Dec. 5, 2012
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Head coach Jeff Tambroni formally announced seniors Travis Crane (Parkville, Md.) and Jack Forster (Jenkintown, Pa.) as the captains for the 2013 season on Wednesday. Crane and Forster were elected by votes from their teammates and coaching staff. The decisions were announced to the team prior to the Thanksgiving holiday.
"Our coaching staff and team are very confident that they will do a wonderful job as we make our way through the spring season," Tambroni said. "Both of [these] guys have been around for a long time, one a fifth-year (Crane) the other a sixth-year senior (Forster), and have fought through a lot of adversity in their own right. I think their experience is going to be great for this team at the time that Penn State lacrosse is in its history, and hopefully going to give us an opportunity to turn the page."
Forster, who has come off multiple knee injuries, has scored 63 goals and totaled 91 points in his five-plus years in Happy Valley. After missing the 2008 season, Forster had an incredible redshirt-freshman year, scoring 27 goals with 15 assists and ranking second on the team in points.
He missed the 2010 season due to injury, but returned in 2011 to score 22 times with 34 points, third best on the team. Last year, Forster played in every game for the first time in his career, scoring 27 goals, 15 assists and tying for the team lead with Matthew Mackrides with 42 points.
"It's a great honor to be named captain from out teammates and coaches," Forster said. "I'm looking forward to lead this team with Travis. I'm excited to be back, first off, and we can't really hold anything back this year. It's our last year as a senior class and we're really excited to get the season started."
Crane came to Penn State last year after three years in Maryland, one at UMBC and two at Essex Community College. Crane appeared in 14 games, scoring twice from the midfield position and established himself on faceoffs, collecting 11 ground balls and causing seven turnovers. An attacking midfielder at Essex, he tallied 42 points in 2011 earning NJCAA All-America and All-Tournament team honors. In 2009, Crane saw time in nine games at UMBC.
"It's an unbelievable experience just to be here," Crane said. "I love all the guys on the team. The coaching staff has really welcomed me as part of the family and I couldn't be more thankful for that. Like Jack said, it's an unbelievable honor to be named captain by your teammates and your coaching staff."
Crane and Forster lead a veteran team that was picked 15th by Inside Lacrosse's Face-Off Preseason Yearbook on Nov. 26. Seventy-seven percent of the scoring from last year's team is back with Forster (42 points), Shane Sturgis (Downingtown, Pa.), Nick Dolick (Bloomfield Hills, Mich.) and Gavin Ahern (Rockville Centre, N.Y.), all of whom scored double digit goals in 2012.
Penn State also returns USILA All-American goalkeeper Austin Kaut (Morton, Pa.) and face-off specialist Danny Henneghan (Beverly Hills, Mich.) to the fold along with 10 talented freshmen.
The Nittany Lions open the 2013 campaign on the road on Saturday, Feb. 9 at Michigan (1 p.m.). Penn State's home slate opens Sunday, Feb. 24 vs. No. 3 Notre Dame at Noon.
--NITTANY LIONS--