Sep 5, 2013
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Penn State men's lacrosse head coach Jeff Tambroni has assembled the ninth ranked freshman class according to Inside Lacrosse along with two transfers for the 2013-14 academic year. The 11-newcomer class bolsters Penn State's already powerful lineup.
"Our staff is extremely excited about the recent additions into the Penn State lacrosse program," Tambroni said. "We believe that this group will have an immediate and significant impact on our program's overall vision and success."
The most experienced of the group is Cole Yeager (Wayne, Pa.), a graduate student transfer from Yale who will feature at the faceoff X. Yeager missed 2013 due to injury, but as a sophomore in 2011, ranked fourth in the country with a 64.8 faceoff winning percentage.
Five freshmen were ranked by Inside Lacrosse in the top 100 including 29th-ranked Nick Aponte (West Islip, N.Y.), 36th-ranked Mike Sutton (Sewell, N.J.), 44th-ranked Nick Mazza (Davidsonville, Md.), 83rd-ranked Lucas Maloney (Niskayuna, N.Y.) and 100th-ranked Peter Triolo (Smithtown, N.Y.).
Rounding out the class are freshmen Billy Lombardi (West Islip, N.Y.), Dan Craig (Sherburne, Ont.), Tyler Chambers (Media, Pa.), Cole Rainier (Pasadena, Md.) and sophomore transfer Anthony Santo (West Islip, N.Y.).
Nick Aponte
5 - Fr. - M - 6-0 / 175 - West Islip, N.Y. / West Islip
BEFORE PENN STATE
Named Under Armour All-American as a senior, scoring 24 goals, 25 assists and picking up 81 ground balls while serving as team captain...Ranked 22nd by Inside Lacrosse junior year and 29th entering freshman year of college...Earned three All-County and All-League honors...Led team to state title junior year, while earning most valuable player championship game honor as West Islip recorded a 22-1 record, earning a No. 3 national ranking...Lettered three times in lacrosse and twice in football...Named All-County twice in football, leading West Islip to league title senior year.
PERSONAL
Nicholas Wayne Aponte was born June 20, 1995 in Manhasset, N.Y. to Mary and Armando Aponte...Has an older sister, Lindsay, who competes for Sacred Heart University's track & field team as a thrower...Aunt, Diana Cimino, is a 1983 graduate of Penn State...Anticipates majoring in business.
QUOTING APONTE ON PENN STATE
"The reason I chose Penn State was because of the coaching staff, the campus and the chance to win a national championship."
Tyler Chambers
42 - Fr. - M - 5-9 / 170 - Media, Pa. / Episcopal Academy
BEFORE PENN STATE
Earned U.S. Lacrosse All-American, All-Inter Ac, All-DelCo, All-Eastern Pennsylvania and All-State honors as a senior by scoring 29 times and assisting on 32 goals...Featured as the starting short-stick defensive midfielder junior year, pitching in with a goal and five assists to help Episcopal Academy to the Inter-Ac Invitational title...Lettered four years at EA...Played three years of club lacrosse for Duke's Lacrosse Club and Rebel Elite Lacrosse.
PERSONAL
Tyler Christian Chambers was born April 20, 1994 in Los Angeles, Calif. to Tim and Kathleen Chambers...Has a younger sister, Quinn, and a younger brother, Gavin...Nephew of current Penn State men's basketball head coach Patrick Chambers...Uncles Chris ('81) and Joseph Chambers ('83) are graduates of PSU...Intends to major in business or communications.
QUOTING CHAMBERS ON PENN STATE
"I chose Penn State because it gives me the best education while being able to play and compete for a national championship."
Dan Craig
35 - Fr. - A - 6-1 / 165 - Shelburne, Ont. / Centre Dufferin
BEFORE PENN STATE
Played three years for Barrie Lakeshores club squad in the Junior A league...Compiled 214 points in 62 games with the Lakeshores, amassing 105 goals and 109 assists...Named Barrie Rookie of the Year and was Barrie's leading scorer while playing for the Lakeshores...Named a top five rookie of the year in Canada in 2011...Helped lead Barrie to its first playoff appearance in 2013.
PERSONAL
Daniel James Craig was born March 23, 1994 in Orangeville, Ont. to Don and Diane Craig...Has an older brother, Dylan...Wants to pursue architecture upon graduation.
