April 29, 2016
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - No. 18 Penn State men's lacrosse (7-6, 1-3) is set to wrap up the 2016 regular season with a crucial Big Ten matchup against Michigan (3-9, 0-4) on Senior Day Saturday, April 30 at the Penn State Lacrosse Field. Opening faceoff is set for noon, live on the Big Ten Network with Mike Wolf and Greg Bice on the call.
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PROMOTIONAL SPOTLIGHT
- Penn State will also to pay tribute to the 2016 senior class in a pregame ceremony, featuring James Burke, James Chakey, Ryan Guittare, Tommy O'Neill, TJ Sanders, John Von Nessen and Connor Darcey, honored posthumously, after passing away in a tragic accident in 2015.
- Giveaway: Penn State will offer free men's lacrosse sweatbands to fans while supplies last.
SETTING THE SCENE
- The Nittany Lions moved to 7-6 on the year and 1-3 in the Big Ten standings last week after coming up short in a back-and-forth 15-14 loss on the road at then-No. 19 Rutgers. Both Nick Aponte and Billy Lombardi logged career-high efforts. Aponte led the team with four goals while Lombardi went 18-32 from the faceoff "x," and picked up seven ground balls.
- In a fairly new series history that dates back to the first meeting in 2012, Penn State has won each of the last four meetings against Michigan. Last year, Penn State and Michigan met for the first time as conference foes with the Nittany Lions claiming a 10-9 win on the road in Ann Arbor.
- Following a five-point outing on the road at then-No. 19 Rutgers, freshman Grant Ament earned his third career Big Ten Freshman of the Week honor. Ament scored two goals on just three shots, while also dishing out a team-high three assists.
- The matchup is also part of the Creator's Trophy competition, an annual contest featuring the first three Big Ten member schools to start lacrosse (Penn State, Ohio State, Michigan). The trophy is presented when a team is 2-0 against the other schools - with PSU entering the contest having an opportunity to take the trophy for the first time since 2014.
A CLOSER LOOK AT THE WOLVERINES
SCOUTING MICHIGAN
Michigan enters the weekend at 3-9 on the year and 0-4 in Big Ten conference outings, having lost each of the last seven games. Kyle Jackson, Ian King and Pete Kraus are pacing the Wolverine offense with at least 13 goals apiece. Jackson leads the group with 34 points (28g/6a). U-M goalie Gerald Logan has a team-high 149 saves on the year, as the Wolverines 12.58 saves per game ranks fifth nationally and leads the conference.
| Last Three vs. Michigan |
| 4/25/2015 | W, 10-9 | A |
| 2/8/2014 | W, 22-7 | H |
| 2/9/2013 | W, 11-6 | A |
SERIES HISTORY vs. MICHIGAN
In a fairly new series history, that dates back to the first meeting in program history in 2012, Penn State has won each of the four meetings against Michigan. Last year, Penn State and Michigan met for the first time as conference foes with the Nittany Lions claiming a 10-9 win on the road in Ann Arbor.
LAST TIME OUT: APRIL 25, 2015
Ann Arbor, Mich. - Penn State held Michigan to one goal in the first half and staved off an attempted Wolverine comeback to beat Michigan 10-9 and advance to the inaugural Big Ten Tournament.
Nick Aponte and TJ Sanders led a group of six Nittany Lion goal scorers with three goals each.
Leading by three at halftime, 4-1, Penn State managed to maintain its lead, out-scoring the Wolverines, 4-3 in the third quarter. Michigan came storming back, using a 4-1 streak to cut the lead to one, 9-8. Sanders' third goal pushed PSU ahead, 10-8. Penn State held off U-M for good, despite a Wolverine goal with 2:27 remaining in regulation.
SENIOR SENDOFF
Penn State men's lacrosse is set to pay tribute to its 2016 senior class, featuring James Burke, James Chakey, Ryan Guittare, Tommy O'Neill, TJ Sanders, John Von Nessen and Connor Darcey (posthumously). Across four years, the 2016 senior class has earned 31 wins and has been a part of some of the most historic moments in Penn State lacrosse history.
In the 100th season of Penn State Lacrosse, they made their first appearance in the NCAA Tournament since 2005 and set a program record with a 12-win season. 2015 brought another history moment as these seniors ushered in the inaugural season of Big Ten men's lacrosse, while also earning berth to the first Big Ten Tournament. Most recently, the 2016 seniors helped make more history, defeating No. 1 Denver to mark the first program victory over a top-ranked opponent.
