COLUMBUS, OHIO – The No. 10 Penn State women's lacrosse team fell 15-12 at Ohio State on Friday in Ohio Stadium. The Buckeyes began the game with a 4-0 run and were able to withstand multiple Penn State runs. The Nittany Lions dropped to 3-4 overall, while Ohio State improved to 2-7.
The Nittany Lions were led by three goals each from Olivia Dirks and Mary Muldoon. Junior Sophia Triandafils added two goals and an assist, while Regan Nealon contributed two goals. Maria Auth tallied a goal and an assist. Kristin O'Neill had a goal, while Kara Nealon had two assists. Taylor Suplee made 10 saves in net.
Ohio State was paced by Nicole Ferrara's three goals and an assist. Ali Beekhuizen and Maura McGregor each registered three goals. Jillian Rizzo made nine saves in the win.
The Buckeyes started the game on a 4-0 run, including goals by Ashley Turner, Beekhuizen, McGregor and Ferrara.
Regan Nealon got the Nittany Lions on the board at the 20:38 mark of the first half off an assist by Kara Nealon. However, Ohio State answered on a goal by Ferrara to bring their lead to 6-2 with 17:33 to go in the half.
A free-position goal by Muldoon sparked a 3-0 run by the Nittany Lions. O'Neill added a free-position tally before Muldoon sent another shot home, this time off an assist by Auth. Penn State trailed 6-5 with 6:43 left in the first half.
However, the Buckeyes responded with another 4-0 run. Ferrara started the stretch with goals following by Sophie Baez, McGregor and Lindsay Epstein.
Penn State's Dirks stopped the run with a goal at the 1:44 mark, but OSU's Beekhuizen scored with seven seconds to go to send Ohio State into the break with an 11-6 lead.
Ohio State's lead extended to 12-6 on a goal by Jamie Level early in the second half.
A goal by Triandafils was answered by OSU's McGregor to hold a 13-7 lead with 22:49 remaining.
Penn State started a 5-0 run on a snipe by Dirks, off an assist by Triandafils, at the 20:33 mark. Regan Nealon tallied her second goal of the game, off a feed from Rachel Rosen, before Triandafils added a score at the 13:22 mark. Goals by Muldoon and Dirks brought Penn State within one, 13-12, with 4:25 remaining.
Ohio State's Chloe Johnson found the net with 3:38 left to give the Buckeyes a two-goal advantage. Liza Hernandez added a goal with 2:46 remaining.
The Nittany Lions conclude their series against Ohio State on Sunday at Noon on Big Ten Network.
Follow along with the team on our social media pages on Facebook (PennStateWomensLacrosse) and Twitter/Instagram (@pennstatewlax).
Mary Muldoon recorded three goals