Buckeyes Post 15-12 Win Over No. 10 Penn State
3/26/2021 4:27:29 PM | Women's Lacrosse
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Behind goals from nine players, including hat tricks by Ali Beekhuizen, Nicole Ferrara and Maura McGregor, and nine saves from Jillian Rizzo, the Ohio State women’s lacrosse team defeated No. 10 Penn State, 15-12, Friday afternoon in Ohio Stadium. The Buckeyes jumped out to a 4-0 lead and carried an 11-6 advantage into halftime. Penn State drew within one (13-12) with less than five minutes remaining but the Buckeyes answered with two quick goals to seal the win.
The Buckeyes (2-7, 2-7 B1G) and Nittany Lions (3-4, 3-4 B1G) will close the weekend series at noon Sunday, with the game streamed through BTN Plus.
The Short Story
The Buckeyes scored the game’s first four goals. The teams traded goals twice for a 6-2 Ohio State lead with 17:33 remaining in the first half; a three-goal Nittany Lion run made it a one-goal game (6-5) with 6:43 left. Ohio State then outscored Penn State 5-1 to head into the lockerroom with an 11-6 lead.
Ohio State scored two of the first three goals in the second half to move the score to 13-7 with 22:49 remaining. Penn State went on a five-goal run to draw within one (13-12) with 4:25 on the clock. Less than a minute later Chloe Johnson answered for the Buckeyes and Liza Hernandez added a goal 52 seconds after that to move the score to 15-12.
Three Buckeyes – Ali Beekhuizen, Nicole Ferrara and Maura McGregor – had hat tricks, with Ferrara adding an assist for a team-best four-point day. Chloe Johnson and Ashley Turner each had a goal and two assists and Sophie Baez and Liza Hernandez posted two-point days with a goal and an assist. Jillian Rizzo had nine saves in the Buckeye cage. The Buckeyes caused 11 turnovers, led by Jamie Level with three and Hernandez with two, and Ohio State won 19-of-29 draw controls. Johnson had a team-best seven draw controls and Hernandez had six to lead the way.
That's a ranked dub!
Buckeyes down No. 10 Penn State, 15-12. #GoBuckeyes pic.twitter.com/8bs3mxSd41
— Ohio State Women’s LAX (@OhioStateWLAX) March 26, 2021
Ohio State 15, Penn State 12
- Ohio State led 4-0 at the 24:12 mark of the first half. Ashley Turner started the day with a goal at 28:52. Ali Beekhuizen and Maura McGregor (assisted by Turner) scored in a 25 second span at 25:31 and 25:06 and at 24: 12 Nicole Ferrara converted a free position shot.
- Penn State stopped Ohio State’s run with a goal at 20:38 but Liza Hernandez set up Ferrara less than a minute later (19:40). The teams again traded goals, with Beekhuizen scoring at 17:33 and a PSU goal at 12:15.
- Penn State added two more at 7:54 and 6:43 to make it a one-goal game (6-5).
- Ohio State responded with four goals in a 3:31 span to push the lead to 10-5, with three in 45 seconds. Chloe Johnson set up Ferrara and Sophie Baez for back-to-back goals at 5:52 and 5:39. McGregor notched her second of the game at 5:07 and Lindsay Epstein tallied, assisted by Ferrara, at 2:21. Penn State scored at 1:44 to stop Ohio State’s run. With 6.4 seconds left in the half Beekhuizen drove the net for a goal and 11-6 halftime lead for the Buckeyes.
- Ohio State scored two of the first three goals of the second half, with a Jamie Level tally (assisted by Baez) at 25:13 and Maura McGregor free position goal at 22:49, sandwiched around a PSU tally at 24:38.
- Penn State notched the next five, with goals at 20:33, 14:55, 13:22, 5:40 and 4:25, for a one-goal game (13-12). Ohio State’s goal drought reached 19:11.
- Less than a minute after the Nittany Lion tally that drew PSU within one, Johnson put the Buckeyes back ahead by two (14-12 at 3:38) and at 2:46 Turner set up Hernandez for a goal and three-goal lead. Neither team scored the rest of the way.
Just a couple of clutch players making clutch plays
Ranked win for the Buckeyes 15-12 PSU ( @OhioStateWLAX) pic.twitter.com/UvsYhDDqBY
— ILWomen (@ILWomen) March 26, 2021
Stats Synopsis
- Penn State edged the Buckeyes in shots, 30-29. Jillian Rizzo had nine saves for the Buckeyes, with five in the second half. Two Nittany Lion goalies combined for 10 stops.
- Ohio State had the advantage in draw controls, 19-10, including 12-6 in the first half.
- The Buckeyes were ahead in ground balls, 17-16.
- Ohio State was 18-for-22 on clears with Penn State 16-for-20. The Buckeyes had 18 turnovers, the Nittany Lions 16. The Buckeyes recorded 11 caused turnovers and PSU had nine caused.
Buckeye This and That
- Beekhuizen had her fourth career game with three or more goals and her first this season.
- Ferrara had her third career four-point game and her second of the year. She is second on the team with 12 goals and tied for second with 18 points.
- McGregor had her second career hat trick and first since Feb. 19, 2020 vs. Cincinnati. It was also her second career three-point game.
- Hernandez moved into eighth place alone on the Buckeyes’ all-time goals list (124) and into a tied for eighth in assists with 50. She is eighth all-time with 174 points. She leads the team with 25 goals and 28 points this year.
- Turner got back on the scoresheet after her 11-game point streak ended in the last time out. She is first on the team with eight assists and tied for second with 18 points.
- Johnson’s assists were her first of the season and marked her first career multiple-assist game. She matched her career best with three points, first set Feb. 15, 2020 at Stony Brook. Her seven draw controls were a career best.
- Rizzo has nine or more saves in seven games this year.
