UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Six members of the Penn State Women's Lacrosse incoming 2020 recruiting class were named to the Inside Lacrosse Power 100 last week. In its November magazine issue, Inside Lacrosse named Penn State having the top 2020 recruiting class in the nation.
The incoming Nittany Lions, all midfielders, are led in the Power 100 by Kayla Abernathy, ranked as the No. 8 freshman in the country. Kristin O'Neill is right behind at No. 9. Gretchen Gilmore and Kathryn Toohey are ranked No. 14 and No. 16, respectively. Samantha Dupcak and Alaina Hamood are also included among the Power 100.
With four freshmen among the Top 16, Penn State has more than double of any other school represented.
In August, Abernathy, Gilmore, O'Neill and Toohey were all named Under Armour Senior All-Americans.
The rest of the top recruiting class in the country includes defender Gianna Cutaia, midfielder Cam Evitts and goalie Cayden Jarvis.
Abernathy, from Towson, Maryland, played four years at McDonogh High School. She was rated as a five-star prospect and the No. 2 midfielder in the class by Inside Lacrosse. She led McDonogh to IAAM A Conference Championships in 2017 and 2019, while earning All-Metro second team in 2019. As a junior, Abernathy tallied 24 goals, nine assists, 95 draw controls, 11 caused turnovers and 26 groundballs. She also played for M&D Black Lacrosse Club.
O'Neill, from Odenton, Maryland, was a team captain at Archbishop Spalding, leading the team to a 15-3 record and a No. 15 national ranking as a junior. She was rated as a five-star recruit and the No. 3 midfielder in the class by Inside Lacrosse. She was selected as an Under Armour Underclass All-American three times and was a US Lacrosse All-American in 2018. O'Neill tallied 85 goals and 17 assists as a junior. She played for the Integrity Lacrosse Club team. In the classroom, O'Neill is a member of the National Honor Society.
Gilmore, from Glen Ridge, New Jersey, played at Glen Ridge High School. She led Glen Ridge to three-straight Essex County Championships as well as three Super Essex Conference titles. Rated a five-star prospect Inside Lacrosse, Gilmore was a US Lacrosse All-American as a junior. She also earned first-team All-State, first-team All-Conference and All-County Tournament team accolades. She collected 98 goals, 27 assists, 141 draw controls and 58 groundballs as a junior. Gilmore played for the Metro Blue Magic club team.
Toohey, from Garnet Valley, Pennsylvania, led Garnet Valley to a 21-4 record in 2019. She was rated as a five-star prospect. She was an All-Delco selection in 2018 and 2019 and an All-Central League honoree in 2019. Toohey played for the Philly Blast club team.
Dupcak, from Annapolis, Maryland, played at Broadneck High School. In 2019, she guided Broadneck to a 12-5 record while receiving U.S. Lacrosse All-American honors. She was a three-time All-County selection, including first team picks in 2018 and 2019, and collected Baltimore Sun All-Metro second team accolades in 2019. Dupcak tallied 47 goals, 12 assists and a school-record 101 draw controls as a junior. She is a member of the National Honor Society. Dupcak played for Maryland United Club.
Hamood, a midfielder/attacker from Hinsdale, Illinois, played for Hinsdale Central. The sister of 2020 Penn State alum, Yasmain Hamood, Alaina led Hinsdale Central to an Illinois State Title in 2018, a runner-up title in 2019 and a state semifinals appearance in 2017. Hamood paced Hinsdale Central in draw controls and finished second on the team in total points in 2018 as she earned an All-State selection. She played for Maryland United and Lakeshore Lacrosse clubs.
The Nittany Lions, led by Head Coach Missy Doherty, went 5-2 in 2020 before the season was stopped due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Follow along with the team on our social media pages on Facebook (PennStateWomensLacrosse) and Twitter/Instagram (@pennstatewlax).
