Traynor and Aquino Capture Big Ten Postseason AwardsTraynor and Aquino Capture Big Ten Postseason Awards

Traynor and Aquino Capture Big Ten Postseason Awards

Four Nittany Lions secure conference postseason honors

ROSEMONT, Ill.- Penn State men’s lacrosse highlights Big Ten postseason awards as announced by the conference on Wednesday afternoon. Matt Traynor is tabbed the Offensive Player of the Year, marking PSU’s third consecutive year taking home this honor. Hunter Aquino is named the Freshman of the Year after dominating the Freshman of the Week awards throughout the 2025 campaign, earning the title on six different occasions. Traynor also earns a spot on first team All-Big Ten while Aquino lands on the All-Freshman team along with Liam Matthews. Alex Ross secures a spot on second team All-Big Ten and Richie Hughson earns Penn State's Big Ten Sportsmanship Award.

 

Matt Traynor POTY

Traynor consistently led the Big Ten in points per game and goals per game throughout the 2025 campaign. The senior captain achieved several career milestones including surpassing 100 career points and 100 career goals. He tallied his 100th career point against Villanova on Saturday, Feb. 9 and notched his 100th career goal against Michigan on Sunday, April 6. Upon securing his 100th goal, Traynor became one of just ten Penn State players in program history to achieve this milestone and currently ranks fifth all-time in the PSU scoring records at 109 goals. This season, the Downingtown, Pa. native has totaled 44 points, 30 goals and 14 assists. He matched his career high in goals and points in a dominant win over Johns Hopkins, adding seven goals and eight points to the scoresheet, both new Big Ten best marks.

Hunter Freshman OTY

Aquino commanded the Freshman of the Week title awarded by the Big Ten throughout the 2025 season, earning the designation on six occasions. With his most recent Freshman of the Week nod announced by the Big Ten on April 22, Aquino set a new program record for most Freshman of the Week awards garnered in a single season, previously set at five by Mac O’Keefe in 2017. The freshman has put up 44 points, 17 assists and 15 goals throughout the campaign thus far. The Easton, Pa. native has produced nine multi-point outings and has notched at least one point in all but one contest throughout his rookie year. He currently ranks second in the B1G in assists per game (1.42), fifth in shot percentage (.385) and seventh in points per game (2.67), the only freshman in the top 10 in those categories.

Alex Ross 2nd Team

Ross has been a key factor in the Penn State defense this season, landing him on second team All-Big Ten. He has compiled 22 ground balls and 19 caused turnovers throughout his junior campaign, ranking fifth in the conference in caused turnovers per game (1.58). In PSU’s statement win over then no. 3 and now no. 1 Cornell, he tallied his first career goal from beyond midfield.

Freshman team

Matthews garners All-Freshman honors after playing a crucial role in the Nittany Lions offense. He has totaled 19 points and 16 goals throughout the season. Matthews has produced six multi-goal outings including two hat-tricks. The Orangeville, Ontario native had a career performance in an upset win over Cornell, adding three goals and an assist.

Richie Sportsmanship

Hughson's energy and passion for the Penn State men's lacrosse program earned him Penn State's Big Ten Sportsmanship Award.