Nov. 17, 2016
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Head Coach Missy Doherty and the Penn State women `s lacrosse team has announced the addition of 11 new faces to the class of 2021 during November's early signing period.
After reaching their first Final Four in 17 years last spring the Nittany Lions will welcome Mackenzie Carroll, Samantha Del Viscio, Sammy Helgeson, Kate Love, Lucy Lowe, Quinn Nicolai, Rachel Rosen, Alyssa Sloane, Sophia Triandafils, Emily Vengilio and Kaitlyn Wallace to campus next fall as part of the class of 2021.
Mackenzie Carroll // Mid // 5-8 // Naples, Fla. // Gulf Coast // Lax Maniax
Carroll scored 86 goals while adding 47 assists during her junior season at Gulf Coast High School last spring. She was named a First-Team All-American by United States Lacrosse while leading her team to a District Championship. Carroll also represented the United States in Scotland for the World Games and is a Brine All-American. She has also been a member of the Lax Maniax club team for the last five years.
CARROLL ON PENN STATE
"Penn State was my dream school and I chose to come here for the great academics, great lacrosse and great tradition."
DOHERTY ON CARROLL
"Mackenzie is a super-fast attacking midfielder. She has continuously gotten better over the years and has done a great job scoring some big goals at important times. We are looking forward to having her strength on our offense."
Samantha Del Viscio // Mid // 5-3 // Langhorne, Pa. // Villa Joseph Marie // Tri-State
Del Viscio was named Bucks County Courier Times Lacrosse Player of the Year following her junior season where she scored 77 goals and added 33 assists while collecting 80 groundballs in just 18 games. For her career she has 158 goals and 62 assists in three seasons at Villa Joseph Marie High School. Has also played for Lower Bucks Lacrosse and TriState club teams.
DEL VISCIO ON PENN STATE
"I chose Penn State because I wanted to compete at the highest level against the best competition while simultaneously earning my degree from a university with world class academic standards."
DOHERTY ON DEL VISCIO
"Sami is a strong and scrappy attacker. She makes good moves to the cage and just competes the whole game. She will bring some added depth to our attack."
Sammy Helgeson // Mid // 5-4 // Landisville, Pa. // Hempfield // Xtreme Lacrosse
Helgeson was a U.S. Lacrosse All-American honorable mention in 2015 after helping guide her team to a District III runner-up finish. She is also a two-time league All-Star and has twice been named team MVP. Helgeson has also been a member of X-treme Lacrosse for the past five seasons.
HELGESON ON PENN STATE
"I selected Penn State because of the upbeat atmosphere it always has, the people and of course, the superior academics and athletics Penn State has to offer."
DOHERTY ON HELGESON
"Sammy is quick and all over the place, she's a little spitfire at midfield. She makes a lot of hustle plays and gets ground balls while coming up with some big goals."
Kate Love // Mid // 5-8 // Dallas, Tx. // Hockaday School // C2C Lacrosse
Love captured a Southern Preparatory Conference Championship as a freshman and has been a standout ever since. She has also been a member of C2C Lacrosse for the past four seasons.
LOVE ON PENN STATE
"I chose Penn State because I thought it would be the best academic and athletic fit for me to be able to succeed at my highest potential. The coaches, current players, campus atmosphere, and the amazing school spirit will add greatly to my overall experience at Penn State."
DOHERTY ON LOVE
"Kate is a great versatile midfielder who has good speed and is very smart and efficient when making great plays at good times."
Lucy Lowe // G // 5-3 // Cockeysville, Md. // Notre Dame Prep // Towson Lacrosse Club
Lowe comes from Notre Dame Preparatory School an d the Towson Lacrosse Club. Last season as a junior she compiled at 13-6 record with a .650 save percentage.
LOWE ON PENN STATE
"I chose Penn State because it offered me a great learning environment and has an overwhelming sense of community and school spirit."
DOHERTY ON LOWE
"Lucy is great between the pipes and will compete for time following the graduation of Cat Rainone."
Quinn Nicolai // Mid // 5-6 // Moorestown, N.J. // Moorestown // South Jersey Select
Nicolai was named a United States Lacrosse All-American following a junior campaign where she led her team to their third consecutive New Jersey South Group 3 Championship. She potted 77 goals and added 26 assists in 24 games. For her three-year career she has totaled 148 goals and 63 assists. She has been a two-time First-Team All-State selection and was named the Burlington County Times, Courier Post and Philadelphia Inquirer Player of the Year in 2016. Nicolai has also played the last seven seasons for South Jersey Select.
