Ten Nittany Lions Score in Women’s Lacrosse Route of Bucknell
Behind a balanced attack that poured on nine goals in the first half, the Penn State women’s lacrosse team opened up the 2013 season by defeating the Bucknell Bison 18-2 on Wednesday night in Holuba Hall.
After winning the opening faceoff, Penn State began their onslaught just 1:26 into the game when Mackenzie Cyr beat Bucknell goalie Caroline O’Neill with a low shot to give the Nittany Lions a 1-0 lead. Cyr would add another after a turnover by Bucknell in the Penn State attacking zone just 5 minutes later, giving the Nittany Lions a 2-0 advantage. Off the faceoff 18 seconds later, Cyr would net the hat trick to help Penn State jump out to a quick 3-0 lead.
Despite her outburst of goals, Cyr was quick to deflect the attention back onto the team.
“We’re just excited that the season’s starting and we get to play someone else,” she said.
After play resumed following an apparent knee injury to Bucknell’s Arriana Sajjad, Penn State took a 4-0 lead at the 21:56 mark when Maggie McCormick beat O’Neill with a high shot of a 2-on-1 rush for the Nittany Lions. Bucknell would try to counter just moments later, but Penn State goalie Emi Smith stood tall in net, making her third save of the game.
The Nittany Lions would continue to pressure the Bison and went into halftime up 9-0 behind goals from Ally Heavens, Jenna Mosketti, Tatum Coffey, Madison Cyr and McCormick.
Penn State Head Coach Missy Doherty said she was very pleased with how her team opened up the season.
“We were really looking forward to this game,” she said. “We worked on a couple things and they came around a little bit, so it was good to get off to a quick start”
Penn State continued their dominance from the first half as Molly Fernandez, Haley Ford and Mosketti all netted goals within the first three minutes of play to increase the lead to 12-0. Shannon Lechner put the Nittany Lions up 13-0 just a minute after Mosketti’s tally.
Bucknell finally got on the board with just over 23 minutes left to play when Emily Kookogey beat Penn State goalie Ayla Halus with a low shot to bring the score to 13-1. Madison Hurwitz would net Bucknell’s second goal of the game just minutes later, bringing the score to 13-2.
After Bucknell’s quick tallies, Penn State controlled the rest of the game. Avery Curley scored quickly after to make it 14-2, and she would score the Nittany Lions’ final goal as well. In between those two goals, Hernandez, Mackenzie Cyr and Mosketti each recorded another goal.
Mosketti, a freshman playing in her first game, was very happy with her performance.
“As a freshman, it gives you a little confidence going into playing such a good team,” she said.
That good team is Loyola, a squad who returns nine starters from their 2012 team that advanced to the quarterfinals of the NCAA Tournament for the second straight year last season. Penn State will hit the road for the first time this season and face the Greyhounds this Saturday at 11 a.m. Doherty knows the Nittany Lions will have their hands full then.
“Loyola is a really great opponent and we’re really excited for that game,” she said. “I think they bring similar attributes as our team and we’re really going to have to be on our toes.”
Troy Weller is a senior majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, e-mail tnw5044@psu.edu
