Before the women's lacrosse season began, attack Lori Fitzgerald wasn't sure how she would fit into the lineup. Now, three games into the season, she knows.

Fitzgerald came off the bench in the second half for the second straight contest and provided No. 2 Penn State (3-0) with needed offense.

The sophomore tallied two consecutive goals in a three-minute span to give the Lady Lions some breathing room en route to an 11-9 victory over the Red Raiders yesterday at the field near Holuba Hall.

"Maybe it's my thing that I can come in and adjust quickly," Fitzgerald said. "It takes a few seconds to get kicked in the butt but then I seem to get going.

"I'll do whatever. I just go out and keep plugging -- maybe I'm the spark they need for the second half."

In Tuesday's 8-5 win over Loyola, Fitgzerald scored on a wide-open goal with 15 minutes remaining after finding an opening behind the defense. That goal proved to be the game's turning point in Penn State's win.

"She's been a real spark plug," Coach Julie Williams said. "That's what I count on her for. That's the kind of zap an attack needs when they are kind of lulling."

That is exactly what plagued the Lady Lions in the second half. After a productive first half in yesterday's game, Williams saw her team worn down in the second. A 5-1 lead over Colgate had evaporated into a slim one-goal margain at 5-4.

At that point she inserted Fitzgerald into the lineup.

"That's her role that's what I go to her for beacuse she is such a surprise to defenses," Williams said. "They're not expecting substitutes to do anything because they're subs. My subs tend to be people who can make things happen -- she's one of those people."

Her first goal came shortly after she entered the lineup. Seeing that a penalty flag had been thrown against Colgate, Fitzgerald drove to the middle and sent a shot high to the right corner with 14:47 remaining.

She followed that strike with a score at the 11:49 mark. Cutting towards the goal, she took a pass from Faith Sweeney and wristed a low shot into the back of the net.

Fitzerald has been working on the shot in practice. She posted up in front of the net to catch Sweeney's pass and then turned to the net to score.

"My second goal today was much like the one I had against Loyola," Fitzgerald said. "I was pretty much wide-open and I figured if I didn't make the goal I really deserve to be on the bench," she said with a smile.

In her inaugural season at Penn State, Fitzgerald scored 10 goals while appearing in all 18 contests. So far this season, Fitzerald has four goals and four assists. She is tied for the team lead in total points.

Fitzgerald's speed provides an advantage, especially when she enters late in the game. Her quickness in getting to the open spaces keeps her a step ahead of the defense, Williams said.

The Lady Lions are led by seven starting seniors and playing time is limited for the younger players. Fitzgerald admits she would rather be starting, but for now, she enjoys her assignment off the bench.

"Everyone likes a lot of playing time but I like my role," Fitzgerald said. "I'd rather play a good half than a bad full game."