UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Kelly MacKinney secured her 100th career point as the No. 24 Penn State Nittany Lions (3-0) took down the Bucknell Bisons (2-1), 21-9, on Sunday morning in Holuba Hall.
The offense shined in the win over the Bisons, led by freshman Rocquette Allen and MacKinney. The Colorado native scored five times and added an assist after another five goal performance from her earlier in the week against UMass. MacKinney, the junior captain, tied Allen for the team-high in points with six on the afternoon off a goal and five assists. The Bridgewater Raritan product, one her fourth point of the game, surpassed 100 career points to put her in rarified air. Maddie Greco, a senior midfielder, had her best career game statistically, scoring her first goal of the season and her first career hat trick while also picking up a ground ball.
In the draw circle for Penn State was senior Emma Kelly, who had a career-game in the circle with 15 draw control wins and is tied for the seventh-most in a game so far this season. While Kelly had the majority of draw control wins, eight Nittany Lions had a draw control with the unit as a whole securing 22 of 32 for 68.7% of all draws in the game.
KEY PERFORMANCES
- MacKinney – one goal, five assists, six points, two ground balls, surpassed 100 career points
- Allen – five goals, one assist, six points, two ground balls, one caused turnover
- Kelly – one goal, 15 draw controls
- Greco – three goals, one ground ball
- Erika Ho – two goals, one assist, three points, one ground ball
- Delaney Radin – one goal, two assists, three points
- Susannah O’Connell – one ground ball, one draw control, three caused turnovers
- Cailin Hetrick – four ground balls, two caused turnovers
FIRST QUARTER
Bucknell secured the opening possession, but strong defense from Penn State led to a ground ball from Greco. Radin then got fouled and scored from the eight-meter to kick off the scoring. The Nittany Lions wasted no time, with Kelly grabbing the draw control and Allen scoring the second goal of the morning, just a minute after the first. MacKinney scored the third goal, unassisted and two minutes after that, Greco scored her first of the season being assisted by Radin. After a goal by Bucknell, Ho wasted no time to get in the fourth goal for the quarter. Bucknell would answer, but 11 seconds later, Penn State won the draw control and Ho got her sixth goal of the season. Kelly won the draw control, passing the ball off to Payton Wainman scoring a free position shot. Allen scored her second goal of the game with only 19 seconds left to finish off the first quarter.
SECOND QUARTER
Penn State struck fast to open the second frame with a goal from Ellie Wisch with her fist goal of the season, and MacKinney on the assist. A minute later, Allie Meyer captured the draw control, with Wainman cashing in the goal, assisted by Allen. Penn State was fast to put another goal on the board, only a minute since the last, with Greco placing her second in the cage of the game and season. Not even 30 seconds later, Allen scored again, with another assist by MacKinney. With only three minutes left in the second quarter, Anna Salerno scored, unassisted by weaving through the defense. Penn State ended the first half 14-5.
THIRD QUARTER
The Nittany Lions won the opening draw of the second half and scored the team’s 15th goal of the day thanks to Greco, who netted her first career hat trick. Allen would score quickly on transition offense, for her fourth of the day and, a minute later, Allen scored again, marking her fifth goal of the game, her 10th in the past two games. Penn State picked up the ground ball, allowing Maggie Rezza to score her first goal of the season, with MacKinney on the assist. Porter Rhoades continued the offensive onslaught for the Blue and White, scoring her first career goal with an assist dished out from MacKinney.
FOURTH QUARTER
After two Bucknell goals, Wisch was able to score again, marking her second of the game and season. Hannah Hoyt then went on to score the final goal of the day, also her first of her career, to lead Penn State to a victory, 21-9.
POSTGAME NOTES
- 12 Nittany Lions scored at least one goal with five players collecting assists
- Hoyt and Rhoades’ goals were their first in their collegiate careers
- Penn State dominated the draw circle, winning 22 of 32 opportunities with a draw control percentage of 68.7%.
- Greco secured her first hat trick of the season
UP NEXT
The Nittany Lions are back in Holuba Hall on Wednesday, February 18 at 5 p.m. to take on Pitt for the team’s Morgan’s Message game. Admission is free for all fans.
Visit GoPSUSports.com for more information on Penn State women's lacrosse. Fans can keep up to date with the Nittany Lion women's lacrosse team on Facebook at /pennstatewomenslacrosse as well as Twitter and Instagram @PennStateWLAX.