Women's Lacrosse Falls at No. 11 Penn State, 21-8

Wednesday, March 26

State College, Pa.

2:00 p.m.

Drexel University

No. 11 Penn State

Photo by: Greg Carroccio

Women's Lacrosse Falls at No. 11 Penn State, 21-8

3/26/2014 3:46:00 PM | Women's Lacrosse

BOX SCORE

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The Drexel women's lacrosse team fell for a third-straight game, dropping a 21-8 decision at No. 11 Penn State. The Dragons were unable to overcome an early six-goal deficit as the Nittany Lions never trailed.

Two Dragons, Emily Kellett and Lacey Aghazarian, scored their first collegiate goals during the game. Kellett added a second score, both of which came in the first half. Kellett and Joelle Hartke led the Dragons with two goals apiece. Emily Duffey added a goal and an assist. Seven different Nittany Lions put up multiple points, led by four goals and an assist from Madison Cyr.

After the Dragons got the first draw control of the afternoon, Penn State forced a turnover and stormed out to a quick lead. The Nittany Lions scored five times, winning each of the ensuing five draws in the first 3:26 of play before Drexel was able regain possession and advance the ball into its offensive zone. They added another before Emily Duffey ended the Lions' game-opening run with her ninth goal of the season just over five minutes into the action.

Duffey's goal appeared to settle the Dragons down in what is believed to be the program's first-ever indoor game. After a few early turnovers as the Dragons adjusted to the environment, Drexel righted the ship in the latter part of the opening frame. Two minutes after Duffey's score, Joelle Hartke netted her 12th of the season, wrapping around the goal and scoring from six yards out to keep the Dragons within five.

Penn State responded with two more before Duffey fed Emily Kellett charging in from the left of Nittany Lion goalie Emi Smith. Kellett took the pass and fired straight down on Smith, beating her over her left shoulder for her first collegiate goal. Kellett would net her second with 5:44 remaining in the first half on a similar play. Again she took a pass coming up from Smith's left. After beating a defender, Kellett threaded the needle to the upper right corner of the net.

Caroline Thiele added a tally at the 3:27 mark, beating Smith low and to the keeper's right for her fifth goal of the year. After falling behind 6-0 right off the bat to the nation's 12th-ranked offense, Drexel went into the intermission down 12-5.

Penn State opened the second half much as it started the first, scoring three times in the first 3:23 of the half to build its lead to 15-5. Two minutes later, however, Kelly Palace notched her first of the game, streaking downfield and beating several Nittany Lion defenders to beat Smith one-on-one.

In the end, though, Penn State's offense proved too much for the Dragons as the Nittany Lions pulled away late. Joelle Hartke added her second goal of the game with 12:14 to play and Aghazarian scored her first collegiate goal at the 5:35 mark, but that would be all the Dragons could muster.

The Dragons will now have eight days off before returning to action for their Colonial Athletic Association opener at Delaware next Friday. That game is scheduled for a 5:00 p.m. first draw.