UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.- No. 7 Penn State men’s lacrosse topples no. 19 Rutgers 12-4 on senior day. A massive performance from Jack Fracyon as the netminder gave the Nittany Lions their third consecutive conference victory as they head into the postseason. Penn State improves to 9-3, 3-2 Big Ten while Rutgers falls to 6-8, 2-3 Big Ten. Both teams await their fate in the Big Ten Tournament as the final two games play out this weekend.
Fracyon posted one of his best performances of the season, making 13 saves while only allowing four goals for the second consecutive game. He also tallied his first career goal from well beyond midfield, becoming the first PSU goaltender to record a goal since 2008. Kyle Lehman and Luke Walstrum both added two goals apiece as the only multi-goal scorers for the Nittany Lions. Lehman also added an assist and two ground balls to the scoresheet. Matt Traynor, Ethan Long, Hunter Aquino, Jack Aimone, Liam Matthews, Brendan Leary and Colby Baldwin all produced one goal each. Defensively, the Nittany Lions were disruptive causing 14 turnovers and winning the ground ball battle 29-25. Jon King guided PSU with three caused turnovers while Will Costin led the team with four ground balls and Ryan O’Connor followed with three.
FIRST QUARTER – 6-3 Penn State
- A high scoring first quarter brought nine goals between the two squads. Penn State led the way with six goals.
- PSU had the first goal of the quarter for the seventh game of the year, off the stick of Walstrum after a pass from Ryan DiRocco.
- Baldwin wasted no time, scoring an unassisted goal off the ensuing faceoff, only six seconds after the first goal.
- Rutgers added back-to-back goals to knot the score at 2-2.
- Aimone and Lehman had the answer for PSU, Aimone’s goal coming on an extra-man opportunity off a feed from Long and Lehman doing the work by himself. Rutgers had the final word of the quarter to make the score 6-3 after 15 minutes of play.
SECOND QUARTER – 10-3 Penn State
- Penn State added four more goals in the second stanza while holding Rutgers scoreless.
- Fracyon found his goal in a Penn State clear while the Scarlet Knights were on a 10-man ride as he lasered the ball from midfield.
- Aquino put up a goal next, marking his 15th goal of the season.
- Leary added his third goal of the season and second in this fashion, striking from beyond midfield in the clear.
- Long had the last goal of the quarter off a helper from Will Peden.
THIRD QUARTER – 10-3 Penn State
- Neither team tallied a goal in the stanza.
FOURTH QUARTER – 12-4 Penn State
- Rutgers added its first goal in over 35 minutes and last goal of the game in the final quarter.
- Walstrum and Matthews found the back of the net to increase the PSU lead by eight over the final seven minutes of play. Lehman had the helper to Walstrum and Matthews outworked his defender to find his goal.
POSTGAME NOTES
- Fracyon had a career outing, adding the first goal of his career and first goal from a Penn State lacrosse goaltender since Drew Adams registered a goal in a game against Bucknell on April 15, 2008. He totaled 13 saves on only four goals allowed for the second-straight contest.
- With this win over Rutgers, Penn State wins its 15th Friendship Cup in the history of the matchup.
- There were 10 different goal scorers in the contest.
- Penn State honored its 14 seniors in a ceremony after the game concluded. The seniors recognized included: Finn Scanlon, Garrett Glatz, Jack Fracyon, Will Peden, Kevin Parnham, Mac Rietano, Ethan Long, Matt Traynor, Kyle Aldridge, Nils Barry, Chase Mullins, Pup Buono, Richie Hughson and Jack Aimone.
UP NEXT
The Nittany Lions await their fate in the Big Ten Tournament. The quarterfinal game is set to be played on Saturday, April 26 at campus sites and the semifinals and championship will be at UM Lacrosse Stadium on the campus of Michigan on May 1 and 3.