ROSEMONT, Ill.- Three Penn State women's lacrosse athletes are named Big Ten Preseason Players to Watch. Juniors Sammy Dupcak and Kristin O'Neill are joined by sophomore Ellie Hollin to round out the trio.
Dupcak claims this title for the second straight year after being tabbed a Preseason Player to Watch prior to her sophomore season. The junior was a key component to the Nittany Lions' defense in her first two seasons. In her 2022 campaign, she started all 15 games and led the team with 40 ground balls. Dupcak caused 14 turnovers, won 35 draw controls and notched two assists. She finished the season earning second team All-Big Ten and second team All-Region.
O'Neill enters her junior season as a co-captain and as a member of Inside Lacrosse's Top 50 Returning Players List. At the start of her sophomore season, she was named to the Tewaaraton Award Watch List and was named an Inside Lacrosse Midseason All-American Honorable Mention. She finished the season starting in all 15 games, leading the team with 51 points, 39 goals and 22 caused turnovers. O'Neill collected several post season honors including first team All-Big Ten, first team All-Region and Inside Lacrosse All-American Honorable Mention. This is her second consecutive season earning the Big Ten preseason nod.
Sophomore Hollin was another crucial piece to the Penn State defense in her freshman season. She started in all 15 games, tallied 20 ground balls, 12 caused turnovers and three draw controls. She scored her first collegiate goal against John Hopkins to round out a stellar freshman showing.
The Nittany Lions enter the 2023 season ranked seventh in the Big Ten and RV in the IWLCA Preseason Poll.
