UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Penn State women's lacrosse travels to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, this weekend for the team’s first road test of the 2025 season. The Nittany Lions will take on Saint Joseph’s at Sean Sweeney Field on Saturday, February 15.
First draw between No. 22-ranked Penn State and the Hawks is set for 1 p.m. (ET).
Game Info
Who: (22) Penn State at Saint Joseph’s
What: First Road Contest of the 2025 Campaign
Where: Philadelphia, Pa. – Sean Sweeney Field
When: Saturday, February 15 at 1 p.m. (ET)
Nittany Lions vs. Saint Joseph’s
The Nittany Lions and the Hawks have only faced off once in both programs history. The meeting, which came during the 2022 season, saw a 17-8 PSU victory in Holuba Hall. Lauren Saltz net her second-collegiate goal in the game and first in University Park while Ellie Hollin scooped two ground balls. Goalkeeper Ashley Bowan tallied three saves and allowed just one goal, earning her the win in a contest where she split time. Kate Dougherty, Ally Lipkin, and Molly O’Keefe, also appeared in the game.
Scouting the Hawks
Saint Joseph’s enters the game 0-2 after dropping games to No. 18 Navy and Villanova.
The Hawks posted an 11-7 record in 2024 with wins over ranked foes No. 25 UConn and No. 17 Navy. SJU was one goal shy of making the Atlantic 10 Championship, falling to No. 1-seed Massachusetts in the semifinals, 10-9.
Saint Joseph’s was voted to finished third in the 2025 Atlantic 10 Women’s Lacrosse Preseason Poll. Goalkeeper Jordan Concordia and attacker Maddie Yoder were named to the preseason all-conference team. Concordia entered the season as the reigning A10 Goalkeeper of the Year and was the first-ever Hawk to earn recognition on the Tewaaraton Watch List. She earned the honor again this season.
Last Time Out
The Nittany Lions scored the first three goals of the game against Bucknell and never looked back as the team earned a 16-4 win in Holuba Hall. Kelly MacKinney again led the Nittany Lions in points, posting a career-high seven on six assists and a goal. Elise Smigiel and Ally Lipkin both recorded hat-tricks in the contest to lead all goal scorers.
Penn State maintained a running clock against the Bison for more than half the game after taking a 10-goal lead with 3:18 remaining in the second quarter.
Preseason Nods
Penn State enters the 2025 season ranked No. 19 in the USA Lacrosse preseason poll and KANE Inside Lacrosse Media Poll. In the Big Ten preseason poll, the Nittany Lions were picked to finish fifth.
Senior captain Ellie Hollin has been raking in the preseason recognitions. The defender has been named a consensus preseason first-team All-American and earned a spot on the Tewaaraton watch list.
Hollin also earned nod from the conference offices, being named a Big Ten Player to Watch. She joined sophomores Sydney Manning and Kelly MacKinney on the list.
Getting Younger
Where the Nittany Lions returned 29-of-33 players from 2023 to 2024 roster, the 2025 roster boasts 24 sophomores and freshmen by class eligibility.
Manning and MacKinney highlight the group after their breakout seasons in 2024.
MacKinney returns as the fourth-leading scorer from last year. The then-freshmen posted 39 points on 14 goals and 25 assists. The attacker ranked in top ten in the conference and led the team with her assist total and assist per game mark (1.32).
Manning was named the 2024 Big Ten Freshman of the Year last season. The then-freshman has started 16 games in her rookie campaign, making 100 saves. She also scooped up 24 ground balls. The netminder made 15 save in the upset victories over No. 1 Northwestern and No. 4 Maryland in 2024.
Fresh Faces
Penn State adds 12 freshmen to the 2024 roster: Dakota Cristo, Arden Jansen, Alexa Kairis, Brooke Lattanzi, Brooke Long, Allie Meyer, Meggie Rezza, Porter Rhoades, Ava Stummer, Victoria Tomonto, Grace Tullock, and Ellie Wisch.
In addition to the rookies, Penn State added transfers Lily Strohecker (Navy) and Delaney Radin (Florida).
On the Lookout
- Kelly MacKinney is nine goals away from 25 on her career.
- Sydney Manning two saves away from 125 on her career.
- Ellie Hollin is one ground ball away from 75 on her career.
- Erika Ho is three draw controls away from 25 on her career.
Up Next
The Nittany Lions stay on the road for a Tuesday battle at Pittsburgh on Tuesday, February 18 at Highmark Stadium. Draw is set for 4 p.m. on ACCNX.