QUOTING CRAIG ON PENN STATE
"I chose Penn State because of the atmosphere and location."
Billy Lombardi
14 - Fr. - M (FO) - 5-7 / 195 - Rochester, N.Y. / Aquinas Institute
BEFORE PENN STATE
Five-year letter winner for the Aquinas Institute, earning three All-GRALL First Team honors...Won over 60 percent of faceoffs in each year played including a season-best 73 winning percentage in 2013, scoring 29 goals, 13 assists and picking up 110 ground balls...Won 69 percent at the faceoff X with 37 goals scored, 21 assists and 131 ground balls...Played two years of club lacrosse with Sweetlax.
PERSONAL
William Joseph Lombardi was born January 5, 1995 in Rochester, N.Y. to Barbie Morningstar and John Lombardi...Has a younger brother, John.
QUOTING LOMBARDI ON PENN STATE
"I chose Penn State because of its rich tradition and commitment to excellence."
Lucas Maloney
18 - Fr. - A - 5-6 / 155 - Niskayuna, N.Y. / Niskayuna
BEFORE PENN STATE
Four-year letter winner at Niskayuna, three years with Nittany Lion teammate Matt Sexton...Tallied 50 or more goals in three straight years...Earned All-America status and first-team honors on All-Suburban Council and Times-Union All-Stars senior year, racking up 97 points (4.4 points per game) on 73 goals and 24 assists, leading Niskayuna to 21-1 record...Scored 79 goals and dished 16 assists en route to a sectional championship and regional title junior year...Scored 52 goals and 11 assists sophomore year, earning the first of two second-team All-Suburban Council recognition...Helped lead Niskayuna to three state regional titles...Participated in the Jack Reed Blue Chip camp in 2012...Ranked No. 83 by Inside Lacrosse for incoming freshmen.
PERSONAL
Lucas Charles Maloney was born October 7, 1994 in Schenectady, N.Y. to Beth Ognibene and Steve Maloney...Has a younger brother, Evan...Enrolled in the division of undergraduate studies with the intent to enter communications or business.
QUOTING MALONEY ON PENN STATE
"I enjoyed the campus and coaches on my visits and I was excited about my opportunity to succeed with the lacrosse program and in the classroom."
Nick Mazza
5 - Fr. - M - 6-2 / 195 - Davidsonville, Md. / The Calverton School
BEFORE PENN STATE
Five-year letter winner at The Calverton School, earning three Under Armour All-America accolades (2011-13) and five MILL titles (2009-13)...Named first-team All-MILL four times (2010-13)...Earned All-Met and All-State honors junior year...Ranked 44th by Inside Lacrosse for incoming freshmen...Participated in the Under Armour All-American Senior Showcase in 2013...Teammates at Calverton with fellow Nittany Lion classmate Cole Rainier...Twice earned first-team All-MILL honors in golf (2010-11).
PERSONAL
Dominick Sanio Mazza was born September 23, 1994 in Baltimore, Md. to Frank and Dana Mazza...Has a younger brother, Jonathan, and a younger sister, Lia...Uncle, Craig Johnson, and aunt, Debbie Royer, both attended Penn State...Intends to major in business.
QUOTING MAZZA ON PENN STATE
"I chose Penn State because of its great reputation and I wanted to play lacrosse for Coach Tambroni."
Cole Rainier
43 - Fr. - M - 6-1 / 195 - Pasadena, Md. / The Calverton School
BEFORE PENN STATE
Three-year letter winner at The Calverton School...Earned All-America honors...Helped lead Calverton to three straight MILL titles (2011-13)...Teammates at Calverton with fellow Nittany Lion classmate Nick Mazza.
PERSONAL
James Cole Rainier was born February 9, 1994 in Baltimore, Md. to Chris and Rachel Stencil...Has a younger sister, Zoee...Enrolled in the division of undergraduate studies.
QUOTING RAINIER ON PENN STATE
"I chose Penn State because of the amount of opportunities they have out in this world."
