UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The No. 14 Penn State women's lacrosse team welcomes No. 9 Maryland on Sunday for a 1 p.m. contest at Panzer Stadium. The matchup will be broadcast on Big Ten Network+ with Kyle Cannillo and Emma Holtz on the call. The Nittany Lions will be celebrating Senior Day.
Penn State, led by Head Coach Missy Doherty, is 3-6 this season and looks to get back on the right track after a 13-10 setback at Johns Hopkins on Wednesday. Maria Auth led PSU with four points, including three goals in the second half.
Maryland, coached by Cathy Reese, owns a 6-3 record. On Thursday, the Terrapins earned a 14-12 win over Rutgers.
Follow along with the Nittany Lions by watching on Big Ten Network+ or following our social media pages on Facebook (PennStateWomensLacrosse) and Twitter/Instagram (@pennstatewlax).
SENIOR DAY
Penn State is set to honor its 10 seniors: Maria Auth, Kenzie Carroll, Sammy Helgeson, Kate Love, Lucy Lowe, Quinn Nicolai, Rachel Rosen, Alyssa Sloane, Sophia Triandafils and Emily Vengilio.
SERIES HISTORY
The Nittany Lions trail 43-15-1 in the all-time series against Maryland. Penn State earned a 15-13 win over the Terrapins on February 21. Olivia Dirks tallied five goals and an assist. She scored Penn State's final three goals, including the go-ahead one with 2:09 remaining and sealed the game with another with 44 seconds left. Kristin O'Neill added two goals and two assists. Taylor Suplee recorded 14 saves.
MEET THE TERRAPINS
Maryland, led by Cathy Reese, has a 6-3 mark and is ranked No. 9 in the IWLCA Poll. The Terrapins own wins this season over No. 17 Michigan (17-13, 12-9), Johns Hopkins (9-8), Ohio State (14-9, 11-5) and No. 23 Rutgers (14-12).
On Thursday, the Terrapins earned a tight 14-12 win over Rutgers. Libby May led the squad with two goals and three assists. Hannah Warther scored four times, while Brindi Griffin had three goals and an assist.
As a team, Maryland ranks third in the Big Ten in scoring offense (12.44 goals per game) and fourth in scoring defense, allowing 12.89 goals per contest.
Lizzie Colson ranks second in the nation in caused turnovers per game (3.11) and fifth in ground balls per game (3.89), pacing the Big Ten in both categories. She also sits 49th in draw controls per game (4.67).
Hannah Leubecker holds 11th in the country in goals per game (4.0) and 12th in total goals (36). She's also 12th in free-position goals per game (1.44).
Emily Sterling ranks 39th in the nation with 73 total saves.
MOVIN' UP
With four points against Johns Hopkins, senior Maria Auth continued her climb up Penn State's all-time charts.
In 71 career games, Auth owns 211 points. She currently sits in a tie for ninth all-time with Steph Lazo (2014-17). She is five points behind Laurie Gray (1981-84) for eighth.
Auth has 148 career goals, matching Diane Whipple (1987-90) for 10th all-time. Auth is two behind Maggie Dunphy (1983-86) for ninth.
With an assist on Wednesday, Auth recorded the 63rd of her career, tying Gray for 12th all-time. Auth is one behind Jen Johnson (1996-99) for 11th.
CHASING 200 WINS
Head Coach Missy Doherty is closing in on her 200th career win. She currently owns a 198-119 record in her 17th year of coaching. She has a 119-73 record in her 11th season as the head coach of the Nittany Lions.
FANTASTIC FRESHMEN
Three true freshmen (Kayla Abernathy, Sammy Dupcak, Kristin O'Neill) and three second-year freshmen (Olivia Dirks, Kara Nealon, Rachel Spilker) started for the Nittany Lions against Rutgers. True freshmen Cam Evitts and Gretchen Gilmore also made their first career starts against Northwestern. Alaina Hamood has also seen playing time as a true freshman.
Freshmen have combined for 62 goals of Penn State's 114 goals (54%). They have also combined for 32 of Penn State's 49 assists (65%) and 94 of 163 points (58%).
NITS AMONG NATIONAL LEADERS
A few Nittany Lions are among the national stat leaders.
As a team, Penn State are second in the Big Ten in scoring offense (12.7 goals per game) and sixth in scoring defense (14.2 goals per game).
Kara Nealon sits 21st in the country in total assists (18) and 29th in assists per game (2.0). Olivia Dirks holds 20th in draw controls per game (6.2), leading the Big Ten, and 36th in caused turnovers per contest (1.67).
Kristin O'Neill ranks 19th in the nation, and second in the Big Ten, with a .667 free-position percentage.
Among Division I freshmen, O'Neill is tied for ninth in total points (25) and points per game (2.8). She's also tied for eighth in goals per game (2.22) and tied for sixth in total goals (20).
Taylor Suplee holds 17th in the country in saves per game, averaging 10.2, and 16th in total saves (92). She's also 14th in ground balls per game (3.33).
NEXT TIME OUT
The Nittany Lions travel to Rutgers on Thursday for another Big Ten matchup. First draw is scheduled for 3 p.m. on Big Ten Network+. Penn State earned a 20-11 win over the Scarlet Knights in its season opener.
