Feb. 25, 2016
By; Shannon Rostick, GoPSUsports.com Student Staff Writer
NIVERSITY PARK, Pa.- There is no question that the Penn State women's lacrosse team is full of talent. Last season, the team earned themselves a Big Ten Tournament Championship, something they should all be proud of.
With many talented graduating seniors leaving the team after their strong 2015 season, the Nittany Lions were in need of some new talent to fill their shoes. Thankfully, the team has recruited many talented new faces that have already stepped up to the plate and brought the team much success.
Freshman Madison Carter is just one of those new players, but she is definitely starting to prove that she deserves a spot on the team and is up to the challenge of bringing the team back to last year's high level.
This past Tuesday, Carter was named the Big Ten Co-Offensive Player and Freshman of the Week, by the conference office. She is the first Nittany Lion to earn either of these awards this season, which speaks a lot to her performance so far throughout her first season with the team.
Carter is thrilled to receive these awards, but has remained humble. She still wants to continue on through the season playing her hardest and giving all that she can to the game.
"It definitely really exciting, but I just go out every game working and playing really hard and do what I can do for the team," said Carter.
Carter has credited a number of things to her successful transition onto the team. The first being the supportive upperclassman players, who have played one of the biggest roles in making the new players, like herself, feel more comfortable coming onto the team.
"The older players are so amazing and welcoming. The team dynamic is incredible and the older players have really helped the freshman to feel acclimated with everything," said Carter.
She also says that the coaches have played a big part in getting her comfortable going from game play at the high school level to the college level, by giving her the necessary push to do her best.
"College games are certainly a lot faster and more physical. It's definitely a change of speed, but you get thrown into the game and are forced to adjust quickly," said Carter. "The coaches have been driving me to play my best and push me hard every day in practice, so I credit a lot of my success to them."
It is not just Carter who has been successful this season, though; the entire team has seen much success already, winning their first two games of the season. Penn State earned their first victory against Lehigh with a score of 13-6. The team earned their second win this past weekend against Duquesne with an impressive score of 19-5.
Carter believes that the success the team has had so far stems from the relationships the girls have formed with each other throughout the season.
"I love being on the team and playing with the girls everyday. We are a very tight-knit team and being together everyday definitely helps us to play so well together."
The team is only two games into the season, but so far things are looking good for the Nittany Lions. With lots of old and new talent, like Carter, this season shows a lot of promise for Penn State. Coming off a Big Ten Tournament win last season, the girls are up to the challenge.
The team will play their third game of the regular season, this Saturday at the University of Virginia, starting at 12 p.m.