CREATOR'S TROPHY ON THE LINE
Penn State, Michigan and Ohio State compete for The Creator's Trophy, an annual award presented when a team is 2-0 against one of the other programs. In its fifth year, the trophy was created to honor the rivalries among the first three Big Ten lacrosse schools at the time Michigan added the sport in 2012. PSU won the 2012 and 2014 titles, while OSU earned the trophy in 2013 and 2015. After defeating Ohio State and the Buckeyes loss to Michigan, the Nittany Lions could potentially win the trophy with a win against the Wolverines in the regular season finale. A loss to Michigan would result in no trophy being awarded this year.
AMENT EARNS ANOTHER B1G HONOR
Following a five-point outing on the road at No. 19 Rutgers, freshman Grant Ament earned his third career Big Ten Freshman of the Week honor. Ament scored two goals on just three shots, while also dishing out a team-high three assists. Registering five points, Ament also notched his eighth consecutive multi-point outing.
ALL ABOUT BALANCE
Penn State has a total of eight Nittany Lions with at least 10 goals on the year, with five of the 10 having posted at least 15 this season. Led by senior TJ Sanders' 24 goals, PSU has been helped out by at least six different goal scorers in all but one game this season.
HELPING OUT
Having notched at least five assists in all but three games this season, Penn State is averaging 7.00 assists per game, which ranks 14th nationally and third in the Big Ten conference.
Penn State's starting attack unit with Nick Aponte, TJ Sanders and Grant Ament features a trio with double figure assists and goals. With one assist in all but three games this season, Aponte has totaled 18 helpers. Leading the team with 28 assists, Ament's averaging 2.15 per game, which ranks 12th nationally and third in the conference.
SUCCESS WITH SCORING
Penn State is outscoring its opponents 155-139 on the year, with a scoring offense that's ranked 15th nationally, averaging 11.92 goals per game. Penn State's .345 shot percentage is also slotted seventh nationally and first in the conference.
Penn State has scored at least 10 goals in eight of 13 games this season, at 5-3 in outings with 10 or more goals. The Nittany Lions are also out-scoring their opponents in the first, second and third quarter, out-scoring foes 42-32 in the first and third quarters alone.
Penn State scored 37 goals in just the first two games of the season, marking the most amount of goals in the first two games of the season in program history. The 37 goals were the most since Penn State scored 36 in the first two games of the 1987 season and the first 30-plus scoring through two games since the Nittany Lions had 33 goals in 2013.
FRESH CONTRIBUTIONS
Through 13 games, the Nittany Lion newcomers have continued to make their mark, contributing 41 goals and 37 assists for nearly 32 percent of the team's total point scoring this year. At least one freshman has scored in all 13 games this season for the Nittany Lions, with six rookies posting at least two goals on the year.
Grant Ament highlights the talented newcomer group with at least two goals in eight of the last 10 games, netting two in the win against No. 1 Denver and against No. 5 Maryland. Against Hobart, Ament recorded his first collegiate hat trick, while also tallying a pair of assists for a team-high five points. On the defensive end, Chris Sabia has started all 13 games and is tied for second on the team with nine caused turnovers.
All 16 Nittany Lion rookies saw action in Penn State's 2016 season-opening victory against Robert Morris. Making the most of their debuts, a total of six newcomers combined for seven goals and six assists. Trevor Scollins also saw action in goal, notching two saves in 10:50 seconds between the pipes.
FINDING MOMENTUM AT ATTACK
Penn State's starting attack unit consisting of veterans TJ Sanders and Nick Aponte and freshman Grant Ament has combined for 57 goals and 53 assists, for just under 50 percent of the team's total point-scoring this year.
With each member of the trio having posted at least 35 points or more on the year, both Ament and Aponte have reached the 40-point mark. Sanders has proven to be the top goal scorer with 35 points (24g/11a). Ament and Aponte have registered at least 18 goals and assists apiece, serving as a duo that can successfully distribute and finish.
In the last five games, the trio has logged 23goals and 17 assists for 40 of the team's 85 points during the stretch. Aponte recently matched a career-mark twice, with four goals against No. 17 Johns Hopkins and at No. 19 Rutgers, while Sanders had a hat trick against then-No. 8 Harvard before registering two goals vs. then-No. 1 Denver.
SANDERS NEARING ANOTHER MILESTONE
With a team-high four goals in Penn State's win against Robert Morris, senior TJ Sanders notched his 100th career goal to join an elite group as just the seventh Nittany Lion all-time to amass 100 career goals. As the first Nittany Lion to hit the mark since Jack Forster in 2013, he needs seven more goals to tie for first all-time. Sanders has scored at least two goals in all but five games this season and is one of two Nittany Lions in program history to notch 120 goals.
