PISCATAWAY, N.J. – The No. 19 Penn State Nittany Lions (12-5, 4-4 Big Ten) utilized a six-goal scoring run in the middle of an eight-goal third quarter to take down the No. 22 Rutgers Scarlet Knights (10-7, 4-4 Big Ten) on Saturday afternoon at SHI Stadium, 18-15.
Offensively, Erika Ho and Delaney Radin led the way with a pair of milestones against the Scarlet Knights. Ho, on Penn State’s first goal of the contest, secured her 100th career point and had one of the best offensive games of her career. The senior recorded a career-high six goals and tied her career-mark in points with seven on the afternoon. Radin, with her four assists, set the new Penn State single-season assists record with 53. The record was originally set by Megan Smith in 1990 at 51 in 18 games.
A trio of Nittany Lions recorded hat tricks during the regular season finale. Kelly MacKinney and Payton Wainman continued their scoring ways with a combined six goals on 55% shooting. Rocquette Allen added to her already stellar freshman campaign with a five-point performance off three goals and two assists while shooting 60% on the afternoon. Anna Salerno recorded a pair of goals with an assist while Maddie Greco also added a helper.
Defensively, Lilly Spilker and Susannah O’Connell, in her New Jersey homecoming, each picked up four ground balls in the win, a career-high for O’Connell. Sydney Manning registered 11 saves on 38 shots faced while the trio of Spilker, Maggie Driver and Emma Kelly each caused a turnover. Kelly and Driver also combined for 14 of Penn State’s 18 draw controls in the win.
KEY PERFORMANCES
- Erika Ho – six goals, one assist, seven points
- Sydney Manning – 11 saves
- Delaney Radin – one goal, four assists, five points
- Lilly Spilker – four ground balls, one caused turnover
- Rocquette Allen – three goals, two assists, five points
- Susannah O’Connell – four ground balls
- Payton Wainman – three goals
FIRST QUARTER | PSU 5 – RUTGERS 4
After a prolonged fight for the opening draw, the Scarlet Knights were able to secure it, but a strong defensive effort by the Nittany Lions didn’t allow the goal on the opening possession. Despite the impressive outing by the Penn State defense, Rutgers grabbed it back after a turnover on the ensuing clear and were able to score the opening goal. Emma Kelly was able to secure the next draw control and Ho was able to cash in off a beautiful pass from Radin. Less than 30 seconds later, after a caused turnover by Kelly, Allen netted back-to-back goals for the Nittany Lions. The Scarlet Knights converted on a woman-up opportunity, but Ho answered back with her second goal of the afternoon. Rutgers answered back with consecutive goals before MacKinney tied things up with a free position goal. After a stop by the defense, Wainman netted a goal to close out the opening frame.
SECOND QUARTER | PSU 8 – RUTGERS 7
The Scarlet Knights held possession at the end of the first quarter and utilized a free position goal to open the quarter. Manning recorded a save on the next Rutgers offensive possession but the Nittany Lions could not capitalize on the opportunity after a long offensive possession. The Penn State defense and Manning would step up and hold the Scarlet Knights scoreless with a trio of saves. Radin was able to break the ice for Penn State and weave through the Rutgers defense to score her 95th point of her career. The Scarlet Knights were able to answer quickly and threatened again quickly, but Manning was able to register another save. After a green card wiped out a Rutgers goal, Ho was able to take advantage of the woman-up opportunity for her hat trick with Allen tallying the assist. Wainman, less than a minute later, scored her second of the afternoon to push the Penn State lead to two. Rutgers scored to end of the half.
THIRD QUARTER | PSU 16 – RUTGERS 12
The offense exploded in the third quarter, but started out slowly. Both teams forced a turnover to start the second half of competition, but the Scarlet Knights were able to strike first. Wainman was able to answer after a Driver draw control with Radin on the assist. Rutgers answered back to keep the back-and-forth contest close, but Ho took advantage of the woman-up opportunity for her fourth goal of the contest. The Nittany Lions then began a scoring spree off the back of Ho. Allen, with Radin on the assist, recorded a second straight woman-up goal for Penn State. Ho then used a Rutgers foul to score her fifth goal of the day from the eight meter. In less than 30 seconds, Kelly passed the ball to Greco who then dished it out to Salerno for her first goal of the day. In another 30 seconds, Ho scored her career-high sixth goal for a trio of Penn State goals in less than a minute. Allen secured her hat trick to give the Nittany Lions six-straight goals in the middle of the third frame. The Scarlet Knights stopped the bleeding with a score of their own, but Salerno secured her second of the afternoon to answer right back. Rutgers were able to score the last two goals of the frame, but Penn State held possession leading into the final stanza.
FOURTH QUARTER | PSU 18 – RUTGERS 15
MacKinney wasted no time early in the quarter, recording her second goal of the afternoon with Radin being credited for the assist. Penn State won the next draw control, held the ball to keep the clock ticking, but were unable to convert on an eight-meter. The Nittany Lions defense held strong and the offense, again, held onto the ball to keep the clock moving that led to the shot clock running out. Rutgers was able to score next and won the ensuing draw but turned it over right away. On a woman-up opportunity after the clear, MacKinney secured a hat trick with Allen grabbing the assist. The Scarlet Knights answered back with a pair of goals, but it was not enough as the Nittany Lions ended the regular season in the win column.
POSTGAME NOTES
- Radin became only the second Penn State player to record 50 assists in a single season after dishing out the helper on Ho’s first goal. She was able to tie Megan Smith’s 1990 record at 51 early into the second half before breaking it during Penn State’s six-goal run in the middle of the third quarter. Radin is one point away from 80 on the season and two points from the century mark in her career.
- MacKinney notched her 70th career goal and passed 160 career points, 44 goals and 75 points have come from the 2026 campaign alone.
- Ho was able to secure her 100th career point after scoring the first Penn State goal of the afternoon. She surpassed 80 career goals late in the second frame.
- Allen tallied her 40th career goal during Penn State’s third quarter run and 60th career point from her assist to Ho late in the second quarter.
- Wainman registered her 80th career point by scoring her first goal of the afternoon.
UP NEXT
The Nittany Lions will head to Ann Arbor, Mich. for the Big Ten Tournament starting on Wednesday, April 23rd. Opponents and times will be announced on Penn State and Big Ten social media channels when seeds are finalized.