Hendrickson Nets Five Goals & Panthers Make Late Charge in 15-12 Loss to #20 Penn State

Tuesday, March 21

Pittsburgh, PA

4:00 PM

Pitt

3-7

Penn State

8-2

PSUW

Pitt

Hendrickson Nets Five Goals & Panthers Make Late Charge in 15-12 Loss to #20 Penn State

3/21/2023 6:52:00 PM | Women's Lacrosse

Box Score Photo Gallery

PITTSBURGH – Pitt made an outstanding late game charge as Jenna Hendrickson had a career-high six points (5G, 1A) and Ava Washington recorded a hat trick, but came up just short in a 15-12 loss to Penn State Tuesday afternoon at Highmark Stadium.

Penn State opened the scoring with a pair of early goals by Kayla Abernathy before Sydney Naylor netted Pitt's opening goal off a feed from behind the cage by Camdyn O'Donnell at the 11:11 mark. Kara Nealon answered back for the Nittany Lions less than a minute later before the game slowed into a defensive battle. Hendrickson beat two defenders off a free position attempt and slid a backhand shot into the back of the cage to bring the Panthers within one goal at the 4:09 mark but Brooke Hoss added an unassisted goal to send Penn State into the quarter break with a 4-2 advantage.

Dylana Williams cut the deficit in half 90 seconds into the second quarter with a man-up free position goal and Hendrickson added her second of the game at the 11:17 mark to tie the contest. Pitt utilized an excellent passing sequence across the cage with Molly Carter finding Hendrickson in the right slot just above the goal crease. The Lions regained the lead off a free position goal from Kristin O'Neill with 9:55 left in the half. Hoss added another free position goal 52 seconds later to push the margin to 6-4. O'Donnell answered back for the Panthers with a face dodge through the circle before skipping home her team-high 14^th goal of the season with 7:18 remaining. Penn State tacked on three goals in a span of 45 seconds to grab a 9-5 lead before Hendrickson stopped the run and secured a hat trick with a free position goal at the 4:23 mark.

Pitt entered halftime trailing 9-6. Penn State took advantage of a 13-4 edge in draw controls to keep pressure on the Panther defense, which held strong with five caused turnovers and five saves from goalie Hannah Van Middelem to stay within striking distance.

Penn State opened the second half with three consecutive goals to open up a 12-6 lead. Washington scored Pitt's first goal of the half off a pass by Kara Trullender at the 9:31 mark. Hendrickson split a pair of Nittany Lion defenders at the top of free position arc and bounced home her fourth goal of the day at the 6:47 mark. Penn State notched the final two goals of the quarter to enter the final 15 minutes with a 14-8 lead.

Washington finished off a transition goal at the 9:46 mark for the first goal of the final quarter. The Panthers beat Penn State's pressure defense with Naylor making the final pass over the defense for the assist. Hendrickson added her fifth goal of the game at the 7:41 mark off the free position as Pitt trimmed the deficit to four goals. The Panthers continued the run as Washington picked up a pass from Talia Zuco and ripped home a shot into the top of the cage, Zuco followed her seventh goal of the season off a pass from Hendrickson at the 3:01 mark as Pitt clawed back to 14-12. Penn State stopped the valiant charge by the Panthers with a goal at the 1:40 mark and won the ensuing draw control to drain out the game clock.

Brittney Villhauer had a strong performance on the defensive end, with three caused turnovers and three ground balls and Natalie Voorhees did so as well with five ground balls. In total, Van Middelem secured 11 saves on the day in net.

Pitt returns to action Sunday, March 26 against Duke at Highmark Stadium.