No. 21 Penn State women’s lacrosse (9-3, 1-2 Big Ten) fell to No. 3 Maryland (12-0, 4-0 Big Ten) in a heartbreaking loss.

The first half started sloppily for Penn State, giving up nine goals and many penalties. The second half looked a lot better, but it wasn’t enough.

Roquette Allen had five goals today and kept Penn State in the game late into the fourth quarter. She continued to prove she is a threat with the ball in her stick and showed up against one of the best teams in the country.

Sydney Manning was also subbed out for freshman Makenna Gagliardi in her first-ever collegiate game. She stepped up for the Nittany Lions with six saves in the second half.

Despite losing today, Penn State kept up with a top-three team and proved they can compete with anyone.

How It Happened

Maryland won the opening draw and took advantage, quickly scoring within the first minute.

Penn State won a draw control and responded as Erika Ho put the Nittany Lions on the board. Both teams were able to cause turnovers and go back and forth on offense.

Penn State was able to keep up with the No. 3-ranked team early in the game. While not scoring as much as the team wanted, the time of possession was not lacking.

Anna Salerno was able to find an open lane in the middle of the field for an easy catch and score with 8:35 left in the quarter. The Nittany Lions took their first lead of the game, up 2-1.

Maryland responded with a draw win and a wide-open goal in front of the crease with 7:47 left in the first. Many goals today were coming from players cutting right in front of the net. Penn State needed to cover the crease on defense to prevent easy shots for the Terps.

Emma Kelly quickly won the next draw, and the Nittany Lions had a free position shot opportunity. Ho missed the shot, but the Nittany Lions recovered the ball.

Maryland saved another shot and gained possession.

The Terps once again scored with an open player in the slot. Penn State’s defense had a strong start on the possession, but wasn’t quick enough.

Coach Kayla Treanor had a word with the officials after a questionable call from a missed shot that she believed Penn State chased out.

Penn State began to struggle more on offense. The team dropped a few passes and was running out of time to find shot opportunities.

On Maryland’s next drive, the team had a shot blocked but recovered for a goal with 1:01 left in the first. The Terps won the next draw and held onto the ball to secure possession to start the second quarter.

The first quarter ended with Penn State down 2-4. Time of possession wasn’t a problem for the Nittany Lions; the team just needed to find open shots.

Sydney Manning saved Maryland’s first shot of the quarter giving Penn State an opportunity to respond. But another turnover was forced by Maryland with a shot clock violation.

Maryland cut behind the crease for a shot right in front of the goal and scored with 12:41 left in the half. Penn State already had five turnovers this game, which gave the Terps more time of possession.

After a missed shot by Maryland, Allen snuck the ball down low and scored with 11:17 remaining in the half.

Allen has stepped up for Penn State this season as just a freshman. She can find ways to get around defenders on the outside of the goal, which she proved once again.

Penn State won the next draw, which led to a goal scored by Kelly Mackinney with 10:16 left in the half. Mackinney was left wide open for an easy shot.

Maryland stormed down the field and responded with an impressive goal through traffic with 9:28 left in the half.

Manning was able to have a nice save on Maryland’s next shot. After a deflection and a second missed shot, the Terps turned the ball over.

Delaney Radin was able to spin around a defender and bounce a shot into the net for her first goal of the game. Penn State was only down one goal with 6:58 left in the half.

Maryland was able to take over draw controls in the second quarter, but struggled with scoring. The Terps were able to go two-man up on their next drive. They scored with 5:57 left in the half, even with solid defense from Penn State.

After a much-needed draw control win for Penn State, the Nittany Lions had a two free-position shot opportunity and scored on the second. Roquette Allen ripped the ball to make the game a one-score difference with 4:20 left in the half.

Manning had a great save off a free position shot from the Terps on their next drive, but Penn State caused a turnover trying to clear the ball. Maryland bounced back and scored with 2:32 remaining in the half.

Maryland won another draw, and Manning had two great back-to-back saves, but the Terps had a free position shot opportunity. The foul was called on Manning, which meant she wasn’t allowed on the field, and backup goalie Gagliardi had to stand behind the ball.

Maryland just threw the ball in an open net with 1:30 and scored.

The Terps won the next draw and had a free position shot opportunity, but it was saved by Gagliardi. After a failed clear by Penn State, Maryland drove downfield but missed another shot, and the half ended.

Penn State trailed 6-9 going into the third quarter.

Last week, Coach Treanor said the team had to be a much more disciplined group defensively and keep up the entire game, not just one half.

The Nittany Lions were playing strongly against a highly ranked and competitive opponent. But Maryland had 10 more shots taken, six more shots on goal, and dominated ground balls.

Penn State’s defense had to stop causing turnovers and be able to clear the ball when the opportunity is given. The team didn’t look like they were playing worse, but had to take control of draws and step up on defense.

Many points of the game were within a one-goal difference, and being down three goals at the half wasn’t the worst scenario for the team. Penn State had to come out strong on offense, forcing pressure on defense while covering the crease.

