April 4, 2013
Game Notes | | 100th Season Celebration on Facebook | 2013 Yearbook
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The No. 13 Nittany Lion men's lacrosse team will try to win its sixth straight game overall contest when No. 12 Drexel visits Penn State Lacrosse Field on Saturday at 1 p.m. Saturday's game will be a festive event as the Nittany Lions celebrate their 100th season of lacrosse on campus.
A special pre-game tailgate and halftime coronation will bring the current and past teams together on one field across several decades. Penn State will also host a post-game banquet with speakers from various eras of Penn State men's lacrosse.
On tap to speak are former head coaches Dave Pencek (1962, '65-77) and Glenn Thiel (1978-2010) as well as current head coach Jeff Tambroni. Former players including USILA Honorable Mention All-Americans Dave Thiel (1963-65), Glenn Thiel (1964-66) and Vin Tedesco, co-captain of the 1964 squad, will also address the crowd. Dozens more from Penn State's lacrosse past will be on hand for the 100th Season Celebration.
#13 PENN STATE NITTANY LIONS (7-3, 2-0 CAA) vs. #12 DREXEL DRAGONS (8-2, 3-0 CAA)
Game 11: April 6, 2013 // 1:00 p.m. // Penn State Lacrosse Field // University Park, Pa.
GAME DAY
VENUE: Penn State Lacrosse Field (turf; 1,000)
SERIES RECORD: 26-5
LAST MEETING: May 2, 2012; DU 13-11 (University Park, Pa.)
NEXT GAME: April 13 vs. Towson, 1 p.m. on Big Ten Network
GAME NOTES
• Penn State puts five-game winning streak to task vs. Drexel on Saturday afternoon
• Drexel is Penn State's seventh ranked opponent this season
• PSU and Drexel split the season series last year, both games won by the away team
• Drexel has won four straight entering Saturday, beating Delaware 11-10 recently
• Penn State downed Villanova 7-6 on the Main Line on Saturday
• Austin Kaut made 16 saves vs. VU and has .763 save percentage in last 5 games
• Kaut was named CAA Co-Player of the Week for second time this season
• Tom LaCrosse tallied his second straight hat trick against the Wildcats
• Lion midfield has scored 22 goals in past five games, had 10 in first five games
• Jack Forster has 10 career hat tricks, seven in the past two years, seven Nittany Lions have tallied hat tricks in their career
• Forster is riding a 22-game point streak dating back to Mar. 3, 2012
• Penn State hosts its regular-season home finale next Saturday when Towson visits Happy Valley for a nationally televised game on Big Ten Network
SCOUTING THE DRAGONS
Drexel (8-2, 3-0 CAA) went 2-0 last week in a pair of home games defeating Saint Joseph's 16-3 on Wednesday before downing Delaware 11-10 on Saturday. In the UD game, Drexel needed to erase a 7-2 deficit, notching a 9-2 run of its own to win.
Robert Church (37 points) and Ben McIntosh (36) have paced an offense that averages 12.5 goals a game. Ryan Belka (31) and reigning CAA Rookie of the Week Frank Fusco (25) round out the scorers with 20 or more points. At the faceoff X, Nick Saputo has a .493 winning percentage and has registered three goals and an assist, while picking up a team-high 71 ground balls. The man-up is efficient, scoring on half its chances (18-for-36).
The defense allows 10.7 goals per game and is anchored by Cal Winkelman (5-1). Winkelman has started the past six games, posting a .548 save percentage with an 8.43 GAA. Drexel clears at a rate of 87.1 percent and rides at 14.7 percent.
COMMON ENEMIES
Penn State and Drexel have faced three common foes thus far in 2013: Villanova, Bucknell and Saint Joseph's. Penn State is 3-0 against those teams, outscoring them 27-11. Drexel is 2-1, while outscoring those opponents 36-30.
