NCAA Women's Lacrosse Preview: No. 19 Penn State Young and Hungry

USA Lacrosse Magazine is beginning its countdown to the 2025 women's lacrosse season by releasing one team preview per day beginning on Monday, Jan. 13.

We continue the countdown with No. 19 Penn State, which was bitten hard by the graduation bug but returns some key players to pair with young, hungry underclassmen.

Penn State turned in its best season since its 2017 semifinal run. An upset of Northwestern turned heads, and the Nittany Lions advanced to the Big Ten championship game for just the third time in program history.

They lost to Northwestern in the conference championship game and later to James Madison by one goal in the first round of the NCAA tournament. Success has a habit of breeding success, and Missy Doherty said last season’s wins have fueled this season’s motivation.

“This team is coming in with the same set of hunger and competitiveness that we left with last year, so it’s been great mojo,” Doherty said.

Then, Doherty addressed the elephant in the room: “We have a lot of young players.”

Indeed, the Nittany Lions do. The top four goal scorers — all midfielders who combined for 141 goals — have graduated.

Defenders Sammy Dupcak, Rachel Spilker and Haley Urgo are also gone. But Doherty says a talented group of newcomers, top returners and players who spent more time than usual waiting for their turn because of COVID-induced eligibility gelled this fall.

TOP RETURNERS

Ellie Hollin, D, Sr. (21GB, 21CT)
Sydney Manning, G, So. (.413 SV%)
Kelly MacKinney, A, So. (14G, 25A)

It’s a new day in Happy Valley, but it involves two of 2024’s most heralded players in the Big Ten (and nationally, in Ellie Hollin’s case). Doherty hailed Hollin, a first-team all-conference pick in 2024, as one of the best defenders in the country. Her presence will be critical on a defense that graduated three starters.

Big Ten Freshman of the Year Sydney Manning will also be crucial. Doherty called her a “complete package goalkeeper” who is unafraid to come out of the crease.

Offensively, lefty feeder Kelly MacKinney was an unsung hero in 2024, but Doherty anticipates singing her praises in 2025.

“She was the reason for a lot of Gretchen Gilmore’s goals,” Doherty said. “They established a good connection. … She sees the 8-meter well and is going to be the quarterback of our offense.”

KEY ADDITIONS

Ellie Wisch, A, Fr. (Conestoga High School, Pa.)
Allie Meyer, M, Fr. (Villa Maria Academy, Pa.)
Lily Strohecker, D, So. (Navy)

Ellie Wisch’s height isn’t listed on the Nittany Lions roster, but Doherty’s eye test claims “she might be six foot.” Precise measurements aside, it’s clear the Pennsylvania native is a “tall, big presence.” She can shoot, too.

“At one point this fall, she was shooting 11-for-13. She can just put the ball away,” Doherty said.

Allie Meyer is a versatile midfielder with a high IQ who can cover slides. Lily Strohecker played defense in only two games at Navy, but given the graduations, could see more action in Happy Valley.

NOTABLE DEPARTURES

Graduations: Gretchen Gilmore, M; Kristin O’Neill, M; Kayla Abernathy, M; Meghan Murray, M; Kara Nealon, M; Sammy Dupcak, D; Haley Urgo, D; Rachel Spilker, D

X-FACTOR

Ellie Hollin, D, Sr. (21GB, 21CT)

Game experience cannot be taught and is essential all over the field, but Doherty said it’s particularly critical on the defensive end.

“It’s helpful to be able to say, ‘Oh, I’ve been through this before, and this is what we’ve done,’” Doherty said.

Doherty gave the team game experience through scrimmages and competitive practices all fall. Still, Hollin’s veteran presence will be critical for a young team in one of the nation’s toughest conferences.

THE NARRATIVE

There’s no getting around it: Penn State’s losses are significant, and it does change things for Doherty, though she’s optimistic.

“You go from an older team that knew a lot, but this team is a little hungrier,” she said. “They’re sponges, asking, ‘What can I do? How can I do it?’”

Doherty expects to see new strengths on offense, and she’s happy with how competitively her defense played in the fall.

In addition to the top additions and returners, Doherty points to improvements in junior attacker Erica Ho (5G) and junior midfielder Emma Kelly (14G), a hard dodger. Junior midfielder Lauren Saltz (24G, 5A, 11CT, 45DC, 21GB) is a versatile player who can defend and dodge, and Maggie Reza has epitomized “sponge.” The defender out of Mount Saint Joseph Academy (Pa.) is vying for time after a strong fall.

So, yes, the Nittany Lions are an enigma heading into 2025. But to be fair — and as Doherty pointed out — several top programs lost important veteran leadership as the crop of players with an added year of eligibility because of the pandemic thins for good.

She didn’t name names, but conference foe Northwestern is a prime example, having said “so long” to legendary attackers Izzy Scane and Erin Coykendall.