WILLIAMSBURG, Va. (March 28, 2009) -- Playing in its final non-conference game of the regular season, the William and Mary lacrosse team was edged by No. 15 Penn State, 14-12, on Saturday afternoon at Busch Turf Field.

W&M (4-5) rallied back from a four-goal second-half deficit to tie the score, but the Nittany Lions (5-4) registered a pair of goals in the final four minutes to earn the narrow victory.

Senior Clare Dennis and sophomore Grace Golden both recorded hat tricks for the Tribe, while sophomores Ashley Holofcener and Maggie Anderson both tallied a pair of goals apiece. In addition to finding the back of the cage three times, Golden also totaled an assist, a ground ball, a draw control and two caused turnovers.

Dennis added three ground balls and a caused turnover. Holofcener also contributed an assist, three ground balls, a draw control and a caused turnover, while classmate Sarah Jonson earned a career-high five draw controls to go with two ground balls and a pair of caused turnovers.

As a team, the Tribe out-shot PSU, 28-24, and forced the opposition into 22 turnovers. However, the Nittany Lions held a 19-9 advantage in draw controls.

The opening five minutes of the game was tightly contested, as the teams played to a 2-2 tie. Dennis provided the College's offense with a pair of unassisted goals.

W&M then utilized a pair of unassisted scores by Golden to build a 4-2 advantage with 20:45 showing on the clock. However, PSU outscored the Tribe, 5-0, during the remainder of the half to take 7-4 lead at the break.

While Penn State registered the first goal of the second stanza when Laura Lesnick scored at the 27:05 mark, senior Julia Martin provided the Tribe's answer when she was successful on a free position opportunity 4:45 later.

Although PSU reclaimed its biggest lead of the game less than minute later on a goal by Jenn Steadman, the Green and Gold countered with three unanswered goals during a 2:33 span.

Golden got things started with a free position goal, while Anderson scored off a nice pass from junior Mary Zulty. W&M then punctuated the run when Martin picked up a loose ball near midfield and initiated an impressive fast break that finished with a goal by Holofcener that cut the margin to just one.

Penn State extended its lead back to two, 10-8, on a goal by Marisa Lozano with 14:24 remaining, but the Tribe fought back once again. Following a caused turnover by sophomore Molly Wannen, Anderson scored off a feed from Holofcener with 13:42 showing to cut PSU's lead to one. Just 40 seconds later, Holofcener shook a Nittany Lion defender and fired low into the cage to knot the score.

While PSU pushed its lead back to two, 12-10, during the next four minutes, W&M utilized goals by Dennis and freshman Sally Roberts to tie the score again with less than five minutes to play. However, Penn State countered with a pair of goals and was able to run out the final few minutes.

The Tribe will begin conference action next weekend when it plays at Towson and Delaware.

2009-03-28