April 13, 2008
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The Penn State women's lacrosse team (3-9, 0-2) went toe-to-toe with three-time defending national champion and No. 1-ranked Northwestern (13-0, 3-0), giving the Wildcats all they could handle for 60 minutes, before falling, 13-12, on Sunday afternoon at Bigler Field. The loss was Penn State's third one-goal loss to a highly ranked opponent this season.
Sophomore Erica Mihm (Annapolis, Md.) lead Penn State in points with four (2 goals, 2 assists) while freshman Jen Steadman (Sykesville, Md.) topped the team with three goals. Junior Laura Lincicome (Berwyn, Pa.) was a surprise contributor, coming off the bench to have a career day. Seeing action for just the third time this season, she netted two goals and notched an assist.
The Nittany Lions stunned Northwestern by scoring three quick unanswered goals from the game's outset, providing the `Cats with their largest deficit at any point of any game this season. Sophomore Mary LeNoir (Timonium, Md.) began the run with her 11th goal of the year on a free position attempt. Steadman and Mihm followed with their first scores of the game.
Northwestern, however, regrouped and went on an offensive tear, netting eight of the game's next nine goals to build an 8-4 lead. Consecutive goals by junior Kerry Shea (Baltimore, Md.) and Steadman pushed Penn State to within two of NU, but two Wildcat scores in the final 38 seconds of the first half would provide the visitors with a four-goal advantage at the break.
The second half started slow with neither team finding its offensive groove. Northwestern finally cracked the scoreboard at the 22:26 mark when Katrina Dowd gave the Wildcats their largest lead of the game at 11-6. Unfazed by the turn of events, Penn State fought back. Sophomore Theresa Bucci (Hudson, Ohio) scored her 14th of the year followed by back-to-back goals by Laura Lincicome.
Northwestern then seemed to regain control with two goals, upping its lead to 13-9 with 7:50 remaining, but Penn State would once again answer the bell. Goals by Steadman, Maria Valderas (Catonsville, Md.), and Mihm edged it within one with 4:56 left on the clock. The Nittany Lions would have several shots at tying the game but could not convert and fell heartbreakingly shy of upsetting undefeated Northwestern.
The Penn State defense held Northwestern, the nation's second-ranked scoring team, to its second lowest goal output of the season, including surrendering just three in the second half. After a rough first half, goalkeeper Jess Boccio (Northport, N.Y.) settled down and, with her stellar play, allowed the Nittany Lions to remain within striking distance. The senior netminder recorded eight crucial second half saves. Senior Linsey Shea (Baltimore, Md.) contributed a standout defensive performance, excelling in her head-to-head match-up with Northwestern's leading scorer, Hilary Bowen. After entering the game with 48 goals and 59 points, Bowen was held to just one goal and one assist by Shea. Sophomore Margo Josephs (Reisterstown, Md.) continued her strong play of late, leading Penn State with five caused turnovers.
The Nittany Lions are back in action next weekend with games against two schools from the Buckeye State on the schedule. On Fri., April 18, Penn State will welcome first-year program Cincinnati (2-11) to Happy Valley for a 4 p.m. contest. The Lions will then visit Columbus, Ohio for a 1 p.m. match-up with ALC opponent Ohio State (7-6, 0-2 ALC) on Sun., April 20 at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium. Penn State holds the advantage in its all-time series with the Buckeyes, possessing a 9-3 record, but OSU came out on top in the 2007 meeting at Jeffrey Field by a score of 9-7.