UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Penn State women's lacrosse will play their first Big Ten conference game of the 2024 season at No. 22 Rutgers Saturday, March 9 at 1 p.m.
Game Info
Who: Penn State vs (22) Rutgers
Where: Piscataway, N.J. – SHI Stadium
When: Saturday, March 9 at 1 p.m.
Free Admission
Live Stream | Live Stats
Last Time Out
The Nittany Lions are on a four-game losing streak, most recently dropping a road match to No. 8 Loyola, 14-10. In the loss, Kristin O'Neill led the team offensively with four goals and two assists. Gretchen Gilmore also had four goals on Saturday.
With O'Neill's four goals, she hit 138 career goals with ranks 13th all-time in program history.
Nittany Lions vs. Scarlet Knights
Penn State leads the all-time history, 8-2. The most recent Nittany Lion victory came last March in a 9-7 decision in Nashville. O'Neill scored five goals in the win. The team caused 16 Rutgers turnovers and outshot the Scarlet Knights 29-20.
The last time the Nittany Lions played the Scarlet Knights in New Jersey, the home team came away with a 18-13 victory in 2022.
Scouting the Scarlet Knights
Rutgers is 5-1 under the direction of fifth year head coach Melissa Lehman. The Scarlet Knights suffered their first loss of the season against No. 21 Princeton, 13-10. Most recently the team defeated Oregon in a 15-7 win.
Graduate student Cassidy Spillis leads the Scarlet Knights offensively with 29 points coming from 26 goals and three assists on the season. She also has 37 draws. Spillis has been named Big Ten Player of the Week four weeks in a row.
In net for Rutgers is senior Sophia Cardello. Cardello has allowed 48 goals this season and made 55 saves.
Preseason Nods
Penn State was ranked No. 14 in the USA Lacrosse preseason poll and No. 18 in the IWLCA preseason poll. In the Big Ten, the Nittany Lions were picked to finish seventh.
Senior captain O'Neill was named a USA Lacrosse Preseason All-American third team and was an Inside Lacrosse Returning Player to Watch. She was also named a Big Ten Player to Watch along with junior Ellie Hollin and senior Sammy Dupcak.
Most recently O'Neill was named to the prestigious Tawaaraton Watch List for the third consecutive season.
Run it Back
The Nittany Lions' return 29-of-33 players from their 2023 roster, including 12 players who appeared in every game last season. The 39-player roster features nine freshmen, eight sophomores, eight juniors, nine seniors and five graduate students.
Fresh Faces
Penn State adds nine freshmen to the 2024 roster: Abby Baker, Ryan St. Pierre, Lainey Straub, Cailin Hetrick, Kelly MacKinney, Sydney Manning, Evelyn Scallion, Minka Martinez and Lilly Spilker.
On the Lookout
>> O'Neill is 30 points away from 200 in her career. She is also 12 goals away from 150 in her career.
>> Gilmore is 18 points away from 100 in her career.
>> Kayla Abernathy is 10 points away from 50 in her career. She is also 30 draws away from 200 in her career.
Up Next
Penn State will continue their road trip against Lehigh Tuesday, March 12 at 3 p.m.
