ITHACA, N.Y. – The Penn State women's lacrosse team defeated Cornell 20-11 on Saturday afternoon.
The Nittany Lions took an early 3-1 lead to start the game, but the Big Red would score five in a row for their own 6-3 advantage with 12 minutes left of the first half.
After trading goals, PSU got momentum on five straight goals, including back-to-back goals by Taylor Regan and Gretchen Gilmore. An own goal at the end of the half brought Cornell back within one, 9-8.
But PSU would stay hot in the second half, chaining together scoring runs while stifling the Big Red offense to finish the game strong for their second straight road win.
The 20 points Penn State posted is their first 20-point game since 2021's season opening victory vs Rutgers, which the Nittany Lions won 20-11 as well.
Sophomore Kristin O'Neill led the Nittany Lions at Cornell by scoring five goals, which matches her career high she set last season in PSU's 16-9 win over No. 9 Maryland.
Graduate attacker Taylor Regan also matched her career high with four goals, which she previously achieved while playing for Virginia last season versus Duke. Regan rounded out her effort with four ground balls, two assists and two caused turnovers.
Junior Meghan Murray's four goals is a career high for the junior midfielder who scored two goals in her last game at Duquesne.
Junior Kara Nealon led the Lions with four assists while sophomore Kayla Abernathy won eight draw controls of Penn State's 22 total. Sophomore Sammy Dupcak won five.
Freshman Ashley Bowan finished the game in goal for PSU with a season best seven saves in just her third collegiate game.
As a team the Lions bested the Big Red 22-to-12 in the draw control battle, while also out-shooting them 39-to-26.
The Nittany Lions are now 13-3 against the Big Red in their all-time series history.
Both PSU and Cornell are now 2-1 on the season.
Next, Penn State finishes its four-game road trip at Loyola (Md.) on Sat. March 5 before hosting James Madison at Panzer Stadium on March 9.
