Penn State's offense has generated goals seemingly at will to this point in the season, so much so, it can overshadow the efforts of a player like Nick Spillane (Franklin Square, N.Y.).
Spillane's six points provided the difference in Penn State's win over Cleveland State last weekend. When the situation requires it, Spillane is consistently there for his teammates on the offensive side of the field. His versatility speaks to his team's attitude of playing together as a group, which head coach Jeff Tambroni emphasizes on a weekly basis with his offense.
"Our offense is set up to take advantage of all six guys," Tambroni said. "The timeliness of his plays has to do with a combination of his ability, maturity and courage. In the Cornell game, he scored a couple of really big goals down the stretch, so I think he recognizes the moment as a veteran player.
"I also think he's courageous enough to make mistakes, and you need to have that senior leadership. If you do, you can be in every game as guys like that have a sense about them, and it is great to see him take a lead role in some of these crucial moments in these games."
The Nittany Lions are no stranger to adversity, and Spillane is good at focusing on the next task at hand, as his all-around proficiency stabilizes any nerves on offense.
"I think moving around has made me more versatile throughout the offense," Spillane said. "I know where everyone is going to be a lot of the time, and it helps me think a couple moves ahead."
"You can put him in any position on the offensive end and watch him succeed," Tambroni said. "I know he's done that for us from his freshman year until now, and he has certainly developed into one of Penn State's finest lacrosse players."
Spillane has also matured as a player to the point where he knows which matchups the coaching staff will want him to take advantage of to help out Penn State's offense.
"I think the experience I have built over the last couple years and the confidence our coaching staff has in me helps," Spillane said. "When I get a short-stick on me from an opposing defense, I have the ability to make plays in those situations."
Spillane was recently selected No. 10 overall in the Major League Lacrosse Draft by the Ohio Machine. As a result, he knows lacrosse has the chance to become a big part of his life, even after he leaves Happy Valley.
"Getting drafted is an unbelievable feeling," Spillane said. "There have been so many people who have had an immeasurable impact on my growth as a person and a player.
"From the day I stepped on campus, (Tambroni) challenged me to grow and develop into a better player and teammate. I am so grateful for all the time and effort he has put into me, which has definitely allowed me to grow and mature through my four years."
As for what teams at the next level see in Spillane, Tambroni thinks it could be a combination of things rather than a specific skill.
"I consider him a sneaky-good lacrosse player," Tambroni said. "The more you watch him, the more you appreciate it. He doesn't have an overly flashy game, but he does just about everything really well. He's got an elite set of skills, he's a great passer, he can finish and beat you off the dodge or the feed."
Spillane's development had humble beginnings, but he showed considerable amount of growth as early as his first season in Blue and White.
"There was a game his freshman year against Ohio State, which was really when he turned the corner," Tambroni said. "He was making headway the week or so before that in practice, and we put him in at midfield and he scored a couple goals and I don't think he's ever looked back. That was a defining moment for him."
"I think you learn to deal with situations better, because at the end of the day you don't know to handle failure if you don't experience," Spillane said. "Being out there making plays helps you mature over time, so being thrown in the mix later in my freshman year was a weird situation going out and playing against Ohio State, but you have to be confident and when you move past that, it's a huge growing point."
The greatest source of Spillane's growth is possibly from the sheer number of roles he's carried at different points in his Penn State career.
"I think everyone got a little better last year when Grant (Ament) went out, because everyone's role increased," Tambroni said. "With Nick in particular, he's accepted his role and excelled. In the course of his four years, coming in as an attackman, then transitioning into more of a midfield role, he has taken on a leadership role for us, filling in a number of different roles."
As Penn State gets ready for a challenging Big Ten opener against Maryland on the road this weekend, Spillane knows how important it is to set the tone early in conference play as the Nittany Lions prepare to face the gauntlet that typically presents itself in Big Ten lacrosse.
"We know (Maryland) is the standard of college lacrosse," Spillane said. "They've been to countless Final Fours and championships, they can win games a lot of different ways.
"We're focusing on what we need to do better and their defense will present a challenge. If we want to play in big games down the stretch this year, these are moments that we have to embrace and be ready."
