Sickly lady laxers reunited, face tough weekend

After changing its lineup before defeating Delaware, 7-5, last Saturday, the Penn State women's lacrosse team looked to be on its way to improving from its sluggish 2-4 start. To keep that image intact, the Lady Lions must overcome sickness and two tough opponents this weekend.

Penn State (3-4) fell from No. 6 to No. 10 in the latest poll and will begin its journey back into the top ranks against Lehigh at 1 p.m. tomorrow at Bigler Field, followed by a date with No. 9 Dartmouth at noon Sunday at Jeffery Field.

"They are very young," Lady Lion coach Julie Williams said. "Dartmouth has a lot of people returning."

The Lady Lions will be reunited as a unit this weekend, as sickness and minor injuries have kept the squad from practicing with a full complement of players. Among those questionable for action are attackers Michele DeJuliis, the team's leading scorer with 18 points, and Jennifer Johnson. Midfielder Summer Downing and defender Allison McCall also are doubtful.

"Sickness and injuries have taken a toll in practice," Williams said. "Game day is the only time we play as a whole, but that doesn't allow for any growth."

However, the Lady Lions will have midfielder Emily Mechem back in the lineup. Mechem has missed two of the seven games this season but is averaging a goal in each of her appearances.

Lehigh (4-1) graduated its leading scorer from the last two years in Jill Altshuler, who scored 97 goals last season. To account for her loss, the Engineers have relied on midfielders Elizabeth Brodbeck and Heather Towner as well as attacker Patrice McNichol. Brodbeck leads the trio with 12 points, while the others each have 11.

"We're looking to spread the ball on offense," Lehigh coach Jackie Keeley said. "There isn't one person to key on."

Lehigh netminder Carly Lynch (4-1) has posted an 8.74 goals against average in playing all but five minutes for the Engineers this season. She has seen plenty of action at her end of the field, as she anchors a team with seven new starters.

Dartmouth (4-0) also spreads its offense. Of the 69 points the Big Green has put on the board, 45 have come from five different players, led by attackers Jennifer Greene (11) and Jacque Weitzel (10).

Each is backed by two-time All-Americans Julia Morrill and Kim Mendelson, who each have eight points on the year.

"We have looked to those two for most of the scoring in the past," Dartmouth coach Amy Patton said, "but we are more balanced this year."

Neither Lehigh nor Dartmouth has experienced the illness with which the Lady Lions are trying to play through. Patton said her team has been banged up in its previous games, but that will not keep it from being ready for Penn State.

"We definitely respect Penn State," Patton said, "because it's always a clean lacrosse game."