Kasper Scores Game-Winner In Triple Overtime To Push No. 3 Women's Lacrosse Past Penn State
April 4, 2008
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - Senior Kelly Kasper scored the game-winning goal in the third overtime to help the No. 3 Maryland women's lacrosse team escape Penn State, 12-11, on April 4 at Fetzer Field. It was Kasper's third goal of the day and she also added two assists in the Terrapins' eighth-straight victory.
Senior Dana Dobbie also had a hat trick to go along with an assist and a season-high 10 draw controls. Sophomore Amanda Spinnenweber recorded a pair of goals and assists while senior Lauren Cohen chipped in with two goals.
Senior Allie Buote stopped 11 shots on the day, her third-straight game with 10 or more saves.
Maryland opened the game quickly with a goal 38 seconds in. The Nittany Lions won the draw but Dobbie forced a turnover on the defensive end to start the transition offense. Spinnenweber handled the ball over the restraining line on the left side and found Cohen streaking down the middle for the game's first goal.
Marisa Lozano responded for Penn State two minutes later when she handled the ball behind the cage. The Terps' defense did not pick her up and she shifted around the right side of the cage to find the back of the net.
The Terps captured the lead when freshman Laura Merrifield scored to make it 3-2 with 13:50 left in the half but Penn State took its first lead of the game with consecutive goals.
Maria Valderas used a pass from Jessi Lieb to deadlock the game at 3-3 with 9:04 on the clock and then Theresa Bucci converted on a free position with 4:42 left in the half to take the 4-3 advantage.
The Terps offense, which went scoreless for over 12 minutes, responded as Spinnenweber connected on two goals 14 seconds apart to help Maryland regain the lead at 6-4 with 1:05 left in the half. Seniors Katie Princiotto and Casey Magor assisted on her two goals.
Lozano added the last goal of the half to cut the deficit to 6-5. After the Terps' last goal, a foul was called on Maryland and the draw was awarded to the Nittany Lions. The ball was tossed to Lozano in front of the entire pack who went one-on-one with Buote for the score.
Maryland jumped out of the gate quickly in the second half as Cohen tossed a one-timer off a pass from Spinnenweber for a goal 25 seconds in.
Penn State responded with four unanswered goals to take its largest lead of the game at 9-7 with 21:37 left in the game. Kerry Shea scored the first goal when she cut across the fan and fired a shot into the cage and then she scored again just 14 seconds later to tie the game again at 7-7.
Shea then helped her teammate Mary LeNoir on a goal as she found her cutting down the middle of the field to give the Nittany Lions the lead, 8-7, with 23:30 left in regulation. Penn State ended its run when Lieb connected on a free position with 21:37 left.
The Terps came right back with a four unanswered goals of their own to take the lead again, 11-9, with 15:49 remaining in the game. Dobbie scored the first and last goals of the run and Kasper recorded a goal and an assist in that span.
Shea struck again with 7:03 on the clock as she beat the defense on a shot while falling to the ground. Her goal pulled PSU within one at 11-10.
With 3:53 left in the game, Margo Josephs gained control of the ball for Penn State. The Nittany Lions took the ball into their offensive half of the field and set themselves up. Sophomore Caitlyn McFadden forced a turnover and classmate Katie Gallagher picked up the loose ball to end the PSU attack.
The Terps turned the ball over again but Buote made a save on a shot by LeNoir. Maryland's clear failed and Linsey Shea went one-on-one with Buote to tie the game up with just 1:03 left to force overtime.
Penn State won the opening draw in the first overtime and stalled the entire way. Jen Steadman got off a shot with two seconds left but it was harmless.
In the second session, Spinnenweber got the draw this time and it was Maryland's turn to run the clock down. Maryland was unable to get a shot off though and the game went into sudden death.
Kasper picked up the draw control to open the third overtime and converted immediately. She handled the ball behind the cage and moved her way to the left side. She found an opening and beat the goalie to give the Terps the win.
Penn State (3-7) was led by Kerry Shea who had a hat trick and added an assist. Lozano and Theresa Bucci both had two goals while LeNoir and Lieb both recorded a goal and an assist.
Maryland (10-1) returns to action on Sunday when it faces Ohio State at noon on Fetzer Field in Chapel Hill, N.C.
