Live Stats • B1G+ • Game Notes • Feb. 18th, 5 p.m. • University Park, Pa. at Holuba Hall
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The No. 21 Penn State Nittany Lions (3-0) are set to host the team’s first ranked match up of the year against the newly ranked No. 20 Pittsburgh Panthers (2-0) on Wednesday, February 17 at 5 p.m. in Holuba Hall. The Nittany Lions will also be utilizing Wednesday’s game as the team’s Morgan’s Message game.
LAST TIME OUT
The offense, led by freshman Rocquette Allen and junior captain Kelly MacKinney, shined in the dominating win over Bucknell, 21-9. Penn State’s 21 goal performance was its first 20 goal game since February 13, 2024, also a win over Bucknell, 22-8. The Colorado native, Allen, scored five times and added an assist after another five-goal performance from her earlier in the week against UMass. MacKinney, the junior captain, tied Allen for the team-high in points with six on the afternoon off a goal and five assists. The Bridgewater Raritan product, on her fourth point of the game, surpassed 100 career points to put her in rarified air. Maddie Greco, a senior midfielder, had her best career game statistically, scoring her first goal of the season and her first career hat trick while also picking up a ground ball.
On defense, Cailin Hetrick and Susannah O’Connell led the way. Hetrick secured four ground balls and a pair of caused turnovers while the freshman, O’Connell, picked up a ground ball, won a draw control and caused three turnovers. In the draw circle for Penn State was senior Emma Kelly, who had a career-game in the circle with 15 draw control wins and is tied for the seventh-most in a game so far this season. While Kelly had the most draw control wins, eight Nittany Lions had a draw control with the unit as a whole securing 22 of 32 for 68.7% of all draws in the game.
MORGAN’S MESSAGE
Morgan’s Message describes itself as “an organization that strives to eliminate the stigma surrounding mental health within the student-athlete community and equalize the treatment of physical and mental health in athletics. The organization aims to expand the dialogue on mental health by normalizing conversations, empowering those who suffer in silence, and supporting those who feel alone.” Fans can find out more about Morgan’s Message on their website.
MILESTONE WATCH
- Erika Ho needs to tally 17 more goals to reach 75 in her career and two points to reach 75 career points. The senior captain also needs 16 draw controls to surpass 150 in her career.
- Maggie Driver is one caused turnovers away from 25 in her career and needs to pick up 11 more ground balls for 50 in her career.
- Payton Wainman needs to score five points to total 50 in the senior’s career.
- Sydney Manning needs five more saves to reach the 250 career saves mark.
OFFENSIVE FLURRY
The Nittany Lions’ offense has been revitalized with the arrival of new Head Coach Kayla Treanor. As of February 16th, Penn State ranks top-10 nationally in assists per game (ninth), points per game (eighth) and scoring offense (10th). The Nittany Lions are also ranked top-two offensively in the Big Ten for free position percentage (first), points per game (second), scoring margin (second), scoring offense (second), shot percentage (second) and shots on goal per game (second).
Allen has been extremely impressive in her second week of collegiate competition. The freshman from Lone Tree, Colorado has back-to-back games with five goals and an assist for 12 total points on the week and 14 on the year after a two goal performance in her collegiate debut. She had a perfect day of shooting against Bucknell, going five-for-five, including one from the eight-meter. In both competitions, her five goals in each were game-highs and tied for the sixth-most goals by any Big Ten player this season, the best by any freshman. Allen is tenth nationally in total goals and third in the Big Ten while also being third in goals per game. Both her and Tewaaraton Watch List member Erika Ho are third in the Big Ten with 60% of their shots reaching the back of the net while Allen is tied with MacKinney for the fifth-most points in the Big Ten and seventh-most points per game in the conference. MacKinney is sixth in Division I, second in the Big Ten, with nine total assists on the season and third in the Big Ten with 14 total points.
TEWAARATON WATCH
The Tewaaraton Foundation announced on February 10 that Ho, the senior attacker, was named to the Women’s Watch List for the 2026 Tewaaraton Award Presented by Stifel. The women’s list includes the top players in college lacrosse and highlights the early contenders for the 2026 Tewaaraton Award.
In her breakout junior season, Ho became one of the nation’s top draw takers and developed into an incredible offensive force. The senior captain won 112 draw controls during the 2025 campaign, becoming the third Nittany Lion to eclipse 100 draw wins. Ho ranked 23rd nationally and fourth in the Big Ten with a 7.00 draws per game on average. The Frankfort, Illinois, native led the Nittany Lions with 46 goals, 56 points, 14 free-position goals, three game-winning goals and had the third highest amount of picked up ground balls with 26 on the year. Outside of the draw circle, Ho ranked inside the top-10 in the Big Ten in goals, goals per game, free-position goals per game, points per game, shots per game and shots on goal per game.
During her first two games of the 2026 campaign, Ho has continued the momentum. The Illinois native has accounted for four goals and four assists to tie for a team-high eight points with 11 draw controls so far in the season. The Lincoln-Way East product also secured new career-highs in the home opener against UMass.
THE TREANOR ERA
On May 21st, Treanor was named the 10th coach in Penn State Women’s Lacrosse history. As the head coach at Syracuse, Treanor compiled a 59-24 record and guided the Orange to four NCAA Tournament appearances, including back-to-back National Semifinal bids in 2023 and 2024. Under her watch, Syracuse played the No. 1 strength of schedule in the country in 2024 and 2025. Among the many accolades received by Syracuse student-athletes under Treanor, Meghan Tyrell was a two-time Tewaaraton Award finalist in 2022 and 2023.
Treanor brought in Abby Rehfuss as her associate head coach after a year-long stint as the offensive coordinator at Colgate where she also helmed the draw unit. Under her leadership, the Raiders were one of the best teams in the conference at taking care of the ball. The team turned the ball over less than 14 per game, a mark that ranked 23rd nationally. Her offensive unit saw five student-athletes with 30 or more points, including two who eclipsed the 50-point mark. She has worked with Treanor before as the offensive coordinator of the Orange in 2024.
Treanor also brought in Amy Moreau and Kerrigan Miller as assistant coaches and Jay Dyer as the assistant director of athletic performance. Katie Haus continues her stint as director of operations under Treanor.
SCOUTING THE OPPONENT
The Pittsburgh Panthers are entering Wednesday’s contest fresh off an upset over then-No. 13 Duke, 17-10. The win was Pitt’s second ranked win in program history and it’s highest and allowed the team to enter the national rankings for the first time in Pitt Lacrosse history. The Panthers offense is led by Avery Moon with a team-high 10 points off six goals and four assists with Kaitlyn Giandonato not far behind with five goals and four assists on the young season. Paige Telatovich is the Panthers’ goal leader with seven netted this year. Megan Sheridan and Giandonato both lead Pitt with five caused turnovers and Lilly Comello set the ground ball pace with five. Molly Cain is the primary goalkeeper for the Panthers, spending all 120 minutes guarding the cage. She has saved 18 goals and allowed 20 on 54 shots faced for a save rate of 47.4%. Last season, Pitt won the program’s first ever game over Penn State, 12-10. The Panthers are helmed by Head Coach Emily Boissonneault and assisted by Jaclen Moxley, Jen Porretto and Kelly Layton alongside director of lacrosse operations Riley Newell.
Visit GoPSUSports.com for more information on Penn State women's lacrosse. Fans can keep up to date with the Nittany Lion women's lacrosse team on Facebook at /pennstatewomenslacrosse as well as Twitter and Instagram @PennStateWLAX.