COLUMBUS, Ohio – Stellar performances from upperclassmen helped lead the No. 20 Penn State Nittany Lions (10-3, 2-2 Big Ten) over the No. 25 Ohio State Buckeyes (7-6, 2-4 Big Ten), 18-9, at the Ohio State Lacrosse Stadium on Sunday afternoon in Columbus, Ohio.
Kelly MacKinney exploded on offense with a career-high seven goals and two assists on the afternoon. The last time a Penn State player netted seven goals was when Gretchen Gilmore did so against James Madison in the NCAA Tournament in 2024. Her seven goals are tied for the third-most by any Big Ten player this season and her nine points tied Delaney Radin for the most by any Nittany Lion this season and tied for the fifth-most by any Big Ten player this year.
Radin had another spectacular outing passing the ball, dishing out five assists and scoring a pair of goals as well. Radin secured her 40th assist of the season off Wainman’s first goal of the second quarter. She is the first Penn State player since Steph Lazo in 2017 to record at least 40 assists in a single-season. This was Radin’s third five-plus assist effort of the season and of her career. Her five assists are tied for the seventh-best by any Big Ten player in a single-game this season to go along with her conference leading eight assist effort and her six assist game that is tied for second-most assists in a single-game this season by a Big Ten player.
Other big contributors on the offensive end were seniors Erika Ho and Payton Wainman with freshman Rocquette Allen. Ho secured her second hat trick of the season, her first since February while shooting at a 60% mark. Wainman extended her team lead in goals to 34 after her hat trick while also shooting an astounding 100%. Allen, the reigning Big Ten Freshman of the Week, notched a pair of goals and dished out four assists, a new career-high, for six points, tying her career-high.
Sydney Manning had an excellent night in the cage with 12 saves and a save percentage of 57.1%. Manning has registered double-digit saves for the fifth time this season and her 12 saves were her second-most in the 2026 campaign so far. Lilly Spilker shined on defense with five ground balls and three caused turnovers alongside Anna Salerno and Susannah O’Connell who each caused a pair of turnovers. Manning, Julia Basciano and Cailin Hetrick joined Spilker with multiple ground balls picked up.
KEY PERFORMANCES
- Kelly MacKinney – seven goals, two assists, nine points
- Delaney Radin – two goals, five assists, seven points
- Sydney Manning – 12 saves, 57.1% save percentage, two ground balls
- Rocquette Allen – two goals, four assists, six points
- Lilly Spilker – five ground balls, three caused turnovers
- Payton Wainman – three goals, three points
- Erika Ho – three goals, three points
FIRST QUARTER | PSU 6 – OSU 4
Ohio State secured the opening possession, but Julia Basciano forced the turnover and a pair of quick passes led to Salerno scoring the first Penn State goal of the afternoon. The Buckeyes quickly responded, but the Nittany Lions, courtesy of Spilker, caused another turnover on the ensuing possession that led to a Wainman goal with Radin on the assist. Penn State went back to work right away with Salerno securing the draw and MacKinney scoring from the eight-meter on a long offensive possession headed into the media timeout. Less than a minute later, Allen netted her first goal of the afternoon with a beautiful dodge and low shot. The Blue and White defense held the Ohio State offense scoreless again in the next possession and Ho secured a woman-up goal to push the Penn State run to four straight goals that forced a Buckeye timeout. Ohio State was able to notch back-to-back goals, but a spectacular save from Manning led to a quick clear-to-goal sequence cashed in by Radin with Allen on the assist. The Buckeyes were able to score to close out the quarter.
SECOND QUARTER | PSU 11 – OSU 6
Manning saved the first Ohio State shot to open the second stanza and Radin was able to get her second goal of the afternoon on the other end with MacKinney registering the assist. The Buckeyes were able to answer back with a goal from the eight-meter before a defensive battle ensued, keeping just over a third of the quarter scoreless between the two Big Ten foes with Manning securing three saves in the process. Ho, on a woman-up situation, was able to break through with a rocket to the back of the cage with Radin on the assist. After a stop by the Blue and White defense, Wainman was able to net her second goal of the afternoon and Radin tallied another assist, her 40th of the season. Manning secured another save and Wainman scored consecutive goals for the first half hat trick with MacKinney registering the helper. Staying hot, Manning recorded a pair of saves to keep Penn State rolling as MacKinney took one in herself for her second goal of the day with help from Allen. Ohio State broke through the Penn State defenses in the last seconds of the quarter to close out the half.
THIRD QUARTER | PSU 15 – OSU 7
Allen got the scoring started quickly for the Nittany Lions with her 32nd goal of the season from just outside the crease. An O’Connell caused turnover led to MacKinney securing her hat trick with Radin dishing out the assist. In an extremely similar sequence, Spilker caused the Ohio State turnover before MacKinney scored off a behind the back shovel shot with Radin grabbing her fifth assist of the afternoon. The Buckeyes stopped the Penn State scoring run at three and five scoreless minutes ensued with neither defense letting up. MacKinney broke through with the last goal of the stanza accompanied by Allen grabbing her third assist of the afternoon.
FOURTH QUARTER | PSU 18 – OSU 9
Strong defenses continued from late into the third quarter to midway through the fourth quarter, but Ho was able to end the drought with a woman-up goal for her second hat trick of the season. MacKinney netted back-to-back goals for her sixth and seventh of the game, both single-game-highs by any Penn State player this season. The Buckeyes scored twice late in the game, but it was not enough as the Nittany Lions closed out Ohio State for the team’s 10th win of the season.
POSTGAME NOTES
- MacKinney recorded a new-career high seven goals with her career-setting fifth goal coming late in the third quarter. The last time a Penn State player netted seven goals was when Gretchen Gilmore did so against James Madison in the NCAA Tournament in 2024. Her seven goals are tied with Madison Taylor, Ava Angello and Lauren LaPointe for the third-most by any Big Ten player this season. Her nine points are tied with Radin for the most by any Nittany Lion this season and is tied for the fifth-most by any Big Ten player this year.
- Radin secured her 40th assist of the season off Wainman’s first goal of the second quarter. She is the first Penn State player since Steph Lazo in 2017 to record at least 40 assists in a single-season. This was Radin’s third five-plus assist effort of the season and of her career. Her five assists are tied for the seventh-best by any Big Ten player in a single-game this season and she already has the most and is tied for the second-most assists in a single-game this season by a Big Ten player.
- Manning has registered double-digit saves for the fifth time this season and her 12 saves were her second-most in the 2026 campaign so far.
- Allen’s four assists are a new career-high and she tied her career-high in points for the fourth time this season with six.
- Spilker’s five ground balls and three caused turnovers are both season-highs with her five ground balls being a new career-high.
UP NEXT
Penn State will begin three-game homestand starting on Thursday, April 9th at 8 p.m. against the Oregon Ducks on the Big Ten Network. The Nittany Lions will host Northwestern on Sunday, April 12th with first draw slated at 11 a.m. before welcoming the Johns Hopkins Blue Jays on Thursday, April 16th for the team’s White Out game at 6 p.m., also on the Big Ten Network.