Penn State hit a home run on day one, landing Prep Girls Lacrosse’s No. 29 player in the class when they tabbed Virginia’s Caitlin McAleenan. Few players in the class have displayed the ambidexterity and two-handedness of McAleenan. She has never met an outside rip she does not like, and she is never afraid to let it fly when the matchup presents itself. An absolute sniper who can rip it from distances that border on PLL two-pointer territory, McAleenan spent this summer rehabbing a torn ACL. Do not be mistaken – she is a stud of a player who should make an early impact in the Big Ten at Happy Valley.

McAleenan is an electrifying player to watch. She is a 2-way midfielder out of St. John’s College High School (D.C.). McAleenan overemphasizes her dodges and blows by her defenders. An extremely shifty dodger who is very fast and explosive. The most impressive part of her game is her ability to get off a shot. She creates her own shot and then unleashes a pure rocket. She is two-handed and can shoot equally as hard/accurate with both. McAleenan is a good feeder and goes 100% on every play.

McAleenan is a fast, two-way midfielder who impacts the game in all phases. She uses both hands effectively and can generate a strong shot, particularly with low-to-high finishing ability.

A standout on the draw circle, she competes with quickness and timing to help secure possessions. Offensively, her backdoor cuts are a major strength, consistently creating separation and scoring chances.

Defensively, she matches up well with dodgers and applies strong pressure at the point of attack. In field hockey, she earned WCAC Second Team honors as a sophomore, further highlighting her athletic versatility and competitive level.