UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The Penn State women's hockey team and head coach Jeff Kampersal have signed seven student-athletes during the 2019 Signing Day period.
Each of these student-athletes signed their National Letter of Intent to enroll at Penn State and join the Nittany Lions beginning in the 2020-21 season.
Penn State's signing class includes five forwards in Jess Ciarrocchi (West Chester, Pa.), Maeve Connelly (West Roxbury, Mass.), Alyssa Machado (Mississauga, Ontario), Olivia Wallin (Oakville, Ontario) and Kiara Zanon (Fairport, N.Y.).
The Nittany Lions also signed one defender, Lyndie Lobdell (Aurora, Ill.), and one goaltender, Josie Bothun (Wyoming, Minn.).
"We're definitely excited for this group," said coach Kampersal. "There's a lot of talent in this class, but they are also great people. They are hockey players through-and-through and love to be at the rink. They are winners that come from winning programs in high levels of hockey. We expect them to come in and immediately be contributors to our program."
The biographies to the Penn State women's hockey 2019 signing day class are listed below:
JOSIE BOTHUN
Hometown: Wyoming, Minn.
Position: Goaltender
PRIOR TO PENN STATE
Currently playing senior season of hockey at Forest Lake Area High School…Played for girls' varsity program 2016-18 and boys' varsity team 2018-present…Won two All-Conference and All-Section awards 2016-17 and 2017-18…Helped Forest Lake to two conference titles, one section championship, and one state tournament appearance…Compiled 15 total shutouts for the Rangers through three seasons…Posted a .952 save percentage in 2017-18 and was named Team MVP…Received All-Academic team honors all seasons…Played for the Minnesota Junior Whitecaps and won a 2019 NAHA Championship and a 2019 Tier 1 High School Elite League championship.
PERSONAL
Full name is Josephine Ann Bothun…Parents are Lisa Palmer-Bothun and Pete Bothun…Has three brothers, Jeff Bothun, Derrick Bruestle, and Riley Brustle, and three sisters, Amy Bothun, Elsa Bruestle Shorey, and Sydney Bruestle…Sisters Elsa played hockey at Union and Sydney was on the track & field/cross country team at Michigan Tech…Brother, Derrick, played football at Augsburg…Intends to major in psychology…Born May 18, 2002, in St. Paul, Minnesota.
JOSIE ON PENN STATE
"I chose Penn State initially for the coaching culture and staff. Jeff Kampersal is a coach I have a lot of respect for and trust. I was nervous about the large campus community but having spent time on campus with the coaches and players I was able to find the community dynamic I was looking for. I am also impressed by the variety of opportunity both academically and through clubs Penn State has to offer. I am confident I will be able to grow into the adult I want to become and thrive in this environment."
KAMPERSAL'S OUTLOOK
"Josie is a very athletic goaltender who we see as a player that can come in and compete right away. We look forward to her joining our goaltending group as they continue to push each other to be better."
JESS CIARROCCHI
Hometown: West Chester, Pa.
Position: Forward
PRIOR TO PENN STATE
Selected to U18 USA Hockey National Camp roster four times 2016-19…Won 2019 USA Hockey U19 National Championship with Boston Jr. Eagles U19 and a bronze medal in 2017…Played hockey at The Hill School 2018-present and West Chester Rustin High School 2016-17…Named USHR Prep Hockey Top 20 Forward Selection 2018-19…Won a Prep League Championship with Hill School in 2018 as team captain…Chosen WIHLMA First Team All-Prep League in 2018…Ranked first in West Chester Rustin High School hockey all-time scoring both single-season and career…Named Daily News First Team All-Area 2016-17…Was a Brine All-American selection in lacrosse in 2018 and an Under Armour All-American selection in lacrosse in 2017.
PERSONAL
Full name is Jessica Lauren Ciarrocchi…Parents are Andrea and Mark Ciarrocchi…Has one sister, Elena…Father, Mark, played baseball at West Chester University…Intends to major in a business-related field…Born February, 24, 2002 in Media, Pennsylvania.
JESS ON PENN STATE
"I started playing football at the age of five, and one weekend my dad came back from a Penn State/Michigan football game and brought me home a PSU football and T-shirt. Ever since then my dream was to one day go to Penn State. Little did I know then it would be to play ice hockey and not football! I love everything about it, the academics and alumni are the best and the sports atmosphere is second to none!"
KAMPERSAL'S OUTLOOK
"Jess is a PA kid that loves Penn State. She's a tenacious worker on the ice and causes havoc for opposing teams. She's a great all-around athlete that can be an energetic spark for our forecheck and offense."
MAEVE CONNOLLY
Hometown: West Roxbury, Mass.
Position: Forward
PRIOR TO PENN STATE
Named captain of the Noble & Greenough varsity hockey team senior season 2019-20…Has played with Nobles since 2014…Won the NEPSAC Division I Championship twice in 2016 and 2018...Was an NEPSAC Finalist in 2019…Earned four ISL Championships 2015-2017 and 2019…Played for the East Coast Wizards U16 team 2017-18…Was named captain of the Nobles cross-country team senior season 2019-20…Won two ISL cross-country championships 2017 and 2018.
PERSONAL
Full name is Maeve Catherine Connolly…Parents are Mary Ann (Mimi) and Thomas Connolly…Has one brother, Owen…Intends to enroll in a business-related field…Born Sept. 7, 2001 in West Roxbury, Mass.
MAEVE ON PENN STATE
"I chose Penn State because it is a place where I can see myself growing and learning as a student and an athlete. The academics at Penn State are definitely second to none and the school campus is beautiful. I also love the school spirit and sense of community."