Maryland won the first draw of the second half. The Terps started man up, but only for a short period of time.

Gagliardi started in goal in the second half. Maryland had a shot deflected, which allowed Penn State to run downfield and score. MacKinney had her second of the day with 13:17 left in the third quarter.

On Maryland’s next possession, Gagliardi had another nice save. The Terps caused a penalty, and the ball went Penn State’s way.

With Penn State going a man up, Payton Wainman scored her first goal of the game with 10:40 left in the third. Wainman was able to cut in the middle of the field and catch a pass from Radin for an easy shot.

Maryland won another draw and had a shot saved, but scored another wide-open shot with 8:58 left in the quarter. Penn State’s coaching staff was screaming for the ball to go its way again after a shot was chased out, but it went in favor of the Terps.

Gagliardi had an impressive start to the second half. She had three saves early in the quarter and showed why she deserved to stay on the field.

Penn State won the next draw but turned the ball over trying to run into traffic. But, after another save from Gagliardi, Penn State stormed downfield and scored with 6:53 left in the third.

Ho scored her second of the game and made it another one-score difference.

On Penn State’s next possession, How had a free position shot opportunity but was saved. A huge opportunity for Penn State was just missed with a massive save from Maryland.

The Terps were in need of a goal and capitalized on the opportunity. Maryland went back up two goals with 4:33 left in the quarter.

The Nittany Lions won the next draw and called a timeout quickly after.

After a foul by Penn State, Maryland gained possession and scored off a free position shot with 2:10 left in the third. The Terps took a three-goal lead after a sloppy start to the second half.

But, with a draw control win, Penn State quickly responded as Roquette Allen worked around a defender. The Nittany Lions were down 10-12 with 1:43 left in the third.

Maryland was able to move inside the field to bounce back and score with 1:01 left in the quarter. Kori Edmondson had her third goal of the game for Maryland, being one of the leaders for the Terps. She was one goal behind her teammate, Lauren Lapointe, who had four on the day.

Penn State struggled to defend the two players who put on a show for Maryland.

The third quarter ended with Penn State trailing 10-13 behind the Terps. The offense had been playing consistently, and the defense stepped up. The start of the quarter was more dominant, but late into the third, the Nittany Lions started to fall behind.

The missed free-throw shot to tie the game was a big momentum boost for Maryland. They extended their lead and found more offensive rhythm.

The Terps started the fourth quarter with the ball and had a shot saved by Gagliardi.

Penn State was man up on offense, and MacKinney scored her third of the day with 13:11 left in the game. She became the second player for the Nittany Lions to have a hat trick, alongside Roquette Allen.

Maryland was able to respond with a free position shot. The Terps led 14-11 with 11:53 left in the game, really trying to pull ahead.

Penn State called a timeout, taking time to figure out the best strategy to come back.

The Nittany Lions won the next draw but had a shot saved on a free position opportunity. Maryland gained possession after a shot clock violation.

Penn State forced a turnover and scored with 8:24 left in the game. Allen had an absolutely incredible shot, shooting it backwards and sitting down. She scored possibly the most impressive goal of the season in all of women’s lacrosse, especially when the team needed a goal.

Penn State gained possession again, and Ho had another free-position shot opportunity. She had her shot saved again, and Penn State drew a yellow card.

Maryland started to slow down offensively to kill time on the clock. The Terps turned the ball over, and Penn State sprinted downfield.

Allen worked around a defender to score her fifth goal of the game with 3:56 left in the game. Penn State trailed 13-14.

Maryland won the next draw, but Gagliardi had a massive save for Penn State. However, the Nittany Lions failed to clear the ball once again, and the Terps looked to kill time on the clock.

With less than a minute to go, Maryland threw a pass out of bounds and gave Penn State the ball. Coach Treanor called a timeout with just under 40 seconds remaining as the Nittany Lions desperately needed a goal.

15 seconds later, Penn State lost the ball, and Maryland ran downfield to call a timeout. A huge loss for the Nittany Lions as they didn’t even get a shot opportunity.

Penn State tried to get the ball back, but wasn’t successful. The Nittany Lions lose a heartbreaker 13-14.

Takeaways

• Penn State’s defense was sloppy in the first half. Maryland was forcing turnovers on clear attempts and was given more free position shots than the Nittany Lions had wanted.
• Manning was subbed out in the second half for Gagliardi in her first-ever collegiate game appearance. Manning had a late card in the second half, which gave Maryland a free goal, and Coach Treanor believed Gagliardi was playing well enough to keep in.
• Allen led the offense today with five goals. It was another impressive day for the freshman star who kept the team in the game.
• Despite losing, Penn State put up a strong fight against the No. 3-ranked team. The Nittany Lions still have issues to be fixed, but didn’t lose their fight throughout the game.

What’s Next?

Penn State will travel to Columbus to take on Ohio State at noon on Sunday, April 5, at Ohio State Lacrosse Stadium.