Topics

More

Previewing The Penn State Women’s Lacrosse 2025 Season

Despite Penn State women’s lacrosse’s rough start to the 2024 season, losing four of its first six games, the Nittany Lions got hot at the right time and finished 11-8.

The team made the most of its Big Ten play, finishing 4-2 and making it to the Big Ten Championship game as well. That game had multiple weather delays and a fourth quarter in a different location than the first three, resulting in a 12-14 loss.

The Nittany Lions lost again in their next game to No. 19 JMU in the NCAA Tournament.

That was a completely different team, though, and head coach Missy Doherty had her hands full this offseason putting together the new rotation.

In 2024, Penn State had an experienced team, but not as much this year. Due to graduation, the Nittany Lions lost Gretchen Gilmore, Kristin O’Neill, Kayla Abernathy, Sammy Dupack, Haley Urgo, Rachel Spilker, and many more.

These were not fringe players, but some of the Big Ten’s best. O’Neill made first-team All-Big Ten, while Gilmore, Abernathy, and Dupack received second-team honors.

Thankfully for the Nittany Lions, they return a few stalwart players on both sides of the ball.

While graduating three starting defenders in 2024, the Nittany Lion’s best defender is back for another year. USA Lacrosse Magazine Preseason All-American Ellie Hollin will play a vital role once again for Doherty’s side.

The senior was named Inside Lacrosse’s No. 18 player heading into the 2025 season, and for good reason. Hollin is not only an elite cover defender but one of the best in the country in transition.

Her speed and ball skills are evident when clearing the ball, something she might be asked to do more with much of the 2024 midfield gone. Last season, she recorded 21 ground balls and 21 caused turnovers.

Joining her on the starting defense could be Navy transfer Lily Strohecker. The defender only saw time in two games for the Midshipmen in her freshman season, but Strohecker has shown her elite athleticism.

Maggie Rezza is another new face to keep an eye out for on the back end. The Mount Saint Joseph Academy product joined the team this year and showed she can compete at the Division I level in the fall.

Luckily for the defense, it has an elite goaltender to help them work out the kinks early in the season. Big Ten Freshman of the Year Sydney Manning is back for the 2025 season.

Manning had a .413 save percentage in 2024 and flashed the potential to be one of the Big Ten’s best. If the sophomore gets a little more consistent, she has no ceiling.

On the offense, a lot of the load will be put on sophomore Kelly MacKinney. In her first season, MacKinney scored 14 goals and had 25 assists.

In an uber-talented offense in 2024, she did not get all the praise she deserved, but this season will be different. Similar to Matt Traynor of the men’s team, MacKinney will take the keys of the offense this year and play the quarterback role.

Junior attacker Erika Ho and junior midfielder Emma Kelly will have to step up this season as well. Both showed plenty of improvements in the fall but will need to score more than the 19 combined goals they had in 2024.

Arguably the glue of the team this year, though, will be midfielder Lauren Saltz. In 2024, she had 24 goals, five assists, 45 draw controls, and 21 ground balls.

If the Nittany Lions are to match their success from last season, Saltz will have to play a pivotal role in all three stages of the game.

Your ad blocker is on.

Please choose an option below.

Sign up for our e-mail newsletter:
OR
Support quality journalism:
Purchase a Subscription!

About the Author

Collin Ward

Collin is a second-year majoring in digital/print journalism. Born in Hartford, he now lives in Basking Ridge, New Jersey. As a die-hard Chelsea FC fan you can normally find him yelling at his TV screen on the weekends. To reach him, follow him on X(formally Twitter) @CollinJW1, or email him at [email protected].

‘This Was A Job I’ve Always Wanted’: George Daniel Turns Passion For Fly Fishing Into Career

The Joe Humphreys Fly Fishing program has a storied history at Penn State.

Power Ranking Sorority Bid Day 2025 Themes

From “Xi Big Leagues” to “Camp DeeGee,” we power ranked all 18 of this year’s themes

‘Defense All Has To Do With Heart’: Carolyn Kieger Highlights Lady Lions’ Struggles Amid Four-Game Skid

Penn State is 1-11 in Big Ten play this season and sits second to last in the conference.

113kFollowers
164kFollowers
63.5kFollowers
4,570Subscribers
Sign up for our Newsletter