2023 Women's Top 30: How Penn State Fared vs. Projections

Before USA Lacrosse Magazine looks ahead to what’s to come in 2024, our team of staff and contributors decided it was worth taking one last look at 2023.

After all, you have to look at the most recent results before making projections for what’s to come. To do that, we’re taking a journey through the top 30 teams in men’s and women’s lacrosse — what went right, what went wrong and what we should all think of that team’s season.

Was it a success? A failure? A mixture of both? You’ll find out our thoughts over the next month or so.

PENN STATE WOMEN’S LACROSSE

Nike/USA Lacrosse Preseason/Final Top 20 Ranking: Unranked/18
2023 record: 11-7 (3-3 Big Ten)

WHAT WENT RIGHT

A five-game stretch in March is likely what lifted Penn State to the NCAA tournament, even with a loss to Vanderbilt on its resume. From March 11 to March 25, Penn State beat Rutgers, Towson, Princeton, Pitt and Ohio State — not exactly Murderer’s Row, but a group of good teams nonetheless. Penn State traded wins and losses from that point on to ultimately finish 11-7, but six of the Nittany Lions’ losses came against NCAA tournament teams. Penn State didn’t wow teams offensively, but it was gritty and sound on the defensive end, led by Ellie Hollin. It finished 2023 ranked 24th nationally in scoring defense (9.89 goals per game).

WHAT WENT WRONG

Kristin O’Neill starred with a team-high 51 goals and 59 points, and although Penn State had three more players with at least 24 goals (Brooke Hoss, Gretchen Gilmore and Meghan Murray), the Nittany Lions offense was at times sluggish. That could be in part because of a possession problem — they ranked 73rd in the nation in draw wins per game — but perhaps also because the Nittany Lions didn’t feature a true quarterback to facilitate. Just three players reached double digits in assists, and the team-high was only 12 (shared by Gilmore and Brooke Barger).

SEASON HIGHLIGHT

There weren’t many grittier teams in the country than Penn State. After a 10-9 loss to Vanderbilt, Penn State’s five-game winning streak featured two two-goal ones, one one-goal one, one three-goal win and then a 10-goal blowout of Ohio State. Winning four consecutive stressful games was a testament to Penn State’s attitude.

VERDICT

Something of an afterthought after going 10-18 combined in 2021-22, Penn State impressed by earning an NCAA tournament berth. It wasn’t always pretty, but Penn State was successful in getting to a point few expected.