ALL-TIME SERIES VS. DREXEL
All-Time Series: 26-5
PSU Streak: 1 loss
First Meeting: 5/23/42, PSU 6-3
Last Meeting: 5/2/12, DREX 13-11
Last PSU Win: 4/7/12, 10-9
Last DREX Win: 5/2/12, 13-11
Largest PSU Win: 16-3, 3/31/76
Largest DREX Win: 12-7, 4/10/10
At home vs. DREX: 11-4
PSU Goals vs. DREX: 407-249
LAST TIME VS. DREXEL (May 2, 2012)
Matthew Mackrides scored his 100th career goal and Nick Dolik tallied a career-high four markers, but the second-seeded Nittany Lions fell to No. 3 seed Drexel, 13-11, in the CAA Championship semifinals at the Penn State Lacrosse Field Wednesday night. Brendan Glynn and Robert Church led the Dragons with three goals each, while goalkeeper Mark Manos made nine saves. Gavin Ahern, who recorded four points (2g, 2a), and Shane Sturgis, who notched two goals, also added multi-point games for the Nittany Lions. Austin Kaut turned aside 11 shots for his ninth double-digit save performance of the season.
NITTANY LIONS FEND OFF WILDCATS
No. 16 Penn State used a four-goal second quarter and 16 saves from Austin Kaut in a 7-6 win at Villanova on Saturday, March 30 in front of 2,578 fans. Junior midfielder Tom LaCrosse tallied his second hat trick in as many games to lead Penn State to its fifth straight win and 10th straight true road contest. Penn State has held each opponent to seven of fewer goals during the winning streak. Penn State (7-3, 2-0 CAA) out-scored Villanova (2-6, 1-0 Big East) 4-2 in the second quarter, including the last three goals of the frame to take a 5-3 lead. Fueling the three-goal spurt was Jack Forster and LaCrosse, two scored twice. Shane Sturgis assisted on Forster's tally and LaCrosse's first marker. The second LaCrosse goal was a dash down the middle of the field as the junior was hit with 15 seconds left in the half.
PSU extended the run to four goals and a 6-3 lead as Forster's second goal of the game was assisted by Sturgis just 3:13 into the third period. Sturgis fed Forster from behind the cage with the timer on for Penn State's largest lead of the game. Midfielder Kyle VanThof scored the eventual game winner with 9:34 to go on a curl around the cage as he bounced it in for a 7-5 lead. The game-winner was VanThof's second of the year.
KAUT TABBED CAA PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Behind a 30-save week and two wins, Austin Kaut was named Colonial Athletic Association Co-Player of the Week on Monday, April 1 by the league office. Kaut has been outstanding over the past five games for the Nittany Lions, winning each decision as Penn State is 7-3 on the season, 2-0 in CAA play. Against Bucknell on Tuesday, Kaut made 11 of 14 stops in the first half en route to an 11-3 trouncing of Bucknell in Lewisburg, Pa. Penn State has two wins over top 10 foes this season. On Saturday, Kaut loomed large for the Villanova offense, saving 16 Wildcat shots in preserving a 7-6 victory. Kaut made eight saves in each half at Villanova.
POWER KAUT IN NET
A preseason All-American and Tewaaraton Award Watch List candidate, junior Austin Kaut is considered one of the best goalkeepers in college lacrosse. Following an average start to year three in Happy Valley, Kaut has stepped up his game. Kaut opened the season with a 9.79 GAA and .490 save percentage behind 48 saves and 50 goals allowed. In the past five outings, he has posted a 4.44 GAA and a .763 save percentage, allowing just 22 goals and saving 71 shots. Kaut has stopped at least nine shots in each game and has 14 or more saves in four of those contests. Penn State started the season 2-3, but is 5-0 since.
RUNNING THE GAUNTLET
Penn State recently finished a stretch of five games against USILA ranked opponents as PSU went 2-3. After last Tuesday's win at Bucknell, Penn State's record improved to 3-3, including 2-1 against top 10 teams. This week, 12th-ranked Drexel awaits the Nittany Lions as PSU looks to improve to 4-3 in games vs. ranked foes.
MIDFIELD SCORING EMERGES
Through the first five games, Penn State's attack carried the offensive load scoring 42 of the team's 52 goals (77.7%). Meanwhile, in the last five games, PSU's midfield has shined, scoring 22 of the team's 45 goals (49%). Against Villanova, PSU received five goals from the midfield. Leading the midfield scoring this season is Tom LaCrosse with 16 goals. Kyle VanThof and Kyle Zittel each have five as well. Nick Dolik registered a hat trick on Tuesday, March 19 at Binghamton, accounting for three of his four goals this season. Erik Myers (2), Gavin Ahern (2) and Michael Richards (1) round out the midfield scoring. PSU has one goal from the defense (Jack Donnelly vs. St. Joe's).
