University Park, PA - Sophomore midfielder Jill Maier scored a team-high three goals, but it was not enough as Penn State used a huge scoring run in the second stanza to pull away for a 16-7 victory over Hofstra on Wednesday evening at Holuba Hall.
Hofstra falls to 2-5 with the loss, while Penn State improves to 3-4 with the victory.
Senior defender Bettina Mianulli had a career-high three ground balls for the Pride in the contest and also added a caused turnover. Junior goalie Jackie Pandolf once again reached double figures in saves with 12 against the Nittany Lions. She has now reached double figures in saves in all seven of the Pride's games this season.
Penn State got on the board first in the contest with an unassisted goal just 1:30 into the game before Hofstra responded. Sophomore attack Jackie Ardolino would knot the game at one at the 27:57 mark with a goal off a pass from sophomore attack Claire Brady before Maier gave the Pride its first lead of the game with 21:29 left in the opening stanza.
The Nittany Lions evened the score less than two minutes later as Jen Steadman found the back of the net for the second time in the game. After a scoreless drought of over eight minutes, Penn State regained a one-goal advantage with a Molly Fernandez tally. The game would continue its back and forth nature as Maier scored her second of the half and tied the game at three with 10:34 to play before intermission.
Penn State took a two-goal lead into the break as Fernandez and Laura Lesnick scored for the Nittany Lions. Lesnick's tally allowed the Nittany Lions to take all the momentum into the intermission as she scored with 11 seconds remaining.
Hofstra scored to open the second half as Maier continued to perform for the Pride, but it was all Penn State after that. The Nittany Lions would go on to score nine straight goals en route to the 16-7 victory over the Pride.
Brady tied Maier for team-high honors in points with three on one goal and two assists.
Penn State was led by Steadman, who had five goals in the game. Lesnick was second in scoring with three goals and one assist. Both players added two ground balls.
Hofstra returns to action on Saturday when it hosts Fairfield at 12 p.m.
