UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Penn State women’s lacrosse looks to keep the momentum rolling in Big Ten play when the team hosts Ohio State in a Sunday matinee.
First draw between Penn State and the Buckeyes is set for 12 p.m. (ET) at Panzer Stadium on Sunday, April 6.
Game Info
Who: Penn State vs. RV Ohio State
What: Youth Lacrosse Day/Alumni Day
Where: University Park, Pa. – Panzer Stadium
When: Sunday, April 6 at 12 p.m. (ET)
Nittany Lions vs. Ohio State
Penn State boasts a 23-10 lead in the all-time series against the Buckeyes, including a 12-2 mark in University Park.
Despite PSU’s lead in the all-time series, Ohio State has won four of the last six meetings. In a series that dates back to 1997, half of Ohio States wins have come from 2016 to now.
The Nittany Lions faced off against Ohio State twice in the 2024 season, dropping a tightly contested 9-8 regular season match before rematching in the first round of the Big Ten tournament. Penn State took the win, 15-13, to advance to the semi-finals.
Scouting the Buckeyes
Rutgers enters the weekend with an 8-3 overall record, but only a 1-3 conference mark. The Buckeyes opened the 2025 season with an upset win over No. 15 Denver and held ACC foe Louisville to just six goals to break into the IWLCA Poll.
Ohio State opened the season on an 8-0 run before dropping a 9-8 decision to No. 21 ranked Southern California. The Buckeyes have struggled to right the ship since, dropping games to Michigan and Rutgers, dropping out of the top 25 but still receiving votes.
The Buckeye’s defense is one of the stingiest in the country, allowing just 7.82 goals per game and preventing double-digit scoring in nine of 11 contests. That mark ranks second in the Big Ten in fourth in the country. In the same vein, Ohio state’s team save percentage of .527 ranks fifth in the country.
Ohio State survives the ride better than any team in the Big Ten, successfully clearing the ball 94.4 percent of the time. The percentage ranks fourth best in Division I.
Last Time Out
Penn State women’s lacrosse scored six of its twelve goals in spans of less than 60 seconds as the Nittany Lions downed visiting Rutgers in the pouring rain on Thursday evening at Panzer Stadium.
Lauren Saltz led all scorers with five points on five goals in the contest. She also scooped four ground balls and won five draw controls. Erika Ho and Kelly MacKinney followed for the home team, each posting four points on two goals and two assists. Ho won a game-high seven draw controls while causing a turnover and scooping a ground ball. MacKinney vacuumed up two ground balls. Brooke Hoss, Elise Smigiel, and Brooke Long each also tallied a goal in the game.
Defensively, Lilly Spilker had a career-day with five caused turnovers and two ground balls, while surrendering no turnovers of her own. Sydney Manning made nine stops for a .474 save percentage.
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, Maggie 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 seven points away from 25 on her career.
- Emma Kelly is seven goals away from 50 in her career.
- Ellie Hollin surpassed 100 career ground balls in the win at Michigan.
- Kelly MacKinney is two goals away from 25 on her career. She surpassed 75 points in the game against Rutgers.
- Sydney Manning is 18 saves away from 200 in her career.
Up Next
Women’s lacrosse finishes out the home campaign with a senior day celebration against No. 18 Southern California on Sunday, April 13. First draw between the Nittany Lions and the Trojans is set for 1 p.m. at Panzer Stadium.