UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The second of two straight home matches is on deck for Penn State women’s lacrosse when the team hosts Cornell on Saturday, March 1.
First draw between Penn State and the Big Red is set for 1 p.m. (ET) at Panzer Stadium.
Game Info
Who: Penn State vs. Cornell
What: Panzer Party
Where: University Park, Pa. – Panzer Stadium
When: Saturday, March 1 at 1 p.m. (ET)
Free Admission
Parking
Spectators can park in the Jordan East or Stadium West lots. Fans can pay for parking using the Honk app. QR codes for the download link can be found at the entrance to each lot.
Nittany Lions vs. Cornell
Penn State owns a 15-3 all-time advantage over Cornell, winning the last seven consecutive meetings dating back to 2017. Cornell’s last win over Penn State came in the 2016 season, when the Big Red took a 10-7 victory home from University Park.
While Penn State boasts a 78-53 goal differential in the last five meetings, the last two contests were decided by a combined four goals.
Scouting the Big Red
Cornell arrives in State College this weekend with a 3-1 record, including a dominant 24-7 win over Niagara on Tuesday. Cornell’s lone loss on the season came at the hands of then-No. 4 Syracuse in a 18-10 final score in the JMA Wireless Dome.
The game against Niagara saw Cornell rewrite the team’s record book with a new team-best goals (24), assists (17), and points (41).
In its first four games of the season, the Cornell offense has had no trouble finding the back of the net, averaging 15.75 goals per game. The defense has been just as strong, holding opponents to 9.75 goals per game across the season, and allowing just 7.00 goals per game in wins.
Last Time Out
Penn State dropped a 14-9 decision to in-state foe Drexel on Wednesday evening. The Nittany Lions outscored the Dragons 5-1 in the final quarter, but Drexel’s eight first half goals helped power the visiting team to victory.
Despite the result, junior attacker Erika Ho had a career day, boasting five goals and six points, alongside 14 draw controls. All-three were career-best tallies, and the 14 draw controls were tie for most by a Nittany Lion in a since Kayla Abernathy hit that mark in the 2024 NCAA Tournament against James Madison.
Preseason Nods
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
- Delaney Radin is eight points away from 25 on her career.
- Erika Ho is two points away from 25 on her career. She is 13 draw controls away from 50 this season.
- Ellie Hollin is seven caused turnovers away from 75 on her career.
- Kelly MacKinney is 12 assists away from 50 in her career.
- Sydney Manning is 22 saves away from 150 in her career.
Up Next
The Nittany Lions are back on the road next weekend for a mid-week matchup at Princeton. First draw between the Tigers and PSU is set for 5:30 at Sherrerd Field at Class of 1952 Stadium.