NASHVILLE, Tenn., March 2, 2002 -- The Penn State women's lacrosse team dropped its season-opener to Vanderbilt Saturday in Nashville, Tenn., 7-6. The Lions fall to 0-1 overall and 0-1 in the American Lacrosse Conference while the Commodores improve to 2-0 on the season and 2-0 in the conference. Freshman
Kristen Burke (Severna Park, Md.) and sophomore
Katie Jeschke (Ellicott City, Md.) each scored twice in the losing effort.
Penn State took an early two-goal lead behind scoring efforts from Jeschke at 8:06 and junior Kristin Wood (Wilton, Conn.)16:05 into the contest. But two Vanderbilt goals at 18:28 and 19:35 quickly tied the game at two apiece. Jeschke answered with her second goal of the afternoon at 21:31 and sophomore Jamie Donahue (Oreland, Pa.) added another at 26:54 to put the Lions up 4-2. A Commodore goal at 28:10 made the score 4-3 in Penn State's favor going into the break.
The second half saw Vanderbilt score three goals in less than 10 minutes to pull ahead, 6-4. Burke, in her first game in a Penn State uniform, scored her first collegiate goal in the 43rd minute to bring the Lions within one. But Vanderbilt persisted, scoring in the 49th minute to put them ahead 6-5. Burke tied the game at six apiece with her second goal of the afternoon on an assist by Jeschke, but a late score by the Commodores put the game out of Penn State's reach.
The Lions return to action on Friday, March 8 as they travel to Harrisonburg, Va., to take on James Madison. Game time is slated for 3:00 p.m.
