May 1, 2018
Full Big Ten Release
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The Penn State men's lacrosse team saw five individuals honored by the Big Ten on Tuesday afternoon when the league announced the 2018 Men's Lacrosse All-Big Ten Teams and Individual awards, as voted on by the league coaches. The Nittany Lions' list of honorees was highlighted by sophomore Gerard Arceri, who was named the 2018 Specialist of the Year for his efforts at the face-off 'x.'
Arceri, who was named to the First Team All-Big Ten, finished the season with a 68.1-winning percentage at the 'x,' earning 216 wins this season. He scooped up an impressive 145 groundballs, for 10.36 per game, adding a career-best six goals, while dishing out one assist. His percentage at the face and his ground balls per game are both good for fourth in the NCAA and lead the Big Ten. Arceri claimed a Big Ten Conference single season-best six Specialist of the Week honors in 2018.
Joining Arceri on the All-Big Ten First Team was fellow sophomore Mac O'Keefe. The attackman earned his spot on the first team after recording 46 points in his second season. O'Keefe netted a team-best 35 goals, adding 11 assists to his stat line. He also scooped up 17 ground balls, while causing an impressive seven turnovers as an offensive player.
The Nittany Lions also saw junior Chris Sabia and sophomore Colby Kneese each earn a spot on the All-Big Ten Second Team.
Sabia, the anchor to the Penn State defense, led the team with 19 caused turnovers this season, as well as scooping up 23 ground balls. The defenseman also added a career-best five goals. Sabia's 1.36 caused turnovers per game is second in the Big Ten. This is Sabia's second All-Big Ten Second Team honor of his career, garnering the award in 2017 as well.
Kneese recorded eight wins in the cage for the Nittany Lions finishing 2018 with a 54.9-save percentage, which leads the Big Ten and is good for ninth in the nation. He also leads the Big Ten in saves per game, averaging 10.36 after making 145 on the year.
Penn State saw senior Tripp Traynor named the 2018 Big Ten Sportsmanship honoree. The short stick defensive middie was named a 2018 team captain and on the field, he finished the season second to Arceri with 33 ground balls. He also caused eight turnovers and dished out one assist and scored a goal.
The Nittany Lions sends its 2018 senior class of Traynor, Tanner Peck, Will Schreiner, Hunter Pearl, Ryan Keenan, Chris Isenberg, and Tyler Butler, with an 8-6 record, and a 2-3 record in the Big Ten, including topping No. 5 Johns Hopkins for the first time in program history.