Here we go, folks, round one of the NCAA Women’s Lacrosse Tournament is about to start. No. 19 Penn State is set to travel to Ann Arbor, Michigan, on Friday to face No. 5 Stanford in their first tournament game since 2024.

It’s been over 10 years since the Nittany Lions and Cardinals last faced off in 2016. Stanford won 16-10 in that matchup.

Penn State had a strong season, finishing 12-6 and 4-4 in conference play. The Nittany Lions started 9-0 before losing their first game, tying the program’s best start from 1989. The only losses the team suffered were to ranked opponents, most of whom were ranked higher.

Penn State is 0-5 against top-10 teams this season. In three of those games, the Nittany Lions lost by one goal. The team has proved they can fight against any team, but they haven’t been able to finish.

The Team

Stanford finished the season 15-4 and 8-2 in ACC play. The Cardinals made it to the championship game, but lost to North Carolina 12-8.

Stanford relied on a high-powered offense, scoring 15 or more goals in nine games, including 23 in its opening match against UC Davis. Redshirt junior attackman Aliya Polisky leads the team in points with 70 points on the year.

Altogether, the Cardinals had a total of 272 goals, 148 assists, and 548 shots on a .496 shooting percentage. The team is also 140-120 on draw controls, boding well for their high-scoring style of play.

Stanford’s head coach, Danielle Spencer, is in her seventh season with the team. She has a total record of 79-35. Spencer was also named the ACC Coach of the Year in 2026, leading Stanford to its first ACC title game.

Defensive and recruiting coordinator Kelsey Howard is in her third season with the Cardinal. Before coming to Stanford, she was the assistant/associate head coach at Colby College for five years. She has contributed to the growth of the defense and improved the roster in her short time at Stanford.

Assistant coaches Brian Kelly and Emily Cummings have great experience in the field. Kelly spent four years coaching at Johns Hopkins, and Cummings is in her seventh season at Stanford. Both have helped build a stronger offense and guided the players to an ACC title game and now the NCAA Tournament.

The Offense

The Cardinal offense is very impressive, with 100 more goals than their opponents this season and over 100 more shots on goal. Furthermore, they have a .759 shot-on-goal percentage, one of the highest in the ACC.

Stanford has racked up a total of 50 free position shots this season. The team has 124 unassisted goals but only 2 from power plays, compared to its opponents’ 12.

Ava Arcieri leads Stanford with 46 and was named to the All-ACC Third Team. Polisky only trails her by two goals, but with 70 total points this season, she was named to the All-ACC First Team.

However, those two weren’t the only offensive players to receive accolades. Midfielders Jordyn Case and Annabel Frist were named to the All-ACC Second Team. Midfielder Rylee Bouvier was named to the All-ACC Third Team.

Seven players on the Cardinal have 20 or more goals this season, all of whom have above a .700 shot on goal percentage. The team is undoubtedly accurate with its shots, and the Penn State defense is going to have to step up to prevent fewer shot opportunities throughout the game.

Penn State does have six players of their own with 20 or more goals this season, three of whom have at least 40. This game could easily be high scoring as both teams have key offensive threats.

The Defense

Stanford’s defense has also been solid this season, allowing fewer than 10 goals in 13 of its 19 games.

The Cardinals have had a total of 188 caused turnovers, 298 ground balls, and a .917 clear percentage. They beat out their opponents in caused turnovers and ground balls, but have a slightly lower clear percentage this season.

Stanford’s defense will have to cover three stars on Penn State: Kelly MacKinney, Roquette Allen, and Payton Wainman. All three players have over 40 goals and have led Penn State’s offense to high-scoring wins.

Stanford had two defenders win accolades this season. Kate Bellissimo was named to the All-ACC Second Team, and Olivia Rose was named to the All-ACC Third Team. Bouvier leads the team in caused turnovers with 34, and Rose trails behind her with 31.

Goalkeepers Lucy Pearson and Ella Morton have combined for 122 saves this season, and both have over a .43 save percentage. The two goalies have split time, with Pearson seeing the field more often. It is similar to what Penn State head coach Kayla Treanor has done. Both teams use depth as an advantage.

For folks looking to watch, the game will take place at 6 p.m. on Friday, May 8, on the campus of No. 7 Michigan. Those at home can tune in on ESPN+.