UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – No. 17 Penn State women's lacrosse posted its first win of the season after defeating Bucknell, 22-8 in Holuba Hall Tuesday afternoon. The team has now won 21 consecutive games against the Bison.
Penn State begins its season 1-0 (0-0 Big Ten) while Bucknell moves to 0-1 (0-0 PAT).
"I think we have an old experience team with a lot of returners coming back and a lot of leadership," said head coach Missy Doherty. "I think it's going to be a really fun season to play. The players have been great with on and off the field, so we're just excited for each game."
Doherty named Ally Lipkin as the Gritty Nitty Player of the Game. "Ally Lipkin came out of the gates firing all cylinders. She did a great job setting the tone for how our team was going to play today."
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Quarter - PSU 9, Bucknell 3
After being down 1-0 one minute into the first quarter, freshman Kelly MacKinney opened scoring for the Nittany Lions with her first career goal. The team then scored five unanswered goals before the Bison got on the board again.
Senior captain Kristin O'Neill and Lipkin scored both score two goals apiece.
Second Quarter – PSU 13, Bucknell 5
Kayla Abernathy got scoring started nearly two minutes in the second quarter from a failed free position attempt. The senior scooped up the ground ball and hit the back of the net for the Nittany Lions' tenth goal of the game.
Less than a minute later, O'Neill scores to complete her hat trick. After a Bucknell goal, Lauren Saltz responded with a goal of her own. Abernathy finished off the first half with her second goal of the game.
Third Quarter – PSU 19, Bucknell 6
A minute into the third quarter Bucknell scored their only goal for the 15 minutes. O'Neill scored back-to-back goals within a minute of each other. The Nittany Lions kept the scoring streak alive with goals by Saltz and Meghan Murray.
O'Neill capitalized on a Bucknell green at the end of the quarter to put the team up 19-6.
Fourth Quarter – PSU 22, Bucknell 8
Murray opened the fourth quarter with her second goal of the game. Regan Nealon then scored her first goal of the season off a free position shot. Abernathy scored the final State goal to end the game.
GAME NOTES
>> Freshman Sydney Manning made her first career start in net. She registered three saves in the victory.
>> O'Neill now as 154 career points from her six goals and assist from today's game, leading the offense with her seven points.
>> Abernathy registered her second career hat trick.
>> Brooke Hoss, Saltz, Lipkin and Murray all had two goals apiece. Erika Ho, Emma Kelly, Gretchen Gilmore, Regan Nealon and MacKinney scored one goal to contribute to the scoring efforts.
>> Penn State held the advantage over Bucknell on draw controls 24-9 and shots 30-14.
>> The defense scooped up 20 ground balls.
>> The 22 goals are the most goals scored in a single game since 2018.
>> This is the second consecutive season that the Nittany Lions have opened their season with a win.
UP NEXT
Penn State will be back in action at home Friday, Feb. 16 against Colorado State for their Pink Zone game at 4 p.m.