KAMPERSAL'S OUTLOOK
"Maeve is a good skater who can affect the game in a lot of ways. She has a great all-around skill set and is heads-up player on both offense and defense."
LYNDIE LOBDELL
Hometown: Aurora, Ill.
Position: Defense
PRIOR TO PENN STATE
Selected to 2020 U18 USA Hockey roster which will compete in the 2020 IIHF World Junior Championships in Slovakia…Won the 2018 USA Hockey Tier 1 National Championship with Chicago Mission U19…Finished runners-up at 2016 USA Hockey Tier 1 National Championship with U16 Chicago Mission team…Won four Illinois state championships with Chicago Mission U19 and U16 teams 2015-19…Named All-State MVP in 2019 while playing high school hockey for the Naper Valley Warriors…Selected to the all-state team in 2018 and 2019 and competed in the 2018 and 2019 all-state games.
PERSONAL
Full name is Lyndie Leslie Lobdell…Parents are Jackie and David Lobdell…Has two sisters, Lexie and Lanie…Father, David, had a decorated hockey career at Western Michigan…Sister Lexie played volleyball at St. John's…Sister Lanie currently plays hockey at Augsburg…Plans to enroll in the Division of Undergraduate Studies…Born September 1, 2002, in Columbus, Ohio.
LYNDIE ON PENN STATE
"I knew I was interested in Penn State as soon as Coach Kampersal contacted me. I've always known it's a great school academically and in sports, and when I got to visit and stay on campus for a summer camp, I fell in love with it and its culture very quickly. I've also admired Coach Kampersal for a long time. I was so excited to think I could have him as my coach. The team is making great changes and I wanted to be a part of that change."
KAMPERSAL'S OUTLOOK
"Lyndie has all the tools to be an explosive playmaker and a special defender. She can affect the game in so many ways because she is so sound in all areas of the ice and is a great all-around player."
ALYSSA MACHADO
Hometown: Mississauga, Ontario
Position: Forward
PRIOR TO PENN STATE
Was selected to the 2019 Canadian National Women's U18 Team Selection Camp roster…Currently plays for the Oakville Jr. Hornets of the PWHL (2017-present)…Recorded 10 points on 5G, 5A through 11 games in current season…Skated for Team Ontario Blue at the 2019 U18 National Championship and scored two goals in five games.
PERSONAL
Full name is Alyssa Debra Machado…Parents are Debra and Mario Machado…Has two siblings, Anna and Mario Jr….Intends to major in kinesiology…Born Jan. 3, 2002 in Mississauga, Ontario.
ALYSSA ON PENN STATE
"I chose Penn State for its great academic and athletic reputation."
KAMPERSAL'S OUTLOOK
"Alyssa is a tough, aggressive forward that plays with a chip on her shoulder. Her style of play should translate well to our league which plays a physical brand of hockey."
OLIVIA WALLIN
Hometown: Oakville, Ontario
Position: Forward
PRIOR TO PENN STATE
Scored in the gold medal game to help U18 Team Ontario Red win the 2019 Canadian National Women's U18 Championship…Currently playing for the Etobicoke Junior Dolphins in the PWHL and leads the team as of Nov. 13 with 14 points (8G, 6A) through 13 games…Played for the Stoney Creek Sabres in the PWHL 2015-19…Led the PWHL league with 28 goals in 38 games in 2018-19 to help Sabres reach league's final four…Won a 2018-19 OWHA Provincial Championship bronze medal.
PERSONAL
Full name is Olivia Shelly Wallin…Parents are Chantal and Rubin Wallin…Has one sister, Andrea…Plans to enroll in the Division of Undergraduate Studies…Born March 9, 2002 in Vancouver, B.C.
OLIVIA ON PENN STATE
"I chose Penn State because of the academic opportunities, the hockey program and the amazing campus."
KAMPERSAL'S OUTLOOK
"Olivia is natural scorer who always seems to be in a good scoring position. She is great around the net and we hope those skills translate to helping our program score more goals."
KIARA ZANON
Hometown: Fairport, N.Y.
Position: Forward
PRIOR TO PENN STATE
Selected to the USA Hockey U18 National Team Roster for the 2020 IIHF World Junior Championship in Slovakia…Won a silver medal at the 2019 IIHF World Junior Championship with current Nittany Lion, Mallory Uihlein…Gathered additional international experience with USA Hockey on the 2018 U18 Select Team, the 2018 Women's National Festival roster, and the 2018 Select 70 Camp roster….Currently plays club hockey with Kingston Jr. Ice Wolves and leads the PWHL as of Nov. 18 with 38 points (18G, 20A) through 15 games…Played at Selects Academy at Bishop Kearney 2016-19…Named All-USA Girls High School Hockey Player of the Year Top 5 finalist and Second Team forward…Selected to 2018-19 American Family Insurance All-USA Preseason Girls Hockey Team…Scored 202 points (86G, 116A) in 117 games at Selects Academy 2017-19.
PERSONAL
Full name is Kiara Diane Zanon…Parents are Trish and Steve Zanon…Has two brothers, Zach Keddell and Mitchell…Father, Steve, played collegiate hockey at Geneseo…Plans to enroll in the Division of Undergraduate Studies…Born August 22, 2002, in Fairport, N.Y.
KIARA ON PENN STATE
"I chose Penn State because of the educational offerings and potential to help build a winning culture. The feeling of community and family I sensed with the school as well as the coaching staff made it an easy decision."
KAMPERSAL'S OUTLOOK
"Kiara is a pure skater with great acceleration and is always looking for an offensive opportunity. Her speed leads to great offensive production which we think will carry over to her time at Penn State."
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