Penn State women’s lacrosse lost to Loyola Maryland 16-15 in overtime on a bitterly cold afternoon at Panzer Stadium.

Madison Carter and Maria Auth combined for nine goals Saturday, but it wasn’t enough to hold off a late charge from the Greyhounds.

How It Happened

Loyola won the first two draw controls of the game and promptly scored twice to take an early lead. Sophia Triandafils and Katie O’Donnell tied things up soon after on their first shots of the day. After going down 3-2, Carter notched her 14th goal of the season with 20:16 left in the first half.

Auth gave Penn State its first lead of the game on a free-position goal two minutes later, then Shannon Moore made it 5-3 Nittany Lions thanks to her fourth goal of the year. Penn State doubled up the Greyhounds on Auth’s second strike, prompting Loyola to call a timeout.

Carter extended Penn State’s lead after scooping up Katie Schluederberg’s free-position attempt, then finished off her hat trick with 6:35 left before the break. Shelby Wells soon made it seven unanswered goals for the Nittany Lions. Loyola broke its scoring drought following an Alyssa Sloane foul, then scored twice more to cut the deficit to 9-6.

Auth capped off her hat trick less than a minute into the second half, then Carter and Triandafils gave the Nittany Lions some added breathing room. Carter continued her dominant performance with yet another goal to make it 13-6, but Loyola answered back with six consecutive goals.

With the shot clock winding down, Auth scored a tremendous goal to tie her career high, but the Greyhounds responded twice more to tie it up. Sophomore goalkeeper Madison Cunningham made 10 saves for the Nittany Lions before Lucy Lowe came on in relief.

O’Donnell’s free-position goal with 7:12 remaining proved crucial considering Sloane earned a second yellow card not long after. Hannah Powers scored the game-winner for the Greyhounds.

Player of the Game

Madison Carter | Junior | Attacker

The Davidsonville, MD, native finished with a game-high five goals and seven draw controls.

What’s Next?

Missy Doherty’s Nittany Lions (3-2) travel to James Madison Wednesday for a 2 p.m. clash versus the Dukes.