BALTIMORE, Md.; March 31, 2007 ¨C A 13-goal first half offensive outpouring laid the foundation for a dominating victory for the No. 10 Penn State women¡¯s lacrosse team, as the Nittany Lions overwhelmed Loyola College, 20-7, Saturday afternoon in Baltimore. The non-conference triumph ups Penn State¡¯s overall record to 7-2, just one shy of its 2006 win total, with the most daunting stretch of its 2007 schedule beginning this week. The Greyhounds¡¯ struggles this season continue, as they fall to 2-7.

The beginning of the contest belied its outcome, as Loyola crafted a 2-1 lead through the first ten minutes. However, a 4-0 run by Penn State over the next five minutes provided a glimpse of things to come. After the Greyhounds answered back to make the score 5-3, the Nittany Lions seized control of the game, outscoring Loyola 8-2 over the opening half¡¯s final 10 minutes.

Junior Jessi Lieb (Villanova, Pa.) headlined the Penn State offense in the first half, netting four of her game-high six goals. Freshman Theresa Bucci (Hudson, Ohio) and sophomore Mariel Bryan (Folsom, Pa.) added two scores each. Five other Nittany Lions recorded single goals.

In the second half, Penn State piled on early, embarking on a 5-0 run to push its advantage to 18-5. Lieb scored her final two goals in that stretch while Kerry Shea (Baltimore, Md.) netted her second of the game and Marisa Lozano (Pittsburgh, Pa.) and Mary LeNoir (Timonium, Md.) registered their first. Maria Valderas (Catonsville, Md.) and Brittany Jensen (Bay Shore, N.Y.) capped off the scoring for the Lions.

Penn State played a disciplined game, totaling only four fouls, including none in the second half. Furthermore, those four fouls did not result in any Loyola free position attempts.

Senior goalkeeper Cammie Jurkowsky (Annapolis, Md.) picked up her seventh win of the season, recording five saves in 45:28 of play. Junior Jess Boccio (Northport, N.Y.) finished up in net, notching two saves.

The Nittany Lions open a three-game home stand next week when they welcome No. 14 Pennsylvania to Holuba Hall for a 7 p.m. game on Tues., April 3. Penn State will be looking to avenge last season¡¯s 8-6 road loss to the Quakers. The following weekend, national powerhouses No. 2 North Carolina and No. 3 Maryland will visit Jeffrey Field for the ALC/ACC Challenge. The Nittany Lions will square off with the Tar Heels on Fri., April 6 (7 p.m.) and with the Terrapins on Sun., April 8 (3 p.m.).