UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The No. 25 Penn State Women's Lacrosse team had dominant performances on the attack and in the goal on Sunday to earn a 19-9 win over Cornell at Panzer Stadium. The Nittany Lions blitzed out to a 12-4 lead at the half. Penn State improved to 4-0 on the season, while Cornell dropped to 2-1.
Following the 20-6 win over Duquesne earlier this week, it was the Nittany Lions' first time with at least 19 goals in back to back games since March 23-26, 2014 against Michigan (20-7) and Drexel (21-8). Penn State has 64 goals through its first four games, its most since 2017 (70 goals).
Sophomore Taylor Suplee was outstanding protecting the net, making 20 saves in 51 minutes of action. Suplee bettered her career high of 18 against Maryland in the 2019 Big Ten Semifinals. It marked her 12th career double-digit save performance and her third this season. Suplee is the first PSU goalie with 20 saves in a game since Cammie Jurkowsky made 20 saves against North Carolina on April 6, 2007.
On attack, nine different Nittany Lions scored at least one goal. Senior Maria Auth led Penn State with six points, including four goals and two assists. She has at least three goals in all four games this season. Sophomore Lauren Craft and senior Yasmain Hamood each had three goals and an assist, while junior Quinn Nicolai scored three times. Sophia Triandafils recorded two goals, while Olivia Dirks, Shannon Moore and Mary Muldoon each had one. Senior Katie Schluederberg dished out two assists, while Meghan Murray and Regan Nealon each contributed one assist.
Cornell was led by Caroline Allen's three goals. Shannon Brazier collected two goals and two assists, while Katie Castiello scored twice. Grace Paletta and Isabel Zachara each had one goal. Katie McGahan made seven saves.
Penn State began the game on a 5-0 run, including a pair of goals each by Auth and Nicolai. Triandafils added a free-position tally.
The Big Red slowed the run with back-to-back goals by Brazier and Castiello.
However, Craft ignited a 4-0 run off an assist by Murray. Triandafils and Nicolai both found the net again before Muldoon scored on a free-position look to give the Nittany Lions a 9-2 advantage with 12:23 remaining in the half.
Cornell again answered with a pair of goals, this time by Allen and Brazier on free-position attempts.
The Nittany Lions closed the half on a 3-0 run, including a free-position goal each from Hamood and Auth. Craft scored again on a one-timer off an assist by Schluederberg. Penn State held a 12-4 lead at the half.
Penn State started the second half as it closed the first, with another 3-0 run. All three goals came off free-position attempts, including tallies by Auth, Dirks and Roberto.
Cornell answered with a goal by Allen, but Hamood and Craft found the net to extend the lead back to 17-5 with 18:43 remaining.
A Big Red goal by Castiello preceded two more scores by the Nittany Lions. Hamood found the net off an assist by Nealon before Moore scored on a free-position attempt to give Penn State a 19-6 advantage.
Cornell scored the final three goals of the game, with one each by Allen, Zachara and Paletta.
The Nittany Lions conclude their four-game homestand next Saturday, February 29 against No. 12 Loyola (MD). First draw is at 1 p.m. at Panzer Stadium with a live stream on BTN Plus. A group of Penn State players will be doing a post-game autograph session on the concourse.
Tickets will be available at the stadium. Admission is $5 for adults and $3 for youth (ages 12 and under).
Sophomore Taylor Suplee made a career-high 20 saves