youth Day with all kids 12 and under getting free hot dogs. There will also be a post-game autograph as well as t-shirt and headband giveaways.
The Nittany Lions, led by Head Coach Missy Doherty, look to build momentum after a dominating 21-5 win over Ohio State on Thursday. Penn State is 5-6 overall after earning its first Big Ten win.
Virginia, coached by Julie Myers, is 9-5 overall, including 1-4 in the ACC. The Cavaliers look to bounce back after a 16-6 setback at No. 2 Maryland on Wednesday.
Follow the action on our social media pages on Facebook (PennStateWomensLacrosse) and Twitter/Instagram (@pennstatewlax).
TICKETS
Tickets are $5 for adults and $3 for youth (ages 12 and under), available for purchase at the Panzer Stadium ticket window. Students get in free by showing their Penn State ID.
Tickets are now also available through presale, for all April home games, through Penn State Account Manager, 1-800-NITTANY or visiting the Bryce Jordan Center ticket office in person Monday through Friday, 9 a.m.- 4:30 p.m.
All presale ticketing will utilize mobile ticketing for entry. For help with mobile ticketing, fans are encouraged to go here.
THIS WEEK'S MATCHUP
The Nittany Lions host No. 8 Virginia on Sunday in Panzer Stadium for a non-conference matchup.
Penn State earned a 22-13 win in Charlottesville last year. The Nittany Lions found the net 13 times in the first half. Katie O'Donnell led PSU with eight points, including six goals, while Quinn Nicolai had four goals and two assists. Maria Auth scored three times, adding an assist, and Sophia Triandafils had two goals and two assists.
SCOUTING THE BUCKEYES
No. 8 Virginia, led by Head Coach Julie Myers, is 9-5 this season and 1-4 in ACC play. On Wednesday, the Cavaliers fell 16-6 at No. 2 Maryland. Avery Shoemaker led the offense with two goals and an assist, while Nora Bowen scored twice. Angie Loynaz and Lillie Kloak each had a goal. Charlie Campbell made seven saves in goal.
The Cavaliers rank 43rd in the nation in scoring offense (13.2 goals per game) and 39th in scoring defense (10.6). Shoemaker leads UVA and ranks 23rd in the nation with 37 goals. She is also fifth in the country in free-position percentage (.733). Campbell leads the ACC, and sits 15th in the nation, with 119 saves.
SCORING EARLY AND OFTEN
Penn State set the tone in its 21-5 win over Ohio State, jumping out to leads of 4-0 and 6-1. PSU led 14-2 at halftime, ending the half on an 8-0 run.
The Nittany Lions took advantage of mistakes by the Buckeyes. PSU scored five times on free-position looks and three times on man-up opportunities. The game ended with Penn State owning a 43-21 advantage in shots with 36 of those resulting in shots on goal.
MARIA'S MONSTER DAY
Junior Maria Auth enjoyed a monster performance against the Buckeyes, setting a career-high with nine points and matching a career-best with six goals.
Four of Auth's six goals came in the first half, including two on free-position shots. She assisted on the Nittany Lions' first three goals of the game, setting a season-high. Auth raised her season totals to 15 goals and seven assists.
BALANCED EFFORT
Four Nittany Lions earned a hat-trick against the Buckeyes, led by Maria Auth's six goals. Kayla Brisolari, Delaney Muldoon and Sophie Triandafils each tallied three goals. Triandafils added two assists, while Quinn Nicolari recorded two goals and a dime.
On the season, six Nittany Lions have at least 20 points, led by Nicolai's 27 (21 goals, six assists). Brisolari owns 23 points (18 goals, 5 assists), while Auth and Triandafils both have 22 points. Madison Carter holds 21 points and Muldoon has 20.
STEPPING UP IN CONFERENCE PLAY
Halfway through the Big Ten schedule, a few Nittany Lions have stepped up in big ways.
Nicolai has emerged as a key leader of the offense, leading the unit with 11 goals and four assists. Auth owns 10 goals and three assists. Brisolari has made plays on both ends of the field. She has eight goals to go with 10 ground balls, 10 draw controls and eight caused turnovers, leading the team in all four stats in conference play.
Freshman Taylor Suplee has made 48 saves in four conference games, making 10 more saves in three contests.
BRISOLARI ON TEWAARATON WATCH LIST
Kayla Brisolari was added to the Tewaaraton Award Watch List on March 21. She joined teammate Madison Carter on the watch list. Brisolari has collected 18 goals, five assists, 28 ground balls, 38 draw controls and 19 caused turnovers this season, leading the Nittany Lions in ground balls, draw controls and caused turnovers. She ranks third on the team in points. The senior leads the Big Ten with 1.73 caused turnovers per game.
Her top offensive performance this year came at Loyola when she scored four goals. She has eight games with two or more points and six games with two or more 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 six 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 and 10 at Northwestern.
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 (9.64) and third in total saves (106). She is also No. 4 in save percentage (.473).
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.
NATIONAL AUDIENCE
The Nittany Lions played their third nationally televised game this year against Ohio State, including its second on BTN.
On March 28, Penn State played at Northwestern on Big Ten Network, PSU's first of three appearances on BTN. The blue and white will also be on BTN on April 27 vs. Rutgers, an 11 a.m. first draw.
Penn State hosted Maryland in the first nationally televised game in Panzer Stadium history, on ESPNU, on March 21. The blue and white also face No. 19 Johns Hopkins in an ESPNU matchup on April 19.
The stadium opened this year with full broadcast capabilities.
Junior Maria Auth