Game Preview: Penn State Women’s Lacrosse vs. Duquesne
After an underwhelming performance last spring, Penn State women’s lacrosse has started their 2023 season off with a bang.
The team is 2-0 so far, having secured big wins against the Bucknell Bison and the Drexel Dragons.
In addition to killing it on the field, Penn State women’s lacrosse brought the heat on the dance floor this past weekend at THON, the university’s annual student-run fundraiser for pediatric cancer. Much to the crowd’s delight, the team performed to a mashup of Taylor Swift songs and managed to bring home the win for best dance of the pep rally.
Looking ahead to this Tuesday, the Nittany Lions take on Duquesne University for their third game of the season.
Duquesne is currently sitting at a record of 0-2 after falling to Pitt in its season opener, and suffering a tough overtime loss to Kent State.
Although their season has gotten off to a slower start, the Dukes are not to be underestimated. In both games they’ve played so far, they have proven themselves to be a powerful second-half team.
In their matchup against Pitt, the Dukes went into halftime with a nine-goal deficit, but as soon as the third quarter began, were able to claw their way back into the game by scoring five straight goals. The Panthers held on to the advantage, but Duquesne’s ability to come out of the locker room a completely new team cannot be overlooked.
When they took on Kent State the following Thursday, the exact same thing occurred. The Dukes finished out the first half down by two, before beginning the third quarter with a whole new energy. The team scored six straight goals to give themselves the lead. This type of second-half energy is something the Nittany Lions will need to prepare for going into this week.
Penn State’s success so far has largely been due to its ability to win draw control battles, and the ability to score in transition. Kristin O’Neill and Sammy Dupcak have both been standout players so far, with O’Neil scoring nine goals in the past two games and Dupcak notching a career-high number of caused turnovers on the defensive end.
In addition to those two, Brooke Hoss, Emma Kelly and Kara Nealon have already earned a hat trick each this season. Penn State’s strength on the offensive end is clear, as the Nittany Lions have not only outscored, but significantly outshot both of their opponents so far.
Penn State has put up strong performances overall, and unlike Duquesne, have been able to find the back of the net right away. The Nittany Lions’ first-half fire combined with the Dukes’ comeback reputation will surely make for an interesting matchup.
These two teams will go head-to-head on Tuesday, Feb, 21 at 3 p.m. at Panzer Stadium.
Anna Licastro is a first-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact her, email arl5942@psu.edu.
