UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Penn State women’s lacrosse alumni Marsha Florio and Joanne Connelly were both inducted to the Eastern Pennsylvania Chapter of the USA Lacrosse Hall of Fame this past week, highlighting their dominant collegiate careers in a ceremony presented by the Philadelphia Lacrosse Association. They both earned recognition as a “Truly Great Players”.
Marsha Florio, a four-time All-American for the Blue and White, graduated as the NCAA’s first career goal scoring leader. To date, she still holds the program record for goals in a season (79) and a career (271), and points in a season (109) and a career (380). Florio also still holds the NCAA Division I record for points in a game (17) in a game where she posted nine goals and eight assists against Princeton in 1985. She also ranks sixth in career goals and 10th in career points.
She played lacrosse for the United States Under-21 team and the US National team for two years. She also played field hockey during her time in Happy Valley, being a three-year starter for the team.
Joanne Connelly, a four-year starter and team co-captain of the 1996 Penn State team, led the program to three NCAA Tournament appearances, including a Final Four run in 1995. Connelly earned All-American honors three times, boasting first-team honors in 1995 and 1996.
Connelly donned the Red, White, and Blue for over a decade. She played on U.S. Touring Teams in 1996, 2000, and 2004. She competed in three World Cups (1997, 2001, 2005), earning two golds and one silver medal. She also earned a selection to the 2005 All-World Team as a top defender.
Connelly’s commitment to the game extended beyond the field, as she took up coaching. She has held assistant roles at Stanford, Penn State, Boston College, and Convent of the Sacred Heart.