COLUMBUS, OH. – Penn State women's lacrosse battled back from a first half five goal deficit to even the score and take their first lead in the second half but could not close out the game as the Nittany Lions fell 12-11 to Ohio State in their Big Ten opener on Saturday.
PSU drops to 5-4 overall and 0-1 in the Big Ten, while Ohio State improves to 7-4 and 1-1 in the league.
HOW IT HAPPENED
PSU trailed by as much as five in the first half but ended the second period on a good note as O'Neill found the back of the net with six seconds remaining.
The Nittany Lions used that momentum to start the second half firing on all cylinders as they scored four-straight to tie the Buckeyes, 9-9.
After conceding a goal to OSU on a woman-up opportunity, PSU would finish the third period on a 10-10 tie as Sammy Dupcak connected with Gretchen Gilmore for the score.
The fourth period's opening saw an excellent heads-up play as Taylor Regan picked up the rebound from a missed free position shot and fired it in herself to give Penn State its first lead of the game, 11-10.
With a little over five minutes remaining, OSU tied the contest once more despite being a woman-down. PSU could not convert as their next shot attempt was denied. OSU cleared the ball and took back the lead with under three minutes left, 12-11.
PSU would take its final shot around the two-minute mark but missed wide as OSU took over to wind down the clock. They turned over the ball on a shot clock violation, but PSU could not get a shot off in time themselves following the successful clear.
BOX SCORE BREAKDOWN
- Three Nittany Lions had two goals each in O'Neill, Gilmore and Brooke Hoss.
- O'Neill caused a career high four turnovers.
- Murray tallied a career high two assists and added one goal and three draw controls.
- Kara Nealon also had two assists and one goal.
- Sammy Dupcak had a career high six ground balls.
- Ashley Bowan finished with four saves.
UP NEXT
Penn State hosts No. 5 Northwestern on Friday, April 1.