No. 18 Penn State women’s lacrosse (9-1, 1-0 Big Ten) took its first loss of the season to No. 19 Princeton (3-3, 1-0 Ivy League).

The first half was very slow for Penn State. The team couldn’t find a rhythm on offense and was trailing by seven to end the first half. Penalties were a huge factor for the loss, and while the second half was very strong, there was too big a deficit to come back.

How It Happened

Penn State won the opening draw but missed two shots on the team’s first possession.

Princeton scored the first goal of the game with 13:25 left in the first quarter, scored by Haven Dora. Princeton won the next draw and scored again with 12:45 left in the first.

Penn State had an unusual start to the game. The team had been dominant in the first quarter in terms of scoring, but was off to a sloppy start. The Nittany Lions had multiple turnovers while in possession.

Penn State won the third draw and had another shot saved. Princeton managed to quickly move downfield and score another goal. Princeton led 3-0 as Penn State called an early timeout with 11:43 left in the first quarter.

After taking time to recenter, Penn State won the next draw and scored a goal. Roquette Allen had the first goal of the game for the Nittany Lions with 10:36 left in the quarter.

Penn State was in need of momentum and a point on the board. The team capitalized on an opportunity to come back.

Penn State went up a player after a penalty from Princeton. The team had a free position shot opportunity and scored with 8:42 left in the first. Anna Salerno had her first of the game.

Sydney Manning had a save on Princeton’s next possession, but Penn State turned the ball right back over. Princeton took advantage and scored with 6:12 left in the first.

Princeton won another draw and had another free possession shot opportunity and scored with 4:51 left in the quarter.

After the next draw, Penn State drew a yellow card and gave Princeton a free position shot, but it was saved by Manning.

Princeton’s defense had heavy coverage on the crease. Penn State struggled to find the middle of the field and strong shot opportunities.

The first quarter ended with Penn State trailing 2-5. The team had difficulties on offense, creating multiple turnovers. The defense was also penalized more often than in past games, which gave Princeton many free-position shot opportunities.

Princeton started the second quarter with the ball. Penn State had a strong defense and a saved shot with less than 10 seconds on the shot clock, but Princeton scooped the ball and scored a behind-the-back shot with 13:37 left in the half.

The Tigers scored another goal after a green card by Penn State with 12:32 left in the half. The Nittany Lions were trailing by five goals early in the second quarter.

With another draw control win and a free position shot opportunity, Princeton scored again with 11:24 left in the half.

Penn State looked very sloppy in the first half thus far. The team had limited time on offense and couldn’t find the middle of the field. There were fewer shots taken today than in past games this season.

The defense continued to cause penalties, allowing Princeton to keep the ball. The Tigers scored two more consecutive goals to go up eight with 8:43 left in the half.

Draw controls were a struggle for Penn State. However, after another lost draw control, Princeton turned the ball over.

Penn State was finally able to come back and score, as Allen got her second goal of the game with 7:15 left in the half.

With another forced turnover, Penn State was able to march back downfield and score. Kelley Mackinney had her first goal of the game with 4:36 left in the half.

Penn State needed to gain momentum on offense. Despite having many penalties, the defense couldn’t keep up with the amount of possession time the Tigers had.

Manning had a save to give Penn State another opportunity to score, but Princeton saved another shot. The Tigers scored another goal with 2:42 left in the half.

Jami MacDonald had four goals for Princeton in the first half. She led the Tigers’ offense to a dominant half.

Penn State had a free position shot opportunity with 14 seconds left, but couldn’t score. The first half ended with Princeton leading 11-4. Penn State needed to find a rhythm on offense in the second half to stay in the game.

Ellie Wisch took the first draw in the second half for Penn State, and Princeton secured the ball. Manning also remained in goal to start the second half.

A dropped pass by the Tigers led to Penn State’s first possession of the half. Erika Ho scored her first goal of the game with 12:40 left in the third quarter.

The team needed a strong start to the half, trailing by seven.

Princeton won the next draw and responded with a goal less than a minute later. That goal marked the twelfth of the game, which is the most Penn State has allowed all season.

Princeton started to hold the ball on offense. The team’s goal became to run the clock out as much as possible.

Penn State got the ball back and took advantage of its next offensive opportunity. Delaney Radin scored her first goal of the game with 5:00 left in the third quarter.

After a save by Manning, the Nittany Lions were able to score another goal with 3:02 left in the third. Payton Wainman stepped up and gave Penn State a smaller deficit.

Princeton won the next draw but had another shot saved by Manning. Penn State had a goal called off, but got the ball back from a forced turnover.

With 19 seconds left in the quarter, Mackinney scored another goal. Penn State was only down four and trailed 8-12 at the end of the third.

The team was able to come together and find rhythm on offense, but was still in need of many shot opportunities to pull off a comeback.

After starting the fourth quarter with the ball, the Nittany Lions couldn’t score. However, the team got the ball back after a missed shot from Princeton.

Ho had a free position shot opportunity and scored with 11:18 left in the game. Penn State was only down three goals.

Penn State won the next draw, and Maddie Greco had another chance to score for Penn State with a free position shot. She was able to capitalize and scored with 10:32 left in the game.

After a penalty from Princeton on the next draw, Penn State gained another possession. Wainman was able to cut into the middle of the field and score a goal with 9:49 left in the game.

Penn State trailed by one.

Princeton won the next draw, but Penn State forced a turnover. After three shots, none went through, and the Tigers got the ball back. Ella Sloan scored her third goal of the game for Princeton with 6:34 left in the game.

Penn State won the next draw, but yet again couldn’t score. Princeton called a timeout with 5:03 to go.

After the timeout, Princeton was able to score with 3:26 left in the game. The comeback slowly slipped away for Penn State. The Tigers were killing the clock, and if they won the next draw, Penn State would need to pressure the ball heavily.

Princeton was able to get the ball back after Penn State got possession from the next draw. Time was ticking down, and Penn State needed to step up.

The Nittany Lions forced a turnover with 1:37 left on the clock. The team quickly lost the ball and had little time to score.

Penn State called a timeout with 49 seconds to go and down by three.

The Nittany Lions had a free position shot opportunity with 34 seconds left and couldn’t score. The game came to a close, and Penn State took its first loss of the season, finishing 11-14.

Takeaways

• The first half was very sloppy for Penn State. The team only had four goals and couldn’t maintain the ball on offense. This marks a slower start than the Nittany Lions have seen in previous games.
• Penalties were a huge reason Penn State was giving up goals in the first half. Many free position shots were awarded to Princeton, allowing them to score. Free position shots are extra opportunities to score, and those made a difference this afternoon.
• Manning remained in goal the whole time, which has been a recent pattern that Coach Treanor has been doing. There seems to be a lead goalie for Penn State, but future games could be different.

What’s Next?

Penn State takes on No. 9 Michigan at noon on Sunday, March 22.