BALTIMORE, Md.- No. 14 women's lacrosse drops to No. 22 Johns Hopkins, 16-12 in a tough Big Ten battle. Despite a career high 19 saves for goalkeeper Ashley Bowan, the Blue Jays managed to come out on top.
Penn State falls to 11-5, 3-3 Big Ten and Hopkins improves to 8-7, 4-2 Big Ten.
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Quarter
Despite Johns Hopkins adding the first goal to the board, Penn State went on a 4-0 run to take a 4-1 lead in the first 10 minutes of the game. Kristin O'Neill found the back of the net first to ignite the scoring streak on a free position goal. Another O'Neill goal off an assist from Kara Nealon followed 30 seconds later. Kara Nealon scored her own goal off a pass from Meghan Murray. Emma Kelly finished the run on a free position goal with 5:58 on the clock.
Hopkins came back to reclaim the lead with 0:39 to play in the quarter but the Nittany Lions would get the final word to tie it at 5-5. Kayla Abernathy was responsible for the final goal.
Second Quarter
Six Hopkins goals in the second period were broken up by a Penn State, Brooke Hoss goal from Kara Nealon pass. The score after 30 minutes was 11-6.
Third Quarter
Hoss came out of halftime firing an unassisted shot to begin the quarter. Two goals for the Blue Jays put them ahead 13-7 but Lauren Saltz narrowed the margin to 13-8 with 6:32 on the clock on a free position shot.
Fourth Quarter
Penn State rallied back in the final stretch, outscoring Johns Hopkins with four goals. After the Blue Jays spoke first, Kelly struck with her second of the day on a free position. Brooke Barger put one in the back of the net off another pass from Nealon, her third assist of the day. Murray nailed one past the Blue Jays' goalie on the Nittany Lions ninth free position of the day.
Penn State pulled within three goals at a score of 14-11 before Hopkins quieted the rally with its 15th of the day.
Kara Nealon intercepted a Blue Jays pass and took the ball straight to goal to narrow the margin to three again with 2:14 remaining in the game.
The Nittany Lions pulled goalie Ashley Bowan to allow an extra man on the field but Hopkins managed to get one into the empty net to make the final score 16-12.
OF NOTE
- Bowan posted a career high 19 saves on a .543 percentage.
- O'Neill increased her scoring streak to 20 consecutive games.
- Kara Nealon had a season high three assists and matched her season high five points.
- Sammy Dupcak nearly matched her season high with five ground balls and added two caused turnovers.
- Rachel Spilker tied her career high three caused turnovers.
UP NEXT
The Nittany Lions head into the postseason in the Big Ten Tournament. The opponent, date and time will be announced within the next day.