UVa. women’s lax falls at Penn State

The sixth-ranked Virginia women’s lacrosse team suffered a 14-7 setback at No. 19 Penn State on Sunday (March 4). Freshman Sloan Warren (Philadelphia, Pa.) led the Cavaliers with four goals.

With the loss, Virginia’s record dropped to 3-2 overall (0-1 Atlantic Coast Conference). Penn State improved to 4-1 overall.

Josie Owen (Gibson Island, Md.) added a goal and two assists for UVa, while Jess Loizeaux (Mullica Hill, N.J.) scored one goal and had one assist. Liza Blue’s (Butler, Md.) goal rounded out the Virginia scoring.

Virginia goalkeeper Kim Kolarik (Riva, Md.) had nine saves, a team-high five ground balls and a team-high three caused turnovers for Virginia in her fifth start of the season.

The Cavaliers were out-shot, 25-17, while holding a 12-11 advantage in ground balls and 13-10 advantage in draw controls.

Penn State’s 14 goals were a season-high allowed by Virginia this season. Nittany Lion Molly Fernandez led the way with four goals and one assist, while Mackenzie Cyr (three goals, two assists), Kelly Lechner (two goals) and Maggie McCormick (two goals, four assists) also had multiple-goal games for PSU.

Penn State scored the game’s first six goals, jumping out to a 6-0 lead at the 15:46 mark on Cyr’s second goal of the day. Less than two minutes later, UVa got on the board on a goal by Blue off of an assist by Owen.

Penn State tacked on three-consecutive goals followingBlue’s score and took a commanding 9-1 lead on a free position goal by Theresa Zichelli.

Warren scored an unassisted goal at the 4:53 mark to make the halftime score 9-2.

The teams traded goals to open the second half, as goals by Owen, Loizeaux and Warren were countered by Penn State. Warren’s third goal of the day, a free position shot at the 8:08 mark, pulled Virginia to within six goals, 12-6, but Penn State answered with back-to-back goals to take a 14-6lead with less than two minutes to play.

Warren scored one more goal, her fourth of the game, at the 1:46 mark, but Penn State held on for the 14-7 victory.

The Nittany Lions’ victory snapped a streak of six-consecutive Cavalier wins in the series.

Owen’s two assists upped her team-high total to 13 on the season. She and Blue are now tied for the team lead with nine goals.

Virginia is back in action on Saturday (March 10) at Klöckner Stadium vs. North Carolina. The contest is scheduled to start at 1p.m.