UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Penn State women’s lacrosse hosts a top 25 ranked team for the first time since Maryland in the Big Ten opener when No.22 Southern California comes to town on Sunday Afternoon
First draw between Penn State and the Buckeyes is set for 1 p.m. (ET) at Panzer Stadium on Sunday, April 13.
Game Info
Who: Penn State vs. No. 22 USC
What: Senior Day/Pups at Panzer
Where: University Park, Pa. – Panzer Stadium
When: Sunday, April 13 at 1 p.m. (ET)
Nittany Lions vs. Southern California
Penn State and USC have never met in program history. The Trojans program has existed since 2013, while PSU dates back to 1965.
Against teams from the former PAC-12, Penn State has a combined 3-3 record (1-0 against Arizona State, 0-2 against Colorado, 1-0 against Oregon, and 1-1 against Stanford).
Scouting the Trojans
Southern California enters the weekend with a 9-5 overall record, but only a 2-4 conference mark. The Trojans have posted only two wins over ranked opponents, besting No. 21 Colorado and No. 19 Ohio State, the latter of which Penn State beat last weekend in overtime.
While none of USC’s team statistics rank in the top 20 nationally, Isabelle Vitale is one of the country’s top feeders. She ranks tenth in the nation with 39 assists and sits at 15th in assists per game at 2.79. Both marks rank first and second in conference, respectively. Equally as big of a threat as Vitale is Maddie Dora, the Big Ten’s top free position shooter, scoring on 68.8 percent of her shots from the eight-meter. Additionally, Dora ranks ninth in the country in goals, scoring 52 already this season. Penn State’s top scorer, Erika Ho, has 36 goals on the season.
Last Time Out
A golden goal from junior Payton Wainman gave Penn State women’s lacrosse its fourth consecutive conference win when the team downed Ohio State, 12-11, at Panzer Stadium on Sunday afternoon. Penn State improves to 6-7 (4-2 Big Ten) with the victory, while Ohio State falls to 8-4 (1-4 Big Ten).
Emma Kelly and Payton Wainman led the offensive efforts for the Nittany Lions, both recording three goals and one assist. Wainman scooped three ground balls and won one draw control. Erika Ho posted one goal and two assists, in addition to grabbing four ground balls and winning three draw controls. Maggie Golder scooped up three ground balls for the Nittany Lions.
Sydney Manning tallied 12 saves for the Nittany Lions, including a woman-down stuff on an Ohio State free-position shot in the overtime period.
Preseason Nods
In the Big Ten preseason poll, the Nittany Lions were picked to finish fifth.
Senior Ellie Hollin raked in the preseason recognitions. She has been named a consensus preseason first-team All-American and earned a spot on the Tewaaraton watch list.
Hollin also earned nod from the conference offices, being named a Big Ten Player to Watch. She joined sophomores Sydney Manning and Kelly MacKinney on the list.
Getting Younger
Where the Nittany Lions returned 29-of-33 players from 2023 to 2024 roster, the 2025 roster boasts 24 sophomores and freshmen by class eligibility.
Manning and MacKinney highlight the group after their breakout seasons in 2024.
MacKinney returns as the fourth-leading scorer from last year. The then-freshmen posted 39 points on 14 goals and 25 assists. The attacker ranked in top ten in the conference and led the team with her assist total and assist per game mark (1.32).
Manning was named the 2024 Big Ten Freshman of the Year last season. The then-freshman has started 16 games in her rookie campaign, making 100 saves. She also scooped up 24 ground balls. The netminder made 15 save in the upset victories over No. 1 Northwestern and No. 4 Maryland in 2024.
Fresh Faces
Penn State adds 12 freshmen to the 2024 roster: Dakota Cristo, Arden Jansen, Alexa Kairis, Brooke Lattanzi, Brooke Long, Allie Meyer, Maggie Rezza, Porter Rhoades, Ava Stummer, Victoria Tomonto, Grace Tullock, and Ellie Wisch.
In addition to the rookies, Penn State added transfers Lily Strohecker (Navy) and Delaney Radin (Florida).
On the Lookout
- Delaney Radin is seven points away from 25 on her career.
- Emma Kelly is four goals away from 50 in her career.
- Ellie Hollin is 21 caused turnovers away from 100 in her career.
- Kelly MacKinney is one goals away from 25 on her career. She surpassed 75 points in the game against Rutgers.
- Sydney Manning is four saves away from 200 in her career.
Up Next
Women’s lacrosse finishes out regular season on the road when the team takes on No. 5 Johns Hopkins on Wednesday, April 16. First draw between the Nittany Lions and the Blue Jays is set for 6 p.m. at Homewood Field.