UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.- No. 18 Penn State women's lacrosse enters the postseason in the quarterfinals of the Big Ten Tournament against No. 19 Michigan on Saturday, April 29. First draw in Ann Arbor, Mich. is set for noon.
A four vs. five match up in the tournament standings with Michigan at four and Penn State at five, is also a 18 vs. 19 match up nationally with Penn State at 18 and Michigan at 19.
GAME INFORMATION
at No. 19 Michigan
- Date: Saturday, April 29, 2023 | Time: noon ET
- Location: Ann Arbor, Mich. | Venue: U-M Lacrosse Stadium
- Live Stats | Watch: B1G+ | Notes
- Admission: Free
LAST TIME OUT
- Penn State fell to John's Hopkins 16-12 on Saturday, April 22 to conclude the regular season at 11-5, 3-3 Big Ten.
- Ashley Bowan had a career game in the cage with a personal best 19 saves. She is tied for third in the country in most saves made in a single game with her performance.
- Sammy Dupcak scooped her 100th career ground ball while matching her season high with five in the game. She also added two caused turnovers.
- O'Neill boosted her scoring streak to 20 consecutive games with at least one goal.
- Rachel Spilker met her career high three caused turnovers.
- Kara Nealon added a season best three assists and tied her season high five points including two goals.
NITTANY LIONS IN THE RANKS
- Penn State ranks first in the Big Ten and eighth in the country in caused turnovers (170) as well as first in conference and 17th nationally in ground balls (285).
- Sammy Dupcak ranks 10th nationally in ground balls (47) and is tied for first in the conference. She is also third in the Big Ten and 27th nationally in caused turnovers (28). Ellie Hollin is seventh in the Big Ten with 28 ground balls and 22 caused turnovers.
- Kristin O'Neill is fifth in the country in shots per game (8.44) and 35th nationally in goals (46).
PENN STATE –MICHIGAN SERIES
- The Nittany Lions-Wolverines series just began in 2014, Penn State won the first four games.
- The most recent two games prior to this season ended in overtime with the Nittany Lions coming away with a 13-12 win in 2021 and the Wolverines winning a 8-7 overtime battle in 2022.
- Michigan took a 10-8 victory earlier this season on its home turf.
- Penn State is 2-2 in road games in Ann Arbor.
- This is the fourth meeting with boths teams being nationally ranked. The most recent game earlier this season was a 16 vs. 17 match up with Michigan at 16 and Penn State at 17. In 2021 when the teams faced each other twice, Penn State was ranked seventh and Michigan was ranked 13th. The games split with Michigan winning the first 12-9 and Penn State winning the second 13- 12 in OT in Happy Valley.
SCOUTING THE WOLVERINES
- Michigan is 10-6, 3-3 Big Ten with conference wins against Ohio State, Rutgers and Penn State.
- Its most recent game was over two weeks ago when Michigan was upset by John's Hopkins on its home turf in Ann Arbor. The score was 14-7.
- Erin Garvey, Maddie Burns and Jill Smith earned first team All-Big Ten. Morgan WHitaker, and Josie Gooch were named to second team All-Big Ten.
- Jill Smith, Maya Santa-Maria and Maddie Burns were named ILWomen Midseason All-Americans. Smith made second team while Santa-Maria and Burns were honorable ,mentions.
- Smith leads Michigan in goals with 52 and points with 60. She ranks 14th nationally and second in the Big Ten in total goals.
- Michigan ranks second in the Big Ten in shots percentage (.444)
NITTANY LIONS TO WATCH
- Kristin O'Neill and Ellie Hollin were named to All-Big Ten first team. Kayla Abernathy, Sammy Dupcak, Gretchen Gilmore and Meghan Murray earned second team. Rachel Spilker is selected to the Sportsmanship Team as announced by the Big Ten (4/26).
- Haley Urgo was named the IL/IWLCA and Big Ten Co-Defensive Player of the Week (4/18) after her five caused turnovers and three ground balls in a 12-7 win over No. 10 Maryland.
- O'Neill and Dupcak were named ILWomen Midseason All-American Honorable Mentions. This is O'Neill's second year receiving the distinction.
- Sophomore defender Ellie Hollin was named the IL/IWLCA and Big Ten Co-Defensive Player of the Week after leading the defense to a first half shut out in a 13-3 win over Ohio State (3/25).
- Junior Gilmore was named the Big Ten Co-Offensive Player of the Week and IL/IWLCA Co-Offensive Player of the Week this week (3/21) after her 10-goal performance last week. She posted four goals in a 13-12 win over Towson and six goals in a 16-14 win at No. 14 Princeton.
- Junior co-captain O'Neill was named to the 2023 Tewaaraton Award Preseason Watch List.
2023 CAPTAINS
- Head coach Missy Doherty named seniors Rachel Spilker and Regan Nealon and junior Kristin O'Neill as captains for the 2023 season.
- This is Spilker's second season as a co-captain for the Nittany Lions.