Live Video
Live Stats
GAINESVILLE, FL – The Big South champion, Winthrop lacrosse team, will make its second consecutive appearance in the NCAA Tournament Friday afternoon when they take on the Penn State Nittany Lions.
The Eagles and the Nittany Lions, who earned an at-large bid out of the Big 10, will meet at the University of Florida's Dizney Stadium at 4 p.m. on Friday. The winner will then play Florida on Sunday at 1 p.m.
Winthrop (20-2) is coming off its second consecutive conference title after downing High Point 10-7 last Saturday, earning the Big South's automatic bid. The Eagles' 20 wins are a program and conference single-season record.
Sophomore goalie Alaina Girani had a standout tournament, allowing only 12 goals in three games while making 25 saves. She was named the tournament MVP for her performances. She is currently ranked second in the NCAA in save percentage and third in goals-against average.
Senior Shannon Gallagher became the first player in Big South history to eclipse the 200-goal plateau for a career and currently has 60 on the season, her highest single-season total in her career. She currently ranks eighth in Division I in goals and also third in caused turnovers, averaging 3.18 per contest.
Penn State enters Friday's matchup with an 11-6 overall record and last played on Friday, May 6, falling in the Big 10 semifinals to Northwestern.
The Nittany Lions have been led by Madison Cyr who has tallied 65 points this season on 48 goals and 17 assists. Steph Lazo has totaled 58 points on 27 goals and 31 assists while Madison Carter is second on the team with 40 goals. Emi Smith has been Penn State's primary goalie this season, seeing nearly 90 percent of the team's minutes in cage. She has allowed just over 10 goals per game this season while making only 43 percent of her saves.
Winthrop has scored an average of 13.41 goals per game this season while allowing only 6.36. Penn State has netted 12.88 goals per contest this year while allowing 10.35.
This will be Winthrop's fifth all-time game against a Big 10 opponent. The Eagles are 2-2 in the previous four outings.
