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No. 17 Women’s Lacrosse Heads to No. 16 Michigan for B1G Match Up

ANN ARBOR, Mich.- A 16 vs. 17 battle is set with 17-ranked Penn State taking on 16-ranked Michigan in Ann Arbor on Saturday, April 8. First draw at U-M Lacrosse Stadium is set for noon.
 
This tight contest between the number 16 and 17 teams in the country is also a tough conference battle. While the Wolverines sit above the Nittany Lions in the national rankings, Penn State is third in the Big Ten and Michigan is fourth. Both teams seek their third conference win.
 
GAME INFORMATION
at No. 16 Michigan

  • Date: Saturday, April 8, 2023 | Time: noon ET
  • Location: Ann Arbor, Mich | Venue: U-M Lacrosse Stadium
  • Live Stats | Watch: B1G+
  • Admission: Free

LAST TIME OUT

  • Penn State won its 10th game of the season with a 13-10 victory over Cornell on Sunday, April 2.
  • Kristin O'Neill and Meghan Murray both had four-goal performances. Meg picked up her third hat trick of the year and O'Neill notched her eighth.
  • O'Neill also continued a 17-game scoring streak.
  • Kayla Abernathy earned a career best nine draw controls and scooped up three ground balls and forced three turnovers.
  • Rachel Spilker matched her career high four ground balls and caused two turnovers.
  • Ashley Bowan made sevens saves between the pipes.
  • Kara Nealon, Emma Kelly and Gretchen Gilmore scored a goal apiece.

NITTANY LIONS IN THE RANKS

  • Penn State ranks first in the Big Ten and in the country in caused turnovers (140) as well as first in conference and third nationally in ground balls (239).
  • The Nittany Lions are second in the conference in shots on goal per game (24) and 17th in the country. 
  • Sammy Dupcak ranks 16th nationally in ground balls (34) and is second in the conference. She is also third in the Big Ten and 23rd nationally in caused turnovers (22). Ellie Hollin is 27th nationally and fifth in the Big Ten right behind Dupcak with 21 in caused turnovers.
  • Kristin O'Neill is 13th in the country in goals (41) and fourth in the Big Ten.

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 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.
  • Penn State is 2-1 in road games at Michigan.
  • This is the third meeting that both teams are nationally ranked. The most recent ranked games were 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 9-4, 2-2 Big Ten with conference wins against Ohio State and Rutgers, the same two Big Ten wins Penn State owns. It is ranked 16th nationally and fourth in the conference.
  • The Wolverines are coming off a loss in their most recent game to Maryland on Sunday, April 2. The final score was 13-7.
  • 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 46 and points with 54.

NITTANY LIONS TO WATCH

  • 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.
  • O'Neill, Dupcak and Ellie Hollin were named Big Ten Players to Watch in the preseason.
  • O'Neill was also named to The Tewaaraton Award Watch List and selected by Inside Lacrosse as a Top 100 Returning Player at the start of this season.
  • Freshmen Erika Ho, Maggie Golder and Emma Kelly were placed on Inside Lacrosse's Power Top 100 Freshman List.

2023 CAPTAINS