May 17, 2017
GRAND LAKE, Colo. - Senior Steph Lazo (Stevensville, Md.) becomes the first Penn State Nittany Lion in 13 years to earn IWLCA First-Team All-American honors while junior Katie O'Donnell (West Chester, Pa.) and sophomore Madison Carter (Davidsonville, Md.) land on the second-team as announced earlier Wednesday afternoon.
The trio join 45 other student-athletes across the country to make up the three different 2017 Division I member teams as announced by the Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches Association.
Since the IWLCA began honoring All-Americans in 1984, Penn State has now had 98 student-athletes recognized and Lazo becomes the 43rd First-Team honoree and first since Lee Tortorelli in 2004. The senior also earns her second consecutive All-American selection as she was honored on the second-team last season.
This marks Lazo's fifth postseason accolade to go along with an All-Big Ten Team nod, The Big Ten Attack Player of the Year, an All-ECAC First-Team selection and an IWLCA First-Team All-Region member.
Lazo continues to improve on her career-high and league-leading numbers as her 87 points and 42 assists lead the Big Ten and rank 16th and 17th in the nation, respectively. The senior has also added a career-high 45 goals while moving into seventh on the Penn State all-time points list with 209 career points. Lazo's 42 assists are the third highest single-season total in Penn State history and her 88-career helpers rank seventh all-time.
Both Carter and O'Donnell are earning their first IWLCA All-American honor as both players are also having career seasons for the Blue and White. Carter leads the conference and ranks tenth in the nation with 66 goals while adding 11 assists for 77 points, all are career-highs. Carter has also registered career-highs in ground balls (22) and draw controls (111), the latter ranks second in the Big Ten.
O'Donnell has also eclipsed the 60-point mark for the first time in her career as she ranks third on the team with 64 points and is second with a career-high 58 goals. The junior has registered 25 goals in her last six games. Both student-athletes were also All-Big Ten, All-ECAC and IWLCA All-Region selections.
Penn State returns to action on Sunday afternoon as they battle No. 5 seed Princeton in the NCAA Quarterfinals at 1 p.m. at the Penn State Lacrosse Field. Tickets can be purchased by calling 1-800-NITTANY or by visiting the Bryce Jordan Center Box office. Tickets will also be available on site the day of the game as a CASH ONLY sale. Prices are as follows:
Adult - $8
Youth (12 and under) - $5
Participating university students - $5
Groups (20 or more people) - $3 (not sold on game day)
*NOTE advanced sales conclude at 5 p.m. on Friday evening when the BJC Box Office closes.