UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Penn State looks to start just its second win streak of the season after posting a dominant 19-10 victory over Oregon last weekend.
First draw between Penn State and the Wolverines is set for 3 p.m. (ET) at U-M Lacrosse Stadium on Sunday, March 30.
Game Info
Who: Penn State at No. 10 Michigan
What: Chasing a Big Ten Win Streak
Where: Ann Arbor, Mich. – UM Lacrosse Stadium
When: Sunday, March 30 at 3 p.m. (ET)
Nittany Lions vs. Michigan
Penn State and Michigan have met just 12 times, with the Wolverines holding a 7-5 advantage in the series, which dates back to 2014.
The Wolverines have won seven of the last eight meetings, including the last four consecutively. The Nittany Lion’s lone win in that stretch came in a 13-12 overtime thiller in the second matchup of the COVID-adjust 2021 season.
Scouting the Wolverines
Michigan enters the weekend with a 7-3 overall record, including a 2-1 conference mark with wins over No. 21 Ohio State and No. 21 Southern California. The Wolverines one Big Ten loss came at the hands of No. 5 Maryland ina tight 14-12 battle. In addition to the ranked conference wins, Michigan also posted a decisive 15-8 victory over No. 12 Penn.
Michigan boasts some of the countries top goaltending and a stout defense. The Maize and Blue allow just 8.5 goals per game, a mark that ranks seventh nationally. Equally stingy netminding from Erin O’Grady helps the cause, as her 54.8 save percentage ranks third best in the country.
O’Grady’s goals-against average of 8.52 ranks seventh in Division I women’s lacrosse.
Last Time Out
Oregon scored the first three goals in the Sunday afternoon contest, but a crucial timeout in the first quarter by Penn State women’s lacrosse head coach Missy Doherty flipped the script, as the Nittany Lions went on to outscore the Ducks by 12 and secure the team’s first Big Ten win of the season, 19-10.
Brooke Hoss led the scoring for the Nittany Lions, putting away a career-high five goals in the contest. Kelly MacKinney matched her point tally with a goal and four assists. Erika Ho matched her career-high draw controls with 14, the second-most wins by a Nittany Lion since at least 2012.
Preseason Nods
In the Big Ten preseason poll, the Nittany Lions were picked to finish fifth.
Senior Ellie Hollin raked in the preseason recognitions. She 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
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Delaney Radin is eight points away from 25 on her career.
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Ellie Hollin eclipsed 75 caused turnovers in her career in the matchup at Oregon. She needs 23 more to reach 100.
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Kelly MacKinney reached 50 career assists in the matchup at Oregon.
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Sydney Manning is 38 saves away from 200 in her career.
Up Next
The Nittany Lions return home next week for the first game at Panzer Stadium in 21 days with a Thursday evening contest against Rutgers. First draw on April 3 is scheduled for 7 p.m. on the Big Ten Network.