UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Four Penn State players were named 2020 Maverik Men's D1 Media All-Americans by Inside Lacrosse Wednesday. Redshirt senior Grant Ament was a first-team selection, seniors Mac O'Keefe and Nick Cardile earned spots on the second team, and junior Jack Kelly was tabbed as an honorable mention.
Ament tallied 44 points on 13 goals and 31 assists in Penn State's seven games. He ranked second in the nation in assists per game (4.57) and third in points per game (6.43). He led the Big Ten in both categories. He had two of the nation's top 15 single-game point totals of the season, totaling 10 on four goals and six assists in a season-opening win over Lafayette and eight on three goals and five assists in a win at Villanova.
Ament, who has declared for the PLL and MLL professional drafts, leaves Penn State as the Big Ten and program career record holder in points (284) and assists (191).
O'Keefe continued to be one of the top goal scorers in the country this season, ranking fourth in the nation and first in the Big Ten in goals per game (4.00) and 17th in the nation and third in the conference in points/game (5.14). Through seven games, O'Keefe had 36 points on 28 goals and eight assists. He scored a season-high six goals in a game twice, doing so in wins over Lafayette and Saint Joseph's.
Cardile anchored a defense that allowed the second-fewest goals per game (11.0) in the Big Ten. The Lions held their opponent to single-digit goals in three of their seven games. Cardile finished with eight caused turnovers and seven ground balls. He also contributed offensively with a pair of goals, scoring in wins over Villanova and Penn.
Kelly was tied for fourth on the team with 12 goals and added three assists for 15 points. The midfielder also picked up nine ground balls, including a key ground ball before recording the assist on the game-winning goal in an overtime win over Penn. Kelly scored multiple goals in four games, including a season-high four in a win at Villanova.
Penn State was 5-2 on the season. The Lions were ranked in the top 10 of the USILA Coaches Poll all season, including a No. 1 ranking for part of the year.
