In all big games scoring first is a key to being successful.

Junior Heidi Drummond did exactly that for the Penn State women's soccer team.

"It's important especially in the playoffs, when we're trying to set our tone of the game," Drummond said. "It's almost relieving. Now we're in our mode, and we're going to get through this."

The No. 12 Nittany Lions struck first after dominating the tempo of the game, in the 21st minute. Drummond willed herself past a Virginia defender to the ball and then chipped it over Cavaliers goalie Anne Abernethy's shoulder and it bounced into the open net.

The only question, as the ball bounced toward the unoccupied goal, was if it would go in or deflect off the post. Drummond stood at the left corner of the net pumping her fist, as she knew the ball was going to make it way into the goal.

The goal was the 13th of the season for Drummond.

Drummond, who is leading the team in game-winning goals with five, was not quite finished scoring. In the second half, the Lions continued to attack the Virginia defensive backs as it learned from the Illinois game that anything can happen. Three of Drummond's four shots on goal came after the intermission.

In the 72nd minute, she found the net for the second time, as forward Stephanie Smith sent a shot ringing off the right post and then sent a cross to a wide open Drummond. She blasted a shot past Abernethy for her second goal of the game.

"After it hit the post she crossed it again and I ran near post and nobody was even marking me," she said. "So I just kicked it in, and the goalie didn't save it."

The Littleton, Colo., native now leads the team with 14 goals, one ahead of Christie Welsh, after the two-goal performance yesterday.

Drummond had a few more scoring opportunities to garner her second hat trick of the season, but she came up empty as the Cavaliers' defense defused all other scoring chances.

Virginia women's soccer coach Steve Swanson knows that the athleticism of the Lions caused some problems for his squad yesterday, but it had played well earlier in the season against other athletic teams.

"Both Christie and Heidi Drummond cause some problems," Swanson said. "Were they a factor in the game? Yeah, and we did more reacting than usual."