Anthony Santo
15 - So. - D - 5-11 / 185 - West Islip, N.Y. / West Islip (Sacred Heart)
BEFORE PENN STATE
Spent the 2013 season at Sacred Heart University, but did not see game action...Lettered four years at West Islip High School and was teammates with current Nittany Lion Nick Aponte...Senior year earned honorable mention All-America, leading West Islip to a New York championship and a 21-1 record...Collected 113 ground balls and forced 99 turnovers senior year...Also lettered on the football team.
PERSONAL
Anthony Santo was born May 19, 1994 in West Islip, N.Y. to Paul and Debra Santo...Has an older sister, Justine, and a younger brother, Joseph...Anticipates majoring in economics.
QUOTING SANTO ON PENN STATE
"I chose Penn State because I have always wanted to be a part of the school since I was five-years old."
Mike Sutton
39 - Fr. - M - 5-9 / 190 - Sewell, N.J. / St. Augustine Prep
BEFORE PENN STATE
Lettered four times at St. Augustine Prep and was a former teammate of current Nittany Lion Tommy O'Neill...Earned All-America honors junior and senior year......Ranked 36th by Inside Lacrosse for incoming freshmen...Participated in the Under Armour All-American Senior Showcase in 2013...Played four seasons of club ball with Duke's Lacrosse.
PERSONAL
Michael Kent Sutton was born August 13, 1995 in Camden, N.J. to Jacqueline and Kent Sutton...Has an older sister, Julie, who plays lacrosse for Alvernia University...Intends to major kinesiology in order to pursue a career as a physical therapist.
QUOTING SUTTON ON PENN STATE
"I loved what the school has to offer along with the Penn State lacrosse program."
Peter Triolo
45 - Fr. - D - 6-1 / 185 - Smithtown, N.Y. / Smithtown East
BEFORE PENN STATE
Four-year letter winner at Smithtown East earning Academic All-America distinction senior year...Named All-County and All-League junior and senior years...Named team's defensive MVP three times...Earned Under Armour Underclass All-America honor in 2012...Served as team captain junior and senior years...Helped Smithtown East to four-straight playoff appearances including a semifinal showing senior year...Collected 90 ground balls, forced 30 turnovers and scored 10 times...Played eight years of club lacrosse for Team Smithtown.
PERSONAL
Peter Anthony Triolo was born August 11, 1995 in Syosset, N.Y. to Kathy and Pete Triolo...Has an older sister, Devin, and a younger sister, Nicole...Intends to major in engineering.
QUOTING TRIOLO ON PENN STATE
"I chose to attend Penn State because of its going lacrosse program, excellent coaching staff and facilities, and outstanding school community."
Cole Yeager
2 - Gr. - M (FO) - 5-10 / 180 - Wayne, Pa. / Radnor (Yale)
BEFORE PENN STATE
2013 (Senior at Yale): Missed season due to injury.
2012 (Junior at Yale): Appeared in 11 games and won 46-of-89 faceoffs (51.7 percent) for the Ivy League champions...Picked up 15 ground balls...Earned preseason honorable mention All-America, All-Ivy League and first-team All-New England honors.
2011 (Sophomore at Yale): Saw time in all 14 contests, winning 140-of-216 faceoffs (64.8 percent), which ranked fourth in the nation...Collected a team-high 75 ground balls (5.36 per game), which ranked 17th in the nation...Earned Robert Merrick Memorial Trophy for most ground balls on team...Scored five goals...Garnered All-New England Second Team honor.
2010 (Freshman at Yale): Played in three games, winning 12-of-20 faceoffs (60 percent) as the Bulldogs won the Ivy League.
BEFORE COLLEGE
Earned four letters in lacrosse at Radnor High School, earning two All-Central League and All-Main Line honors...Picked up the most ground balls junior year and was named team MVP...Three-year letter winner in wrestling, earning Pennsylvania Academic All-State Second Team (160 lbs.).
PERSONAL
Cole Blasius Yeager was born June 8, 1990 in Philadelphia to David and Elisabeth Yeager...Younger brother, Matt, plays lacrosse at Colgate, and younger sister, Amelie, plays at Lafayette...Graduated from Yale University with a bachelor's of science degree in geology and geophysics as part of the energy track...Pursuing a master's of science degree in energy engineering, while focusing in energy management and policy.
QUOTING YEAGER ON PENN STATE
"I chose Penn State because it is a phenomenal institution for my field and the PSU lacrosse team is on the cusp of being a national championship-caliber program."