UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The Penn State women's lacrosse team had four players named as All-Big Ten selections on Tuesday. Sophomore midfielder Olivia Dirks was selected First Team All-Big Ten, while graduate student attacker Maria Auth, senior defender Sammy Helgeson and freshman midfielder Kristin O'Neill were each tabbed Second Team All-Big Ten. Dirks was one of four unanimous All-Big Ten selections. Penn State now has 26 All-Big Ten selections since joining the conference in 2015.
The Nittany Lions, led by Head Coach Missy Doherty, begins Big Ten Tournament play on Thursday against Johns Hopkins. First draw is scheduled for 8 p.m. on Big Ten Network. Penn State is ranked 20th in the IWLCA Poll.
Penn State is hosting the Big Ten Tournament. It will feature three quarterfinal games on Thursday, April 29, two semifinal games on Friday, April 30, and the Big Ten Championship game on Sunday, May 2.
Follow along with the team on our social media pages on Facebook (PennStateWomensLacrosse) and Twitter/Instagram (@pennstatewlax).
Olivia Dirks, Midfield, So. – First Team
Dirks collected her first career All-Big Ten honor and was a unanimous first team choice. She paces the Nittany Lions with 71 draw controls and 17 caused turnovers to go with 28 goals and 11 assists. The sophomore has nine multi-point games and four games with five or more points. Dirks ranks eighth in the Big Ten in points (39) and ninth in goals (28). She also sits fifth in caused turnovers per game (1.4), while holding 24th in the country and second in the Big Ten in draw controls per game (5.9). She has won 10 or more draw controls in four games this season. Dirks was twice named Big Ten Midfielder of the Week and earned IWLCA and Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week honors on February 23. She was tabbed as a Midseason All-America Third Team selection by Inside Lacrosse. Dirks is majoring in communications.
Maria Auth, Attack, Gr. – Second Team
Auth earned her second career All-Big Ten honor. She was also selected in 2019. Auth leads the Nittany Lions with 33 goals and 43 points this season. She has 11 multi-point games and eight multi-goal games this season. She ranks fourth in the Big Ten in points and fifth in goals, while sitting fourth in free-position goals per game (0.75). Auth tallied a career-high seven goals at Rutgers on April 7 and eight points, including five goals, against Michigan on March 21. The Maryland native currently has 223 career points, sitting seventh all-time at Penn State, with 159 goals (sixth all-time) and 64 assists (11th all-time). Auth graduated in May 2020 with a bachelor's degree in biobehavioral health. She is currently pursuing a master's degree in clinical rehabilitation and mental health counseling. Auth is a three-time Academic All-Big Ten selection
Kristin O'Neill, Midfield, Fr.
O'Neill picked up her first career All-Big Ten accolade. She has made a major impact in her first season in Happy Valley. The Maryland native has tallied 29 goals, eight assists, 17 ground balls, six draw controls and 13 caused turnovers. O'Neill has 10 multi-goal games this season. She was selected Big Ten Freshman of the Week five times out of the eight weeks it was awarded. Among Division I freshmen, O'Neill is tied third in goals (29) and ranks fifth in goals per game (2.42). She's also tied seventh among rookie in points (37) and sits sixth in points per game (3.08). O'Neill is undecided on a major.
Sammy Helgeson, Defense, Sr.
Helgeson earned her first career All-Big Ten recognition. The senior has brought significant energy and leadership to the defense all season. She has made 10 starts this year, collecting 12 ground balls, one draw control and eight caused turnovers. Helgeson picked up three ground balls in each game against Maryland (4/11) and Rutgers (4/15) and two against Johns Hopkins (4/18). She forced two turnovers in each contest against Michigan (3/19) and Maryland (4/11). A two-time Academic All-Big Ten selection and 2020 Big Ten Distinguished Scholar, Helgeson is majoring in advertising/public relations.