UP NEXT
Should the Nittany Lions defeat Michigan, the Nittany Lions would earn their second consecutive berth to the Big Ten Tournament as the No. 4 seed.
| SEASON NOTES |
PENN STATE LACROSSE STADIUM PROJECT WELL UNDERWAY
Penn State Athletics has unveiled plans for an $8.4 million enhancement to the Lacrosse facility, with a fundraising goal of $5.5 million dollars. The facility would serve as home to both Penn State men's and women's lacrosse programs and is set to be built in the same location as the current Penn State Lacrosse Field. For more information visit the Nittany Lion Club site.
The project includes the addition of: Stadium style seating, concessions, press box and full broadcasting capabilities, multi-purpose room for events, ticket office and exterior fencing.
"We are dedicated to the building process as we create a sustainable, built-to-last model of success," head coach Jeff Tambroni said, "our newly renovated lacrosse facility is an essential step in the process for our men's and women's programs."
DUO NAMED TO TEWAARATON WATCH LIST
Penn State's Nick Aponte and TJ Sanders have been named to the 2016 Tewaaraton Award watch list. The Nittany Lion duo is among the top players across all three divisions of NCAA Lacrosse to be recognized as early contenders for the prestigious award, presented by Under Armour. The Tewaaraton Award, annually honors the top male and female college lacrosse player in the United States. On April 28, the field will be narrowed to 25 men's and 25 women's nominees.
PSU PICKED FOURTH IN B1G COACHES POLL
Penn State has been voted fourth in the 2016 Big Ten Preseason Coaches' Poll with Nittany Lions redshirt juniors Matt Florence, Drake Kreinz and senior TJ Sanders named Penn State's Players to Watch. Johns Hopkins claimed the top spot in the 2016 poll with a unanimous selection from the league's head coaches. Maryland and Ohio State rounded out the top three at spots two and three, respectively. Michigan and Rutgers were selected fifth and sixth.
BIG TEN PRESEASON PLAYERS TO WATCH
Redshirt seniors Matt Florence and Drake Kreinz and senior TJ Sanders earned Penn State Big Ten Preseason Player to Watch honors. The preseason nod is the second straight for Kreinz and Sanders, who both earned 2015 Player to Watch honors prior to the inaugural season of Big Ten lacrosse. Florence earns his first career Big Ten preseason honor, having capped off the season with Big Ten All-Tournament team honors. A 2015 Academic All-Big Ten selection, Kreinz served once again as Penn State's top faceoff specialist in 2015, playing in 13 of 14 games. A USILA All-America honorable mention, Sanders returns as one of the Nittany Lions' top offensive contributors in 2016, having earned both All-Big Ten honorable mention distinction and Academic All-Big Ten awards last year.
TRIO TO LEAD AS 2016 CAPTAINS
A trio of midfielders will lead the team during its 2016 campaign. Seniors Tommy O'Neill and James Burke and redshirt junior Drake Kreinz have been voted as captains. The process for choosing captains has remained unchanged for years and Jeff Tambroni is confident in the system he has in place.
"There are a number of different factors going into the captains process," Tambroni said. "One is a consensus vote from last year's team, we want to get exiting seniors, graduating seniors opinions on who they believe will lead this team most effectively."
After the team vote, Tambroni and fellow assistant coaches evaluate upperclassmen during the fall semester before making a final decision. Penn State men's lacrosse has experimented with the number of captains the team has every year. In 2014 three seniors led the team but in 2015 the task fell solely on senior Kyle Zittel.
TAMBRONI SIGNS 11 TO NLI
Jeff Tambroni has announced the signing of 11 newcomers to National Letters of Intent during the early signing period. From U.S. Lacrosse All-Americans and MVPs to state champions and honor roll athletes, this year's class features a talented group poised to join the Nittany Lions in 2016.
Gerard Arceri (Saint James, N.Y.), Nick Cardile (West Grove, Pa.), TJ Connellan (Cazenovia, N.Y.), Colby Kneese (Dallas, Texas), Nick McEvoy (Bethesda, Md.), Mac O'Keefe (Syosset, N.Y.), Kane Randolph (Annapolis, Md.), Jack Rusboldt (Richmond, Va.), Mitch Schaefer (Canandaigua, N.Y.), Conor Smith (West Islip, N.Y.) and Barrett Sutley (Stevenson, Md.) are all set to arrive in Happy Valley.
Three of the signees are ranked within Inside Lacrosse's list of top 25 recruits with Arceri ranked No. 11, O'Keefe tabbed No. 23 and McEvoy slotted No. 25.