I haven't posted after a few of their recent games. Here's a recap of how they've done.
Today: defeated #7 Princeton, 14-10. PSU scored 47 sec. into the game (by Ally Heavens, one of their best all-around players). PSU never trailed in the game. Emi Smith had a good game in goal, which is encouraging, as she's struggled a bit of late. Madison Cyr and Steph Lazo each had 7 points in the match. PSU was ranked #8 heading into the match, so this was a nice win for PSU.
Last Saturday: defeated Vanderbilt, 15-11. PSU never trailed in the game. Due to their schedule, the WLAX team never got to go home during Spring Break. They flew down to Nashville on Thursday, and spent a couple of days enjoying the town (around practices), to give themselves a bit of a Spring Break.
Last Wednesday: defeated James Madison, 18-17 in OT. This was not a great game for PSU, though it may have helped them as a team. Emi Smith had a poor game in goal, and was replaced during the 2nd half. PSU was down 7-11 at the half. Three times they trailed in the game by 3 goals. They trailed 14-17 relatively late in the 2nd half. PSU then scored 3 goals to tie things up, 17-17. PSU's Steph Lazo picked up a yellow card with 3:30 left, putting the team down 1 player. Backup goalie Cat Rainone made a key save during the shorthanded situation. PSU cleared the ball after the save, and then had a number of shots on goal, but could not score the go-ahead goal in regulation. PSU won the draw, and while it took some time, they scored the winner without losing possession of the ball. Kudos to Cat Rainone, as she came in to change the dynamics, and did not give up goal. PSU never led in the game, until they scored the OT winner. They were tied with JMU at 1-1, 6-6, and 17-17. (The life of a PSU athlete ... they were "stuck" in State College for Spring Break, then bused down to JMU on Wednesday, and bused back to PSU after the game, then as mentioned above flew to Nashville on Thursday.)
Saturday a week ago: defeated Loyola, 11-8. Another game where PSU had trouble getting in synch. PSU went over 23 minutes in the game without scoring a goal. PSU trailed 6-7 in the 2nd half, and called a TO, and then outscored Loyola 5-1 over the rest of the game.
This is a team that's still trying to decide if it's going to be a good team or a great team. At first I thought they were missing Tatum Coffey's athleticism and scoring up front. That may be part of it, but they've got a lot of younger scoring talent that is stepping up to fill in for what they lost in Tatum's graduation. The team has had some issues in goal, but more than anything they have had trouble being in synch. Today's win over Princeton was a nice victory. Next up, they fly across the country to take on Stanford on Sunday.
Today: defeated #7 Princeton, 14-10. PSU scored 47 sec. into the game (by Ally Heavens, one of their best all-around players). PSU never trailed in the game. Emi Smith had a good game in goal, which is encouraging, as she's struggled a bit of late. Madison Cyr and Steph Lazo each had 7 points in the match. PSU was ranked #8 heading into the match, so this was a nice win for PSU.
Last Saturday: defeated Vanderbilt, 15-11. PSU never trailed in the game. Due to their schedule, the WLAX team never got to go home during Spring Break. They flew down to Nashville on Thursday, and spent a couple of days enjoying the town (around practices), to give themselves a bit of a Spring Break.
Last Wednesday: defeated James Madison, 18-17 in OT. This was not a great game for PSU, though it may have helped them as a team. Emi Smith had a poor game in goal, and was replaced during the 2nd half. PSU was down 7-11 at the half. Three times they trailed in the game by 3 goals. They trailed 14-17 relatively late in the 2nd half. PSU then scored 3 goals to tie things up, 17-17. PSU's Steph Lazo picked up a yellow card with 3:30 left, putting the team down 1 player. Backup goalie Cat Rainone made a key save during the shorthanded situation. PSU cleared the ball after the save, and then had a number of shots on goal, but could not score the go-ahead goal in regulation. PSU won the draw, and while it took some time, they scored the winner without losing possession of the ball. Kudos to Cat Rainone, as she came in to change the dynamics, and did not give up goal. PSU never led in the game, until they scored the OT winner. They were tied with JMU at 1-1, 6-6, and 17-17. (The life of a PSU athlete ... they were "stuck" in State College for Spring Break, then bused down to JMU on Wednesday, and bused back to PSU after the game, then as mentioned above flew to Nashville on Thursday.)
Saturday a week ago: defeated Loyola, 11-8. Another game where PSU had trouble getting in synch. PSU went over 23 minutes in the game without scoring a goal. PSU trailed 6-7 in the 2nd half, and called a TO, and then outscored Loyola 5-1 over the rest of the game.
This is a team that's still trying to decide if it's going to be a good team or a great team. At first I thought they were missing Tatum Coffey's athleticism and scoring up front. That may be part of it, but they've got a lot of younger scoring talent that is stepping up to fill in for what they lost in Tatum's graduation. The team has had some issues in goal, but more than anything they have had trouble being in synch. Today's win over Princeton was a nice victory. Next up, they fly across the country to take on Stanford on Sunday.
