Feb. 17, 2012
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The No. 17/18 Penn State men's lacrosse team will host Michigan in the first-ever game at the new Penn State Lacrosse Field on Saturday (Feb. 18) at 1 p.m. The new facility is located on University Drive next to the Multi-Sport Facility.
The contest will also mark the first Creator's Game between Penn State and Michigan. The Creator's Trophy was established between the three Big Ten schools that sponsor men's lacrosse - Michigan, Ohio State, Penn State - as a way to promote the rivalry between the programs. A team that finishes the season 2-0 against the other schools will claim the Creator's Trophy in a given year.
Penn State will enter the contest at 0-1 (0-0 CAA) following a 14-10 season-opening loss to sixth-ranked North Carolina in front of nearly 7,000 fans at KSU Soccer Stadium in Kennesaw, Ga. The Nittany Lions, who trailed 2-1 after the first quarter, brought the game to within three early in the fourth frame before the Tar Heels escaped with the 14-10 victory.
Seven different players, including Pat Manley (Arnold, Md.) in his collegiate debut, tallied for the Nittany Lions. Senior Matthew Mackrides (Newtown Square) and juniors Kyle VanThof (Penfield, N.Y.) and Nick Dolik (Bloomfield Hills, Mich.) scored twice each, while sophomore Shane Sturgis (Downingtown) registered two points (1g, 1a) and senior Jack Forster (Jenkintown) added three assists.
Senior midfielder Ryan Link (Englewood, Colo.) netted one goal and matched a game high with five ground balls, while sophomore goalkeeper Austin Kaut (Morton) made 15 saves. Kaut and Mackrides were named to the watch list for the Tewaaraton Award, which is presented to the top men's and women's lacrosse players in the nation, on Thursday. A Newtown Square, Pa., native, Mackrides was also named a candidate for the Lowe's Senior CLASS Award.
Michigan (0-1, 0-0 ECAC), which joined the NCAA Division I ranks in 2012, will travel to Happy Valley after losing to Detroit Mercy, 13-9, in its first game in program history. Sophomore midfielder Doug Bryant scored the first two goals in Wolverines' history, while senior attackman Trevor Yealy and junior attackman Thomas Paras had two goals each. Sophomore Dylan Westerhost stopped six shots.