UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.- No. 25 Penn State women's lacrosse earns dominant, 19-5 victory against Duquesne to continue its largest home win streak since 2013.
Offensive efforts from 13 different Nittany Lions adding to the goal total helped guide the team to their highest of the season so far.
Penn State improves to 3-0 on the season while Duquesne falls to 0-3.
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Quarter
An opening goal from Alaina Hamood, coming hot off her hat trick in Saturday's win, gave the Nittany Lions a 1-0 lead. The Dukes were next to add to the board with under nine minutes to play. Cam Evitts quickly turned that around to send Penn State on a 3-0 run with her second goal of the season, followed by goals from Brooke Hoss and Gretchen Gilmore.
Duquesne's Mackenzie Leszczynsk cut the score in half with a goal to make the score 4-2. However, Hamood got the final word in the first quarter with her fifth goal of the season.
Second Quarter
The Nittany Lions held Duquesne scoreless for nearly the entire second stanza while adding four goals for themselves. The Nealon sisters (Kara and Regan), along with Brooke Barger and Meghan Murray were responsible for the Penn State 9-2 lead.
The Dukes managed to put one in with under two minutes remaining in the half to secure a 9-3 score after two periods of play.
Third Quarter
Penn State was successful in this quarter, holding Duquesne to no goals, but continuing to add more to the Nittany Lions' total. Lauren Saltz got the offense started with her first goal of the season followed quickly by another from Hoss.
Evitts and Murray both scored their second of the day to increase the deficit to 10 goals at 13-3 with under 10 to go.
Murray completed a hat trick with five minutes to play in the third stanza to take control of the game on offense.
Kristin O'Neill got in on the action with the final goal of quarter to take a 15-3 lead.
Fourth Quarter
A quick goal from Barger, cruising past defenders from nearly half field after Kayla Abernathy won the opening draw, grew the lead to 13 goals.
Penn State climbed to as much as a 14-goal lead after Ally Lipkin scored her first goal of the season with under 12 minutes to play. Duquesne scored once more for the first time since the second quarter to make the score 17-4.
Sophomore transfer Elise Smigiel scored her first goal of the season to give the Nittany Lions 18 on the board.
The Dukes managed one more before the game concluded with a goal from Penn State senior Kelsey Kimmel for her first of the season. The final score was 19-5.
OF NOTE
- The Nittany Lions are off to their best start since 2020, with their 3-0 record.
- Penn State is also on its best home win streak since 2013.
- O'Neill is on a seven-game scoring streak, dating back to last season.
- Murray scored the third hat trick of her career.
- Lipkin, Smigiel, Kimmel and Saltz all scored their first goals of the season.
- Penn State outshot Duquesne 36-10.
- All three Nittany Lions goalies saw action in the game including freshman Emily Bette, making her collegiate debut.
- Penn State won the draw control battle 20-6.
UP NEXT
The Nittany Lions have a quick turnaround with their next game on Friday, Feb. 24 when they host Arizona State. First draw is set for 3 p.m. at Panzer Stadium.