UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- The seventh-seeded Penn State women's lacrosse team will begin its quest for its sixth national championship and third NCAA crown when it welcomes Canisius to the Penn State Lacrosse Field Friday, May 10 for the first round of the NCAA tournament. Opening draw is set at 4 p.m.
In addition to the first game between the Nittany Lions (12-6) and Golden Griffins (14-4), the Penn State Lacrosse Field will also play host to NCAA first-round action between Massachusetts and UConn at 6 p.m. The two winning teams will then play at the Penn State Lacrosse Field Sunday, May 12 at 1 p.m. with a trip to the NCAA quarterfinals on the line. All first- and second-round games will be streamed live at GoPSUsports.com.
Tickets for first- and second-round games are $8 for adults, $5 for youth and students with a valid college or university ID and $4 for groups of 20 or more.
Tickets can be purchased in advance at the Bryce Jordan Center Ticket Office weekdays from 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. or by calling 1-800-NITTANY. Group tickets can only be purchased in advance, and advance ticket sales will end Friday, May 10 at 1 p.m. Tickets will also be sold at the Penn State Lacrosse Field beginning one hour prior to game time.
The Nittany Lions, who are 5-2 when hosting an NCAA tournament game, are making their 19th NCAA appearance. Against the Golden Griffins, Penn State will continue to rely on a balanced attack that ranks 13th in the country in scoring offense (13.33).
Tewaaraton Award nominee and two-time IWLCA All-West/Midwest Region First-Team member Maggie McCormick (Eldersburg, Md.) ranks 15th in the NCAA in points (76), 19th in points per game (4.22), 22nd in assists (33) and 23rd in assists per game (1.83). The Eldersburg, Md., native has set numerous career highs during the 2013 season, while her 76 points are the most by a Nittany Lion since Tami Worley collected 94 points during the 1989 national championship season.
Sophomore Kelly Lechner (Silver Spring, Md.), who leads the team with 48 draw controls, is only two behind McCormick's team-leading 43 goals and has netted 22 markers, including a career-high five goals on two occasions, during the past six games.
Penn State has also received significant contributions from a quartet of 20-goal scorers. Junior Mackenzie Cyr (Westminster, Md.), who is one of two Nittany Lions with at least 10 goals and 10 assists, has added 27 goals, while sophomore midfielder Tatum Coffey (Toms River, N.J.), senior attacker Molly Fernandez (Baltimore, Md.) and freshman midfielder Jenna Mosketti (Fallston, Md.) have added 26, 25 and 24 tallies, respectively.
Defensively, senior Katie Guy (Whitby, Ont.) ranks 12th in the nation in caused turnovers per game (1.94) and paces Penn State with a career-high 43 ground balls and 35 caused turnovers. The Whitby, Ont., native has added 34 draw controls and is one of five Nittany Lions, along with Lechner, Coffey, Mosketti, Madison Cyr (Westminster, Md.) and Ally Heavens (Garnet Valley, Pa.), to record double-digit ground balls, caused turnovers and draw controls.
The three-time defending MAAC champion Golden Griffins will enter the game boasting the nation's 10th-ranked scoring defense (8.17) and 16th-ranked scoring offense (12.94). Canisius, which also ranks second in the NCAA in ground balls per game (21.17) and ninth in caused turnovers per game (9.61), has allowed no more than nine goals in any of its victories. In their four losses, the Golden Griffins have allowed at least 12 strikes.
Sophomore attacker Tori Quinn, who leads the team in assists (29), ranks 17th in the nation in points (74) and 23rd in points per game (4.11), while leading scorer Morgan Leonard ranks 12th in the country with 3.11 goals per game. Sophomore goalkeeper Kayla Scully ranks third in the NCAA in saver percentage (.521) and fifth in goals-against average (7.38).
Both Penn State and Canisius have played Ohio State, Cornell and Duquesne this season with the Nittany Lions going 2-1 and Canisius finishing 1-2.
NO-BAG POLICY
Except for authorized personnel, no one attending this weekend's NCAA tournament lacrosse games will be permitted to bring in any bags, backpacks, umbrellas, footballs, strollers, purses or diaper bags. Anyone with a medical need to carry a bag should place their medical supplies in a clear, one gallon, zip-close style plastic bag. Parents with a need to carry diapers and wipes also may place their supplies in a clear, one-gallon zip-close style plastic bag so the contents are visible.