The No. 18 Penn State Nittany Lions will return to Panzer Stadium in University Park to face the Oregon Ducks on April 9, marking their Big Ten Network season debut. The game is set for an 8 p.m. start and will be the first of three consecutive home games for Penn State.
This matchup follows a strong performance by Penn State, who recently defeated No. 25 Ohio State with a score of 18-9. Kelly MacKinney led the team with a career-high seven goals and two assists, tying her for third-most goals by any Big Ten player this season and matching Delaney Radin’s nine-point effort as the most by any Nittany Lion this year.
Radin also had five assists and two goals against Ohio State, reaching her 40th assist of the season—a feat not achieved at Penn State since Steph Lazo in 2017. Sydney Manning contributed with 14 saves in goal, while Erika Ho and Payton Wainman each recorded hat tricks.
Following these performances, MacKinney was named both Intercollegiate Women’s Lacrosse Coaches Association (IWLCA) and Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week—the first IWLCA honor for a Nittany Lion since Kristin O’Neill in 2024. Manning earned her fourth career Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week award, while freshman Rocquette Allen was recognized as Big Ten Freshman of the Week for her contributions on offense.
Allen has been highlighted as one of only seven players in conference history to earn Freshman of the Week five or more times in a single season—a distinction previously held by players who later won Big Ten Freshman of the Year honors. Her recent performances include scoring five goals against Maryland’s top-ranked defense and delivering highlight-reel plays that gained national attention.
Oregon enters Thursday’s contest after a loss to Johns Hopkins and is currently on a five-game losing streak. The Ducks are led offensively by Anna Simmons, who also leads their defense statistically. This will be just the second meeting between Penn State and Oregon; their previous encounter ended with a dominant win for Penn State.
