Bethlehem, Pa. – Penn State women's lacrosse defeated Lehigh 9-7 on Wednesday afternoon at the Ulrich Sports Complex.
The Nittany Lions move back to .500 with an overall record of 4-4 (1-0 Big Ten) and the Mountain Hawks move to 4-2 (1-0 Patriot) on the season. Penn State remains undefeated in the all-time series, 29-0.
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Quarter – PSU 3, Lehigh 3
The first quarter was a back-and-forth battle between the Nittany Lions and Mountain Hawks. Lehigh got scoring quickly started 35 seconds after the opening whistle. Penn State then responded with a goal of their own after Kayla Abernathy capitalized on a free position opportunity.
At the 7:12 mark, Ally Lipkin tied it up after a Lehigh turnover caused by Kristin O'Neill.
Meghan Murray gave the Nittany Lions their first lead of the game following a high free position attempt. Payton Wainman was able to catch the ball before it went out of bounds and swing it to Kara Nealon who fed it to Murray directly in front of the goal and launched it into the back of the net.
The Nittany Lions caused four turnovers in the first quarter.
Second Quarter – PSU 5, Lehigh 3
Both defenses were able to hold each other without a goal for over eight minutes as the game was locked at 3-3.
O'Neill finally broke the deadlock after a turnover by Lehigh. O'Neill took a solo trip down the field and pushed past the Mountain Hawks defense to net the goal.
With less than two minutes remaining in the half, freshman Kelly MacKinney came from behind the net and tallied Penn State's fifth goal of the game.
Third Quarter – PSU 6, Lehigh 5
The Nittany Lions entered the third quarter on a power play after a Mountain Hawks green card in the final seconds of the second half. Penn State took advantage of the foul as Brooke Hoss scored after driving into the eight-meter mark.
The Penn State defense was able to keep Lehigh without a goal for over 20 minutes before the Mountain Hawks went on a two-goal run to be within a goal of the Nittany Lions.
Fourth Quarter – PSU 9, Lehigh 7
Emma Kelly put Penn State up by two goals after a free position shot at the 11:21 mark.
Four minutes later, Kelly struck again splitting two defenders and knocking the ball past the Mountain Hawks goalkeeper.
The sophomore then completed her hat trick with 2:53 left in the game.
GAME NOTES
>> Goalkeeper Ashley Bowan faced 14 shots while registering three saves in her second start of the season.
>> The defense scooped up 13 groundballs and forced four shot clock violations. They also caused nine turnovers.
>> Lehigh held the advantage on the draw with 12 to Penn State's seven, however the Nittany Lions outshot the Mountain Hawks 20-10.
>> Kelly led the scoring efforts with her third hat trick of her career. Abernathy, Lipkin, Murray, O'Neill, MacKinney and Hoss all had one goal apiece.
>> Nealon collected two assists, her first and second of the season.
>> Rachel Spilker notched a career high four caused turnovers.
