Lacrosse Loses Heartbreaker to Penn State 9-8

Lacrosse Loses Heartbreaker to Penn State 9-8

2/25/2006

The Vanderbilt women’s lacrosse team did not trail until No. 11 Penn State’s Kerry Shea put in the winning goal with 31 seconds to play.  For the second week in a row the Commodores lost a one-goal game, this time at the hands of the Nittany Lions, 9-8.

Vanderbilt took a 4-2 lead with 13:59 left in the first half. But, Penn State answered right back with two goals of their own to close out the half, making it 4-4 at the break.

Margie Curran started the scoring in the second half with one of her 4 goals at the 27:47 mark, giving the Commodores a 5-4 lead. But, the Nittany Lions once again answered back on a goal by Kim Kontson with 24:08 to play.

The game would go back and forth the rest of the way until Shea’s goal in the final minute of play.

Despite going ahead on four different occasions in the second half, the Commodores were unable to pull away.  “We’re not finding the edge to come out on top,” said Head Coach Cathy Swezey. “Every time we went ahead, they would tie it.”

Kate Hickman put together another impressive offensive performance scoring four goals and an assist in the loss. 

Goalkeeper Brooke Shinaberry also had a stellar game, making fifteen saves on a day in which Penn State had 24 shots on goal.  Another defensive star for the Commodores was Sasha Cielak, who forced four turnovers on the day.

The Commodores next game will be on the road against Stanford on Sunday, March 5 at 1 p.m.