March 3, 2014
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The ascension of the Nittany Lion men's lacrosse program under fourth-year head coach Jeff Tambroni has continued with a ranking of seventh in Monday's USILA Coaches Poll. Penn State checks in seventh in the latest Warrior Inside Lacrosse Media Poll.
Penn State has eclipsed its previous ranking of eighth which it received in the 2014 preseason coaches' rankings as well as on two occasions in 2013 as well as a pair of time in 1992 and 1996.
The Nittany Lions have risen through the polls on the back of road wins over then-No. 4-Notre Dame and then-No. 19 Ohio State in the past two weeks. The Fighting Irish are now eighth following a road victory over then-No. 2 North Carolina, who comes in at sixth.
Future Big Ten opponents Maryland and Johns Hopkins make up two of the top three spots in the USILA poll, coming in at first and third. Ohio State, which was 19th last week, is the first team receiving votes this week as all three losses have come to top 10 teams (Johns Hopkins, Penn State and Massachusetts, who is ranked ninth).
The USILA poll features three CAA teams with Penn State leading the way at No. 7. UMass comes in at No. 9, while Drexel fell to No. 17 following a loss at Villanova, another Penn State opponent who is receiving votes this week.
Meanwhile, in the IL poll voted upon by select members of the media, the Nittany Lions jumped three spots from 10th to seventh, one spot behind the aforementioned Fighting Irish who leap-frogged Penn State following a win at North Carolina. PSU opened the year in the seventh position in the preseason poll.
In the Larosse Magazine rankings, Penn State was ranked eighth, one spot behind North Carolina and two spots behind Notre Dame.
Penn State's arduous schedule continues next week with a Monday night clash at No. 12 Denver, who fell six spots following a 12-10 loss at Penn, who rose to No. 14 this week.
Denver will be Penn State's fourth straight opponent followed by Massachusetts (March 15), which will take place in Happy Valley. By March 22's contest against No. 18 Albany, Penn State may have faced six opponents ranked in the top 20 in seven games.