#9 Penn State Rallies Past JMU in Overtime, 18-17

Wednesday, March 9

Harrisonburg, Va.

4 p.m.

James Madison University

2-5

Penn State

5-1

Penn State

James Madison

3/9/2016 7:28:00 PM | Lacrosse

Box Score

HARRISONBURG, Va. – Ninth-ranked Penn State scored four straight goals to end the game, including the game winner 1:18 into overtime to rally past the James Madison lacrosse team for an 18-17 victory on Wednesday evening at University Park.

The Nittany Lions improved to 5-1 this season while the Dukes dropped to 2-5.

JMU led 17-14, but PSU made a save with 7:46 to go and scored a man-up goal with just over seven minutes remaining to spark a run. The Lions won back-to-back draw controls, scoring their next two goals 1:04 apart to tie the game at 17 with 5:46 to play. Neither team broke the stalemate, forcing overtime. PSU opened the extra frame with a draw control win, and 78 seconds later, Katie O'Donnell moved past a defender for a clear shot and the game-winning goal.

Sophomore midfielder Haley Warden led the JMU attack scoring six points on four goals and two assists, all career highs. She also made a team-best five draw controls, which was one off her single-game best. Senior midfielders Jaci Gordon and Brooks Lawler both tied career highs with four and three goals respectively, while senior midfielder Taylor Gress and senior attacker Betsy Angel both added two goals each.

Freshman Danielle Harmeyer made a season-high 11 saves after facing 38 shots, including 29 on goal. Sophomore defender Rebecca Tooker caused a career-best three turnovers and senior defender Carter Reifsnider accrued three ground balls, tying her career high.

Penn State outshot JMU 38-25, including 29-22 in shots on goal. After JMU held an 11-8 advantage at the half in draw controls, PSU dominated the draw over the final 21:18 by a 13-5 margin to win the draw-control battle, 21-16. Both teams were solid on clears as the Dukes were 11 of 12 and the Nittany Lions finished 10 of 11.

Tied at 6-6 in the first half, Warden took over during the final 13 minutes of the stanza, scoring all four of her goals to put JMU ahead 11-7 at the break. JMU led throughout the majority of the second half and took a 17-14 lead after Gordon found Angel out in front for the team's final goal of the game with 9:30 left, before PSU rallied to force overtime.

QUOTING COACH KLAES-BAWCOMBE:
"I'm proud of our effort but honestly, it's a heartbreaker. We had that game in our bag and just didn't play to win. I think this offensive unit is learning, we're young mentally right now and we have to do a better job of taking the game on our shoulders. Obviously giving up 18 goals on the defensive end isn't good enough either. We have to make better decisions when we have the lead about our possessions on attack and really celebrate the last year of no possession clock."

PHOTO OF THE GAME - view full photo gallery

HALEY'S HUGE FIRST HALF
Haley Warden powered JMU's offense with a huge first-half performance. She tallied a career-high six points on a career-best four goals and two assists. Her four scores also came on just four shots. She was crucial on the draw control, winning five of them in the defeat.

SENIORS STEP UP
Three seniors tied single-game bests against Penn State as Jaci Gordon and Brooks Lawler had four and three goals. On the defensive end, Carter Reifsnider led the Dukes with three ground balls.

POSTGAME INTERVIEW:

TOOKER TAKES AS SHE PLEASES
Rebecca Tooker was a force in the defensive third of the third, picking up three caused turnovers, a career high. Entering the game, Tooker had just two for her career.

UP NEXT:
JMU closes out the week at home on Saturday, March 12 against Richmond. First draw is set for 1 p.m. at University Park.