UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Penn State women's lacrosse head coach Missy Doherty has announced that Kayla Abernathy, Regan Nealon, Rachel Spilker, Kristin O'Neill, Gretchen Gilmore and Haley Urgo have been named captains for the 2024 season.
"Our leadership group this year is an amazing group of young women," said Doherty. "They have been true leaders their entire time here at Penn State and I am grateful to have them at the helm for the 2024 season."
In the 2023 season, Abernathy was named second team All-Big Ten after registering 13 goals and three assists. The senior midfielder collected 78 draw controls.
Nealon appeared in 18 games in her senior season. The two-time team captain totaled three goals and four caused turnovers. The graduate student midfielder also picked up two assists.
Spilker will be captain for the third consecutive season. The graduate student defender started in all 18 games last season. She registered 23 ground balls and 18 caused turnovers. She was also the recipient of the Big Ten Outstanding Sportsmanship Award.
O'Neill is coming off a stellar junior campaign. The midfielder was named first team All-Big Ten and USA Lacrosse third team All-American. She led the team with 51 goals and 59 points in 2023 starting in all 18 games. O'Neill was most recently ranked No. 35 as one of Insider Lacrosse's Top 50 Women's Players for 2024. This is the second consecutive season O'Neill has been named team captain.
Gilmore, a senior attacker, scored 27 goals and scooped 15 ground balls in 2023. She was named to second team All-Big Ten and selected as an USA Lacrosse All-American Honorable Mention.
Urgo enters her graduate season after starting all 18 games last season. She registered 20 ground balls and 17 caused turnovers.
Penn State will open their season at Bucknell on Feb. 13 at 4 p.m.
