March 26, 2004
Final Stats | Final Stats (PDF)
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. -
Acacia Walker scored her first hat trick of the season and Annie Collins scored two goals and had two assists - including one on the game-winner -- to lead Maryland to a 12-11 victory over Penn State Friday afternoon in the first game of the ACC/ALC Challenge in Chapel Hill, N.C.
The Terps (7-2) used seven unanswered goals from the end of the first half to the beginning of the second to take the win over No. 20 Penn State (2-6).
The two teams played even through the first 15 minutes of the first period and were tied 4-4 before Penn State surged ahead with three unanswered goals. The Terps roared back, though, rattling off the game's next six goals, getting two goals from Walker and scores from Krista Pellizzi, Kelly Coppedge, Delia Cox and Annie Collins to take a 10-7 lead into the half.
Maryland controlled a well-played offensive first half committing just two turnovers and firing 26 shots compared to Penn State's 11. PSU goalie Lee Tortorelli made nine saves in the first half to help keep the Lions in striking distance.
Mollie Reese started the second half with another score for Maryland giving the Terps a four-goal cushion. After being held scoreless for nearly 19 minutes, the Nittany Lions scored a pair of goals within two minutes to cut the lead to two with 21 minutes left in the game. Reese scored - in what would turn out to be the game-winner with 17:52 left -- cutting to the net and finishing a pass from Collins from behind the net.
The Nittany Lions countered quickly with a goal at 17:04 and another at 14:51, but could not score the game-tying goal. The game's last 10 minutes were played mostly in the midfield as the teams traded turnovers and quick offensive opportunities before the Terps were able to control possession for the last two minutes of action and run out the clock to preserve the victory.
Complicating things for the Terps in the second half was the loss of senior defender Molly Lambert. Lambert, who sprained her ankle earlier in the day at practice, started the game but was unable to go in the second half.
Collins scored a team-high four points on two goals and two assists, while Walker added three points on three goals. Reese, Coppedge and Pellizzi scored a pair of goals and Cox added one goal and Jessica Dorney had an assist for the Terps.
The Terps return to action on Sunday, March 28, against No. 18 Ohio State in the third game of the ACC/ALC Challenge. The game will begin at 1 p.m.
