STATE COLLEGE, Pa.– No. 22 Penn State women's lacrosse wrapped up its nonconference slate with a 12-11 victory over Vanderbilt Wednesday afternoon at Panzer Stadium.
The Nittany Lions improve to 7-5 (3-1 Big Ten) and the Commanders drop to 6-5 (1-4 SEC).
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Quarter – PSU 5, VANDY 1
Penn State started the first quarter strong on a quick unassisted goal by Gretchen Gilmore following a Nittany Lion draw control. The Commanders responded quickly with a goal to tie the game early in the first quarter.
After ten minutes of a scoreless battle between the Commanders and the Nittany Lions, Gilmore scored her second goal of the game to make the score 2-1.
Quickly following this, the Nittany Lions had a late first quarter run with three more goals from Kayla Abernathy, Kristen O'Neill, and Payton Wainman to end the first quarter 5-1 against the Commanders.
Second Quarter – PSU 7, VANDY 4
To open the second quarter, Kara Nealon scored her first goal of the game with an assist from Gilmore. Nealon followed up with another goal to put the Nittany Lions up 7-1 at 8:40 in the second quarter.
After a goalie switch from Vanderbilt, the Commanders responded with three goals of their own to make it a four-goal game ending the second quarter.
Third Quarter – PSU 12, VANDY 7
To start the second half, Ashley Bowan stepped in the net for the Nittany Lions on the defensive end.
At 12:54, attacker Brooke Hoss scored her first goal of the game assisted by Kelly MacKinney. Just 45 seconds later, Kristen O'Neill scored another goal dished by MacKinney to put the Nittany Lions up 9-2.
Following this, MacKinney scored a goal of her own assisted by O'Neill leading to a timeout called by Vanderbilt.
The Commanders responded with a free position goal and a three-goal run.
Quickly following, Abernathy scored her second goal of the game, and Gilmore scored her third assisted by Nealon to close out the third quarter 12-7.
Fourth Quarter – PSU 12, VANDY 11
With a rally from Vanderbilt, the Nittany Lions were able to clinch the 12-11 win.
GAME NOTES
>> Bowan registered two saves in the second half.
>> Gilmore led the Nittany Lion scoring efforts with three goals, her tenth career hat trick. The senior is now four points away from 100 in her career.
>> Abernathy, O'Neill and Nealon all notched two, while Hoss and MacKinney collected one goal apiece.
>> The defense scooped up 17 groundballs and caused 16 turnovers.
>> Meghan Murray led Penn State on the draw with four.
>> Penn State held the 34-14 advantage on shots.
UP NEXT
Penn State will matchup against Michigan for Senior Day Saturday, April 6 at 1 p.m. The Nittany Lions will honor nine seniors prior to first draw.