DIFFERENCE A YEAR MAKES
Penn State's offense has improved mightily in 2013 with the attacking trio of Jack Forster (32 points) TJ Sanders (27), and Shane Sturgis (27). Penn State is averaging nearly 10 goals per game this season with a shooting percentage of .289. Last season, the Nittany Lions scored just 8.73 goals per game and post a percentage of .258. Also, assists, points, shots and ground balls per game are up from 2012.
HAT TRICK HEROS
Over the past two games, Tom LaCrosse has two hat tricks, bringing his career total to four. TJ Sanders scored four goals on Tuesday, March 26 at Bucknell, his fifth hat trick of the season and fourth game with four goals or more. Jack Forster leads the way with 10 career high tricks, while Shane Sturgis has five. Nick Dolik tallied his third career hat trick on Tuesday, March 19 at Binghamton.
Jack Forster 10
TJ Sanders 5
Shane Sturgis 5
Tom LaCrosse 4
Nick Dolik 3
Gavin Ahern 2
Kyle VanThof 1
GOING STREAKING
Penn State's attack has Jack Forster with a 22-game streak, which started on March 3, 2012 against Ohio State.
NITTANY LIONS ON TV
On Thursday, March 21 it was announced that Penn State's regular season home finale vs. Towson would be aired live by Big Ten Network. The TV broadcast is Penn State's third this season.
Previously, Penn State lacrosse was televised on Feb. 17 against Denver at Jacksonville, Fla. by NBC Sports Network and March 9 vs. Lehigh in Chester, Pa. on ESPN3.com and the WatchESPN app for mobile devices.
Penn State's appearance on NBC Sports Network is believed to be the first nationally televised men's lacrosse game in program history. The BTN broadcast will be the second. The last time Penn State was on television before this season was in 2010 vs. Towson on WMAR in Baltimore.
ROAD WINNING STREAK
With Saturday's win at Villanova, Penn State has ticked off a school-record 10 straight true road wins. This season Penn State is 5-0 on the road after going 5-0 in 2012. The Lions' last road loss was Apr. 30, 2011 at Hofstra. Penn State has won 12 of its last 13 true road games.
Of the 14 regular-season contests, Penn State will be home for just five of them, making the Nittany Lions one of the most road tested teams in the country. In total, seven games are true road contests along with two neutral site games. Penn State will look to improve to 7-1 away from Happy Valley on Apr. 20 at Delaware.
PENN STATE RIPS BUCKNELL
No. 16 Penn State crushed No. 7 Bucknell, 11-3, on Tuesday night (March 26) at Christy Mathewson-Memorial Field behind a punishing defense, 14 saves from Austin Kaut and four goals from TJ Sanders. The Nittany Lions ended the game on an 8-0 run in front of 1,250 fans.
Attackman Shane Sturgis boasted a game-high five points on two goals and three assists, while midfielder Tom LaCrosse pitched in with a hat trick. Kyle VanThof tallied his first multi-point game of the season on a goal and an assist. Seven Nittany Lions tallied a point in all. Penn State won its second game over a top-10 foe this season after defeating No. 9 Denver on Feb. 17 in Jacksonville, Fla.
The Penn State defense was even better than its offense on the night, causing 14 of Bucknell's 17 turnovers in the game. Leading the way was Michael Richards with three caused turnovers, while Steven Bogert, Tyler Travis and James Burke each caused two. Faceoff specialist Danny Henneghan set the tone on offense winning 10-of-17 faceoffs, including all four in the third period that set off the 8-0 burst. Henneghan had a game-high five ground balls.
NEXT TIME OUT
Penn State closes out its home schedule in spectacular fashion next week when Towson visits Happy Valley. The 1 p.m. Saturday game (April 13) will be televised live on the Big Ten Network. Also, Saturday will be Senior Day as the Nittany Lions honor its 10 departing seniors.
--NITTANY LIONS--