March 23, 2010
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The No. 14 Penn State women's lacrosse team (4-3, 0-1 ALC) will finish up a three-game road stretch with one of two mid-week games scheduled for this season when they visit Easton, Pa. for a non-conference tilt with Lafayette (0-8, 0-2 Patriot League) on Wednesday evening. The Nittany Lions and Leopards are set to meet at 5 p.m. at the Metzgar Fields Athletic Complex.
Penn State opened ALC play last weekend with a 20-14 loss to Vanderbilt on a rain-soaked field in Nashville. Freshman attacker Molly Fernandez (Baltimore, Md.) and sophomore midfielder Theresa Zichelli (Severna Park, Pa.) led the offense with a career-high four goals each. Key offensive contributions also came from junior midfielder Laura Lesnick (Jarrettsville, Md.), who netted a hat trick, and junior attacker Jen Steadman (Sykesville, Md.), who totaled two goals and two assists.
Lafayette is coming off a 20-4 blowout road loss to archrival Lehigh, its eighth-straight defeat to start the 2010 season. The Leopards' main downfall has been their defense, as they have allowed a total of 114 goals, a 14.25 per game average, thus far this year. The Lafayette offense features three double-digit scorers in freshman Addie Godfrey (12g, 1a), junior Lauren Brown (12g, 1a), and sophomore Erin Steel (7g, 3a).
Penn State is 17-2 all-time versus the Leopards, winning 11 consecutive match-ups, including last season's 20-7 rout in University Park. The Nittany Lions possess a 59-2 record in program history against members of the Patriot League.
Penn State returns home this weekend to meet No. 17 William & Mary (4-3) on Sun., March 28 at 1 p.m. at Jeffrey Field. The Nittany Lions own a 22-7-1 all-time record in their series with the Tribe, including last season's 14-12 victory in Williamsburg, highlighted by three goals from Marisa Lozano (Pittsburgh, Pa.) and four points from Jen Steadman