NICOLAI ON PENN STATE
"I chose Penn State not only for its success in athletics, but also in academics. I knew I would be joining a family, not just a team, and that's exactly what I wanted."
DOHERTY ON NICOLAI
"Quinn is a fighter and a competitor in the midfield. She does a great job of doing all the dirty work and we're looking for her to bring some good hustle and fill out our midfield."
Rachel Rosen // Mid // 5-8 // Port Washington, N.Y. // Paul D. Schreiber // Liberty Lacrosse
Rosen has been named the MVP of her high school team, the Port Washington Lady Vikings, for the past two seasons. She has totaled 72 goals and 88 assists over her first three years and led her team to the Conference Championship in 2015. She has also played club lacrosse for 91 Lacrosse and Liberty lacrosse.
ROSEN ON PENN STATE
"Penn State for me was the perfect combination of academics, athletics and fun."
DOHERTY ON ROSEN
"Rachel is a tall attacking midfielder that has a great, calm, presence about her that will fit in nicely with our team dynamic."
Alyssa Sloane // D // 5-2 // Millstone Township, N.J. // Allentown // South Jersey Select
Sloane captained her high-school team last season to double-digit wins while scoring 34 goals and adding 23 assists. She has also been a member of the South Jersey Select club team the past four seasons.
SLOANE ON PENN STATE
"I chose Penn State because it had the perfect balance of academic and athletic competition I was looking for. I wanted a big school with a family atmosphere and I feel at home when I'm at Penn State."
DOHERTY ON SLOANE
"Alyssa is a quick, fast and versatile defender. She has really great presence defensively when pressuring out: causing huge turnovers and making a difference at the defensive end."
Sophia Triandafils // Mid // 5-7 // Wading River, N.Y. // Shoreham Wading River // Long Island Yellow Jackets Blue-Huff
Triandafils will join Penn State out of the lacrosse hot bed that is Long Island, N.Y. for the 2018 season. The high school senior is ranked #38 by Inside Lacrosse and during her junior year last season was named to the Top 150 Long Island lacrosse players list. She has been named All Suffolk County three times during her high school career and is also a member of the Long Island Yellow Jackets Blue club team where she helped guide her team to the 2015 U15 National Championship.
TRIANDAFILS ON PENN STATE
"I wanted to be challenged on the lacrosse field and in the classroom. Not only does Penn State offer top athletic and academic opportunities for me but it also provides me with the chance to grow as an individual, and in the family atmosphere that surrounds the university. Penn State will help me become the best lacrosse player, student, and person I can be."
DOHERTY ON TRIANDAFILS
"Sophia is a super versatile midfielder and has great attacking skills. She is a weapon anywhere on the field and we are excited for her to come and be a part of our midfield fairly quickly."
Emily Vengilio // D // 5-4 // Mount Sinai, N.Y. // Mount Sinai // Long Island Yellow Jackets
Vengilio has captained her high school team to back-to-back New York Class C State Championships and a 59-2 combined record during her first three years of high school. A two-time All-County selection, Vengilio has also been a four-year member of the Long Island Yellow Jackets club team.
VENGILIO ON PENN STATE
"I chose Penn State for the amazing opportunities both athletically and academically and for the family atmosphere of the entire Penn State campus."
DOHERTY ON VENGILIO
"Emily is very quick and very aggressive as a defender. She's not afraid to get out and make a play. We are looking forward to her being a great part of our defense."
Kaitlyn Wallace // Mid // 5-4 // Horsham, Pa. // Hatboro-Horsham // Ultimate Goal Lacrosse
Wallace will serve as team captain on her high school squad this coming spring. Has twice been an All-League selection and had a career-year as a sophomore scoring 40 goals and adding 17 assists. Captured a league championship as a freshman. Also a member of Ultimate Goal Lacrosse.
WALLACE ON PENN STATE
"I chose Penn State because of their high academic standards, amazing athletic programs, large alumni network, and intense student pride."
DOHERTY ON WALLACE
"Kaitlyn will be a great addition to our defense. We're looking for her to grow into a large defensive role."