EASTON, Pa. – In a battle of top-20 squads, the #9 UAlbany field hockey team tried to comeback from down two but fell short to #18 Penn State 3-1 at Lafayette College on Sunday afternoon.

UAlbany (3-1) looked to comeback after Penn State (4-0) scored twice in the opening nine minutes.  Molly Mariano scored off a pass from Alyssa Curtis to pull UAlbany within one before the end of the first half, but the Great Danes could not bridge the gap.  A 54^th minute goal by Penn State made the eventual final score 3-1.

“Penn State was a very good team,” said UAlbany head coach Phil Sykes. “Once we calmed down, we competed with them.  Today, we learned a lot and we know what we need to improve on.”

Mariano's goal was her third of the season while Curtis second assist of the year.  Maxi Primus got the loss in goal, playing all 70 minutes.

Shay Cannon netted each of the first two goals for Penn State, with Katie Dembrowski scoring the third.  Jenny Rizzo got the win in goal.

Shortly after a penalty corner, Cannon got a shot past a diving Primus from Carly Celkos for the opening goal 1:13 into the contest.  The UAlbany defense held against a couple of penalty corners shortly thereafter, with an Aurelia Meijer shot being blocked in the 7^th minute.  But in the ninth minute off a corner, another Cannon shot was deflected into the net for a 2-0 Penn State lead.

In minute 25, UAlbany looked to counter after a missed PSU shot.  Paula Heuser got a look and fired, but missed wide.

Minutes later, Curtis passed into the half-circle and found Mariano for the shot and score inside the left post.  UAlbany trailed 2-1 at the half.

UAlbany got the first chance of the second half as Anna Bottino went for the goal, missing on her attempt high in the 39^th minute.  Another shot of hers missed wide nine minutes later.

PSU picked up its third goal in the 54^th minute on a penalty corner with Dembrowski scoring inside the left post off a pass from Emilee Ehret for a 3-1 Nittany Lions advantage.

The UAlbany defense held against a couple more PSU shots, but the Great Danes could not chip away at the deficit and fell 3-1.

UAlbany's next game will be in New Jersey on Friday, September 9^th when the Great Danes battle Princeton at 4 p.m.