UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.- No. 20 Penn State women's lacrosse continues a five-game win streak with a 13-3 win over Ohio State on Senior Day. The Nittany Lions posted a first-half shutout for the first time since their 18-4 win against Duquesne in 2022. Penn State moves to 9-2, 2-0 Big Ten while the Buckeyes fall to 4-7, 0-3 Big Ten.
Gretchen Gilmore led the Penn State offense once again with her third hat trick in four games. The IL/IWLCA and Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week recorded four goals on seven shots with three assists to total seven points. Kristin O'Neill also notched a hat trick to mark her seventh of the year and continue her 15-game scoring streak. Ellie Hollin locked down the defense, posting five caused turnovers, five ground balls and one draw control.
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Quarter
Kayla Abernathy picked up where she left off in the last game, scoring the first goal of the day just under five minutes into the first quarter. Meghan Murray was the next to contribute a goal to make it 2-0, followed by Gilmore off an assist from Murray to move it to 3-0 with 4:51 on the clock.
The Buckeyes did not find the back of the net in the first quarter.
Second Quarter
A scoreless eight minutes of play was broken by Murray with her second of the day off a free position to take a four-goal lead for the Nittany Lions.
O'Neill found her 35th goal of the season off a pass from Gilmore to grab a 7-0 lead. Gilmore put her second of the afternoon in the back of the cage to conclude the first half at a score of 8-0.
Penn State earned a shutout on defense in the first two quarters, holding Ohio State to no goals.
Third Quarter
The Buckeyes finally put one on the board after the Nittany Lions topped their longest defensive shutout this season. The goal came with 9:09 to play in the third period on a free position.
Abernathy scored a free position goal of her own, seconds later to take a 9-1 lead. Gilmore completed her hat trick with a goal off an assist from O'Neill who caused an Ohio State turnover and sent the ball to Gilmore to go one-on-one with the goalie. The advantage extended to 10-1 to conclude 45 minutes of play.
Fourth Quarter
Ohio State put another one in goal with 13:12 to play in the game but the Nittany Lions scored two quick goals to follow, making the score 12-2, marking the biggest lead of the game. Cam Evitts and O'Neill were responsible for the scoring.
The Buckeyes managed their last goal off another free position with 8:28 remaining in the period. O'Neill would have the final word of the game to complete her hat trick and leave the final score at 13-3.
OF NOTE
- O'Neill's scoring streak moved to 15-straight games and her multi-goal performance streak moved to 10.
- Gilmore notched her third hat trick in four games and matched her career high three assists.
- Murray and Abernathy posted two goals apiece. Abernathy also recorded two caused turnovers, one ground ball and one draw control. Murray earned one caused turnover, one ground ball and two draw controls.
- Hollin earned a career best five caused turnovers and met her career high five ground balls.
- Penn State outshot Ohio State 37-12 and won draw controls 13-7.
- The Nittany Lions caused 15 of the Buckeyes 22 turnovers.
- Penn State posted its first, first half shutout since its 18-4 win over Duquesne last season.
UP NEXT
The Nittany Lions travel to Northwestern for a top-20 match-up against the no. 2 Wildcats on Thursday, March 30.