May 12, 2017
GRAND LAKE, Colo. - The 2017 IWLCA All-Region selections were announced on Friday afternoon and Penn State earned five honorees split between the first and second teams in the West/Midwest Region. Senior Steph Lazo (Stevensville, Md.), junior Katie O'Donnell (West Chester, Pa.) and sophomore Madison Carter (Davidsonville, Md.) each earned first-team recognition while senior classmates Abby Smucker (Bel Air, Md.) and Natalie Schmitt (Malvern, Pa.) landed on the second team.
Since the All-Region teams were established in 2005, the Nittany Lions have now had at least five honorees on six different occasions.
Lazo earns her second-straight first-team nod and third overall appearance on the All-Region list after a career-year as the senior leads the Big Ten with career-highs in points (82), assists (39), points per game (4.56) and assists per game (2.17).
The unanimous All-Big Ten selection and Tewaaraton Award nominee currently ranks eighth on Penn State's all-time scoring list with 204 points while her 85 assists are good for seventh.
Carter earns her second-straight All-Region accolade, her first on the first-team, as her 60 goals rank first in the Big Ten and 12th in the nation. An All-Big Ten selection and Tewaaraton Award Nominee, Carter's 60 goals are the most for a NIttany Lion in 27 years as she becomes just the seventh different player to hit the 60-goal mark and is the first since Diane Whipple's 62 goals in 1990. The sophomore's 99 draw controls also pace the team and rank second in the Big Ten.
O'Donnell receives her first All-Region recognition as she is in the midst of a career- year with 54 goals and 60 points both of which are career-highs. The junior ranks third in the Big Ten with her 54 goals.
Smucker earns her third consecutive All-Region honor landing on the second-team in back-to-back seasons. One of the best defensive midfielders in the game, the senior has set career-bests in ground balls (40), caused turnovers (27) and points (27).
Schmitt joins O'Donnell this season as a first-time IWLCA All-Region honoree after landing on the second-team. The senior is constantly paired up against the opposing team's best offensive player and with her smothering defense, she limits scoring chances. Schmitt has also collected 27 ground balls and caused 18 turnovers on the season.
Penn State (15-3) will look to reach their fifth NCAA Quarterfinals in the past five years when they battle the winner of tonight's JMU vs. Louisville first-round contest on Sunday at 1 p.m. The game will be streamed live and available at no cost through GoPSUnow.
FULL IWLCA RELEASE