April 12, 2018
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Penn State men's lacrosse is set for another tough Big Ten matchup Saturday afternoon against Johns Hopkins. After a close loss to Maryland Sunday night, the Nittany Lions are looking to create a shift in momentum heading into the rest of the season.
Last week, the team attacked the week of preparation focusing on the little things, honing in on the process rather than the results. While the plan is to do the same this week, the Nittany Lions are also making some additional adjustments in preparation for the Blue Jays.
"We'll definitely have to do some different things in our defensive end because they have some guys that can give us some trouble in some different ways [and we will have to] attack their offense a little bit differently because they're a little different, stylistically," Penn State head coach Jeff Tambroni said. "When it comes to the simplicity of the game plan [and] focusing on smaller details versus bigger picture stuff, without question, we feel it is in our best interest to make sure we do that."
In the midst of the Big Ten season, Penn State has started to play perhaps its best lacrosse of the season. After cycling through the peaks and valleys of the first half of the season, for Tambroni and the team, things started to turn in their favor around spring break.
Over the course of the week away from campus, the Nittany Lions played three games and scored a combined 32 goals. Penn State beat Penn and Furman early in the week, before dropping a tough battle to Cornell.
"I think it was the moment we came back and took a day off, our preparation into those next games really just seemed to take on a whole different spirit," Tambroni said. "Our guys came to the field not just as players wearing the same uniform, [but] truly started to understand what it meant to be a great teammate."
Not only does the coaching staff feel that way, but also the players. Senior midfielder and captain Tanner Peck also felt the team's attitude shifted after the loss against the Big Red.
Along with members of the coaching staff, the team has praised the camaraderie of the group. Not only has their closeness made them better teammates, but it has also improved their performance on the field.
"After the loss against Cornell we got together as a team and talked about the potential that we have and the importance of coming together," Peck said. "With a few injuries early in the season and throughout the fall, it's been really important to come together as a team. Just using all of our strengths has been really important as we've been on the up-swing later in the season."
Saturday's game takes on a bit of an extra special meaning not just because Johns Hopkins is coming to Happy Valley, but also because the team will be welcoming back alumni and members of the Friends of Jaclyn Foundation.
Penn State will also honor the 2003 team in a special halftime ceremony recognizing the first Nittany Lion squad to qualify for the NCAA Tournament.
"From a historical perspective, we're very proud of the legacy our alumni have left behind," Tambroni said. "We're thrilled to be able to honor that group that is coming back and extremely grateful that they would take the time to come back, to get in the car and drive to central Pennsylvania is a commitment."
Penn State will also honor its adopted teammate Gavin Royer, a 9-year-old cancer patient, who is currently in remission. The team was paired with Gavin through the Friends of Jaclyn Foundation back in 2014. Since then, Gavin and his family attend most of the Nittany Lion home games, seated on the sideline. This week, he will serve as an honorary captain.
While Gavin and the rest of the Royer family have certainly benefited from the impact of the team, they have also made a huge impact on the Nittany Lions.
"He's a special kid," Peck said. "I've grown so much in my relationship with him over the last four years and just the perspective he brings to life every day is something special. No matter what you're going through, no matter how hard a practice or a workout is, you know there's a kid that's part of this team that's going through way worse, and he continues to bring a smile in everything that he does."
Despite all the different events scheduled for the afternoon, the coaching staff wants to make sure the team keeps its attention on the Blue Jays. While the staff wants the team to enjoy the festivities and take in the special day, it is also important to shift their focus to the game plan once they step on the field.
"With all that's going on, we're just thrilled that we can celebrate all that's great about Penn State," Tambroni said. "At the same time, this is going to be the greatest task of the year to see if they can just focus on the details. It's a lot on our coaching staff to make sure that our guys focus on the details of just doing what they need to do, playing hard and playing together against a really good Johns Hopkins team. If we can do that, not only will we maximize our potential, but we'll also help celebrate all that's great about Penn State."