UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.- Hat Tricks from juniors Kristin O'Neill and Alaina Hamood lead Penn State to a 15-6 win against Drexel. O'Neill earns her second hat trick of the season in just two games and Hamood earns a hat trick in her first game returning to the lineup.
The Nittany Lions move to 2-0 on the season while Drexel falls to 2-1.
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Quarter
Hamood made an entrance in her first 2023 appearance, opening the scoring just two minutes into the game with a goal and an assist from Kara Nealon.
Cam Evitts' first goal of the season allowed the Nittany Lions to take a 2-0 lead with just over six minutes left to play in the quarter. Drexel got its first goal of the game shortly after by Grace Harding.
Kayla Abernathy got in on the action with her first goal of the season on a free position to make the score 3-1. Hamood notched another goal in the same fashion with 1:53 to go in the first quarter.
Brooke Barger concluded the first period of play with a goal off an assist from Hamood.
Second Quarter
Hamood earned a hat trick just under two minutes into the second quarter. Barger sent her the ball in front of the net and Hamood launched it past the Dragons' goalie.
An own goal for Penn State allowed Drexel to get back within four at a 6-2 score.
Gretchen Gilmore forced a turnover on Drexel and picked up a ground ball to carry it to the net for a 7-2 Penn State advantage.
Harding added another for the Dragons with 4:45 to go in the half.
Brooke Hoss got in on the scoring with her first goal off a free position shot but, Drexel responded with a free position goal for itself with just over a minute to go. The first half ended with a 8-4 Penn State edge.
Third Quarter
O'Neill scored another goal early into the third quarter to bring the score to 9-4. Shortly after, O'Neill picked up a ground ball of a Drexel turnover and took the ball to goal, missing just wide but adding to her shot total of 10 on the day.
A goal from the Dragons' Bridget Finley kept the margin within four but O'Neill would not allow that. The captain scored two goals just over one minute apart to complete her hat trick and bring the score to 11-5.
Fourth Quarter
After a scoreless opening to the quarter, Emma Kelly struck first with her fourth goal of the season off a free position shot. Immediately after, Sammy Dupcak won the draw control and darted straight for the net and sent it straight past the Drexel keeper to score her first goal of the season.
The Nittany Lions continued on a 4-0 run in the fourth quarter with goals from Abernathy and Meg Murray to give Penn State a double-digit advantage at 15-5.
A late goal from the Dragons left the final score of the game at 15-6.
OF NOTE
- O'Neill earned a hat trick for the second consecutive game.
- Abernathy, Barger, Dupcak, Hamood and Murray scored their first goals of the season.
- Sophomore Ellie Hollin notched five ground balls and three caused turnovers.
- Abernathy nearly reached a career high with seven draw controls on the day.
- Penn State won 17 draw controls compared to Drexel's seven.
- The Nittany Lions outshot the Dragons 35-20.
UP NEXT
The Nittany Lions take on their first mid-week game on Tuesday, Feb, 21 when they host Duquesne at 3 p.m.