April 27, 2018
By: Briana Zuccarelli, GoPSUsports.com Student Staff Writer
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.- With the final game of the regular season approaching, the Penn State women's lacrosse team says goodbye to six graduating seniors.
On Saturday, seniors Katie O'Donnell, Maggie Gallagher, Bridget Chakey, Allie Dolder, Madison Day, and Shelby Wells will be honored for their time on the team during the senior game against the Michigan Wolverines.
"It's sad," said Gallagher. "I don't want to leave yet. I have had a great four years and I don't think I want it to end. Not being able to play a competitive sport anymore is going to definitely be different. So, I think it's going to be a different transition. It's just really sad."
This senior class will be recognized by not only their families and teammates, but from the coaching staff as they have led the team to great success from the moment they each walked onto campus. When they first arrived at Penn State, it was a whirlwind of emotions, but they each knew they had a job as a member of the lacrosse team, and that was to compete.
As freshmen, the team headed to the Big Ten Tournament, where they defeated Northwestern in the second round and took down Ohio State (13-7) to earn the program's first Big Ten tournament title. As sophomores and juniors, they experienced back-to-back NCAA national semifinal appearances. This marked the first time PSU had made back-back appearances in nearly 30 years.
"These seniors have been a huge part of our transition forward," head coach Missy Doherty said. "I mean in their four years here we won that Big Ten Championship and went to two Final Fours. They've really helped us take this program to the next level.
With three successful years in the books, the seniors are looking to make one final run in play, and then plan to move their focus on competing for another Big Ten Championship title. Although success was a major accomplishment for this class, Doherty believes their leadership has set them apart from the rest.
"I think that is what's special with Penn State and our program," she said. "Our seniors are the first to include the freshmen and make them feel like they are a part of the family. There is no hierarchy when it comes to behavior and our classes; it is one team."
As they prepare for their final matchup of the regular season, the seniors recalled some of their favorite memories as Penn Staters. While most said they enjoyed winning the Big Ten championship as freshman, O'Donnell had a different memory in mind from the 2016 NCAA Tournament.
"I would definitely say sophomore year, going down to Florida for that first weekend and getting that first win over a No. 2 team," O'Donnell said. "To be the underdogs going into that game and coming out on top was just really awesome. To be able to be a part of the first time this program has went to a Final Four in so many years was just really amazing."
The team will look to move to 10-7 for the season and 4-2 in the Big Ten conference on Saturday. This game will be bittersweet for this team, but the senior class has much to be thankful for knowing they left their mark on the program.
"I would definitely say, looking back, the best part of being a student-athlete, especially here at Penn State. All the opportunities we're given," said O'Donnell. "I'm just really grateful for the positions I've gotten to be in in the past four years and being a part of this program."