UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The No. 21 Penn State Nittany Lions (4-0) took down the No. 20 Pittsburgh Panthers (2-1) in overtime for a thrilling 12-11 victory Wednesday night in Holuba Hall. The game was Penn State’s first taste of overtime lacrosse so far this season and freshman Rocquette Allen, fresh off a 10-goal week, secured the golden goal a minute into the extra period.

Six Nittany Lions netted goals in the ranked match up. Emma Kelly tied for a game-high three goals on the evening, her season-high four games into the 2026 campaign. Delaney Radin had a spectacular day as the feeder, dishing out three assists, a game-high, and scoring two from the eight-meter. Kelly MacKinney notched a pair of goals and assists while Allen scored twice, one being the game winner, and secured an assist. Payton Wainman shot twice and scored twice.

Defensively, Penn State had one of its best statistical performances of the year. Freshman Susannah O’Connell picked up a game-high eight ground balls while captain Lauren Tinson caused three turnovers. Maggie Driver and Lilly Spilker created havoc, causing four turnovers each and picking up four and three ground balls, respectively.

KEY PERFORMANCES

Allen – two goals, one assist, one game winner

Kelly – three goals, five draw controls

Radin – two goals, three assists, four ground balls, two caused turnovers

O’Connell – eight ground balls, one draw control, one caused turnover

Driver – four caused turnovers, four ground balls

Spilker – three ground balls, one draw control, four caused turnovers

MacKinney – two goals, two assists, four points

FIRST QUARTER

Pitt secured the opening possession to start the game, but Penn State stood rigid on defense. A turnover caused by Anna Salerno sent her towards the net to notch the first Nittany Lion goal of the game, assisted by Radin. Wainman collected a ground ball and then score an unassisted goal for her eighth of the season. Just over a minute later, Radin sent MacKinney a pass good for a goal. Following a goal from the Panthers, Radin capitalized on a free position shot for Penn State’s fourth goal. MacKinney positioned a pass for Wainman to notch her second goal of the match. Penn State ended the first quarter 5-1.

SECOND QUARTER

Pitt claimed the first goal of the second quarter before Allen answered with one for the blue and white, assisted by Radin. The teams exchanged another goal each, with MacKinney sending Kelly a pass to lift Penn State 7-3. Less than a minute later, Kelly tallied her second goal of the game. The senior attacker wasted no time, clutching a hat trick with less than three minutes remaining to end the quarter 9-4.

THIRD QUARTER

The blue and white won the opening draw of the second half but was met with an early goal by Pitt, and another to follow just three minutes in. A foul on the Panthers gave MacKinney a free position shot where she recorded her seventh goal of the season. Another Pitt foul with two minutes remaining allowed Radin to score Penn State’s 11th goal of the game off a free position shot.

FOURTH QUARTER

The Panthers began their chase after the Nittany Lions, scoring four goals in the initial ten minutes of the last frame. Pitt tied the game 11-11 to send the teams into a sudden death overtime.

OVERTIME

Penn State won the draw to start the overtime period but gave away the opening possession off a bad pass. Great defense from Spilker forced the turnover from the Panthers to keep the sudden death period ongoing. A shot from MacKinney inside the eight-meter was saved, but Allen was able to pick up the ground ball and score the golden goal, securing the 12-11 win for Penn State.

POSTGAME NOTES

O’Connell’s eight ground balls are the most by any Big Ten player this season

Penn State held Pitt to only 33% conversion rate on free-position shots

Radin’s three assists are her most since her six-assist game against Richmond

Kelly’s hat trick was the seventh of her career

Driver and Spilker’s four caused turnovers are tied for the fourth-most by any Big Ten player

UP NEXT

The Nittany Lions will travel to Vidas Athletic Complex in Philadelphia on Sunday, February 22 at 12 p.m. to face Drexel.