UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The No. 21/18 Penn State Women's Lacrosse team is set to open the 2021 campaign on Sunday, February 14 as it hosts Rutgers. The game is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. in Holuba Hall with a live stream on Big Ten Network+.
Penn State, led by Head Coach Missy Doherty, is ranked 21st in the IWLCA Preseason Poll and 18th in the Inside Lacrosse Preseason Poll. The Nittany Lions started the 2020 campaign with a 5-2 mark before the season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Nittany Lions' matchup against Rutgers begins a 12-game schedule, all against Big Ten opponents.
Rutgers is coached by Melissa Lehman, in her second season, started 2020 with a 5-4 record.
NO PUBLIC ATTENDANCE
Under current Big Ten guidelines, public tickets will not be sold for 2021 Penn State Women's Lacrosse home games.
Follow along with the team by watching on Big Ten Network+ or following our social media pages on Facebook (PennStateWomensLacrosse) and Twitter/Instagram (@pennstatewlax).
SERIES HISTORY
Penn State is 20-0 all-time against Rutgers, dating back to 1978. The Nittany Lions won the last matchup, 18-7, on April 27, 2019. Sophia Triandafils led PSU with four goals, while Maria Auth added two goals and two assists. Taylor Suplee earned the win, making eight saves.
MEET THE SCARLET KNIGHTS
Rutgers, coached by Melissa Lehman, went 5-4 to start the 2020 season.
Marin Hartshorn, Taralyn Naslonski and Cassidy Spilis were named Big Ten Players to Watch. Hartshorn recorded six goals and led Rutgers with 15 assists last season. Naslonski collected 24 goals and four assists in 2020, while Spilis recorded a team-high 27 goals.
Goalie Alonna Gliksman ranked ninth in the country with 84 saves last season.
NITTANY LIONS SELECT CAPTAINS
Juniors Quinn Nicolai and Sophia Triandafils were elected captains by their teammates for the 2021 season. Both served as captains for the 2020 campaign.
Nicolai started all seven games in 2020, tallying nine goals and three assists. She is a two-time Academic All-Big Ten selection and a Big Ten Distinguished Scholar as a rehabilitation and human services major.
Triandafils collected 15 goals and seven assists in 2020, ranking 10th in the Big Ten averaging 3.14 points per game. The communication sciences and disorders major is also a two-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree and a Big Ten Distinguished Scholar.
THREE NAMED BIG TEN PLAYERS TO WATCH
Senior Maria Auth, freshman Olivia Dirks and sophomore Taylor Suplee were named Big Ten Players to Watch for the 2021 season.
Auth has tallied 180 career points, including 154 goals. She led the Nittany Lions with 22 goals and 11 assists in 2020, including six games with three or more goals. She paced the Big Ten with 1.57 free position goals per game. She was also fifth in the conference in goals and fourth in points.
Dirks made an immediate impact in Happy Valley, collecting three goals and a team-best 32 draw controls. She ranked third in the Big Ten with 4.57 draw controls per game.
Suplee helped Penn State to rank fourth in the country, and lead the Big Ten, with a team .531 save percentage. She made double-digit saves in six of seven games in 2020, including a career-high 20 saves against Cornell.
SUPLEE EARNS PRESEASON ALL-AMERICAN HONOR
Sophomore goalie Taylor Suplee was named honorable mention Preseason All-America by Inside Lacrosse. She was an honorable mention Postseason All-American following the 2020 season.
Suplee led the Big Ten and ranked second in the country averaging 12.43 saves per game. She also sat fifth in the nation, and second in the conference, with 87 saves.
The sophomore recorded a .527 save percentage, holding seventh in the nation, and a 12.27 goals-against average, ranking fourth in the Big Ten. Suplee paced the conference averaging 4.0 ground balls per game.
TOP INCOMING CLASS
Penn State was named the top 2020 recruiting class by Inside Lacrosse, including six members among the IL Power 100 and four among the Top 16.
Midfielder Kayla Abernathy was ranked as the No. 8 freshman in the country with Kristin O'Neill right behind at No. 9. Gretchen Gilmore and Kathryn Toohey were ranked 14th and 16th, respectively. Sammy Dupcak and Alaina Hamood were also included among the Power 100.
Gianna Cutaia, Cam Evitts and Cayden Jarvis round out the freshman class.
NEXT TIME OUT
The Nittany Lions welcome No. 7/8 Maryland next Sunday, February 21, for a 1 p.m. contest at Panzer Stadium.
