UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Despite two goals in the first half by sophomore attackman Matt Hughes, the Tigers (2-9, 0-4) were unable to earn their first Colonial Athletic Association victory of the season and dropped a 7-6 CAA decision against Penn State (6-5, 3-1) on Saturday night at Jeffrey Field.
Sophomore midfielder Danny Henneghan scored the game-winning goal with 8:02 remaining in regulation as the Nittany Lions rallied from a two-goal half-time deficit to earn their second win in the last three games.
The win allowed the Nittany Lions to avenge last year's 10-9 loss at Unitas Stadium while handing the Tigers their fifth straight loss.
Henneghan, who won 10 of 16 face-offs, gave Penn State a one-goal lead when he won a face-off and scored just eight seconds after the Tigers tied the game on a goal by sophomore midfielder Alec Jernstedt. From there, the Nittany Lion defense held the Tigers scoreless en route to the victory.
After the teams traded goals in the first quarter, the Tigers scored three times, including a pair of Hughes goals, to take a 4-1 lead with 2:48 left in the second quarter.
With 2:21 remaining, senior midfielder Colton Vosburgh scored an unassisted goal to narrow the deficit to 4-2 at the intermission.
Less than two minutes into the third quarter, the Tigers upped their lead to 5-2 when junior attackman Matt Lamon scored an unassisted marker past freshman goalkeeper Austin Kaut.
But, the Tigers were held scoreless for the next 19 minutes, 55 seconds as the Nittany Lions took a 6-5 advantage with four straight goals, including a pair of markers from junior attackman Matthew Mackrides.
Mackrides led the Nittany Lions with two goals and an assist while Kaut made 13 saves.
Hughes paced the Tigers with a two-goal effort while Lamon contributed a goal with an assist. Senior goalkeeper Travis Love tied a season high by making 13 saves as the Tigers were outshot by a 35-32 margin.
The Tigers, who have played in six one-goal games this season, will play their final road game of the season next Saturday when they travel to Drexel University for a CAA game at Vidas Field at 3 p.m.
Meanwhile, the Nittany Lions will begin a two-game road trip next Saturday at Delaware at 7 p.m.
