UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The No. 17/18 women's lacrosse team battled hard against #12/15 Penn State, but was ultimately bested by the Nittany Lions, 16-11, at the Penn State Lacrosse Field on Saturday afternoon. Caroline Allen led the team offensively yet again, recording a career-high four goals after punching in three in the season opener against Villanova.
 
Cornell got off to a hot start against one of the top squads in the nation, netting four-straight goals in the first six minutes – including three in a row by Tomasina Leska – but the home team was quick to equalize with four unanswered goals of their own to knot it up with 15 minutes and 21 seconds left in the first half. Senior captain Ida Farinholt put a stop to the Nittany Lions' run with Big Red goal just one minute and 49 seconds left, but the home team went on another run to end the half, notching three scores in just 1:40 to make it 7-5 in favor of PSU.
 
Penn State scored twice more in first four minutes of the second half, with a goal by Cornell's Grace Paletta sandwiched in between. Allen would score two in a row – one unassisted and the other from a free position shot – to narrow the Big Red's deficit to just one goal.
 
The Nittany Lions would get back at it with two more goals of its own to push it to 11-8, but Allen would come back again and notch her fourth and final score of the day to keep Cornell within striking distance. Following another PSU goal, Ellie Walsh and junior captain Sarah Phillips each struck to make it a 12-11 thriller entering the final 10 minutes of regulation. However, Penn State would take control of the game and notch four unanswered goals to take the 16-11 decision.
 
Allen's team-leading four goals included two coming on the free position while goalkeeper Katie McGahan picked up three ground balls and made 11 saves with seven coming in the second half. Grace Paletta had seven draw controls and Ida Farinholt caused two turnovers.
 
The squad returns home to Schoellkopf Field next Saturday, Mar. 3 for its Ivy League opener against Penn. The game is slated to begin at 1 p.m.