Lady laxers freeze out Richmond in frosty home season opener

Braving the almost-frozen tundra of Bigler Athletic Complex, the No. 6 Penn State women's lacrosse team began its season yesterday in impressive fashion.

Using six unanswered first-half goals to break an early tie, the Lady Lions sped past Richmond 16-9. The game, both teams' season opener, was marked by snow, wind and dominant ball control by Penn State.

Downplaying the significance of the cold playing conditions, Lion coach Julie Williams was impressed by how loose her team was against the Spiders. Williams said her team had a bad week of practice leading up to the game due to tension and anticipation.

- Julie Williams, Lady Lion Lacrosse coach

Richmond was able to compete with Penn State early. After Penn State's Jen Johnson scored the game's first goal off a feed from sophomore Julie Tice less than five minutes into the game, the Spiders charged right back down the field. Richmond freshman Alexis Brandolini quickly knocked a shot past Lion goalkeeper Lauren Retzlaff to tie the game at one apiece.

Penn State countered just over a minute later with an unassisted goal from senior Sarah Long. The Spiders evened the score again about three minutes later, though, when senior Meredith Ryan scored another quick goal.

Then came the turning point.

The Lions knocked in six unanswered goals, holding Richmond scoreless for over 15 minutes, to jump out to an 8-2 lead. Penn State never looked back, adding three more goals before the half. After adding two more goals early in the second stanza, the Lions had Richmond reeling with a 10-point deficit on its hands.

Spider coach Kim Chorosiewski said her team played more tentative than usual in the early going. She was happy with Richmond's defensive effort, however, especially that of goalkeeper Christy Yarnell.

"Our goalkeeper played very well," Chorosiewski said. "She got a lot of work. She did a lot of nice things."

After seizing the 10-point lead, Penn State slowed its pace a bit and began playing their subs. Richmond took advantage, controlling the ball more than it had all game and outscoring the Lions 6-3 over the final 24 minutes of the game.

Williams was happy with her team's ball control, domination of draws and attack. She said her players were moving more than they ever had before.

The Lion coach expressed some concern with the transition game, however. She said transition was what Penn State worked on hardest recently in practice, and she was disappointed that her team's timing still wasn't where she wanted it.

Johnson led Penn State with four goals and two assists. Long added three goals and two assists and Cheryl Videon put in three goals as well. Ryan's five goals paced the Spiders.

Notes: Junior Emily Mechem was a factor absent from the Lion lineup yesterday. The starting attack wing broke her left occipital bone in the team's Blue-White scrimmage Sunday when a missed pass hit her face. Williams said Mechem is being fitted for a protective mask and should play next Wednesday against Loyola (Md.).