UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.- Penn State men's lacrosse opens it 2022 campaign on Saturday afternoon by hosing Lafayette. First faceoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. at Holuba Hall.
Due to limited space in the facility, Saturday's game is closed to the public.
Following a 2021 season that consisted of a Big Ten only schedule, the Leopards will be the first non-conference opponent the Nittany Lions have played since a 22-7 victory against Furman on March 10, 2020.
HOW TO FOLLOW
Saturday, February 5 | 1 p.m.
Live Stats
SERIES HISTORY
- This will be the 27th all time meeting between the Nittany Lions and the Leopards. Penn State is a perfect 26-0 against Lafayette dating back to 1927.
- The last time these two teams meet was the 2020 season opener where Penn State won 16-9 at Panzer Stadium. Former Nittany Lion Grant Ament had 10 points in the game while another former Nittany Lion Gerard Arceri became Penn State's all-time career ground ball leader with 443.
- Current Nittany Lions Canyon Birch, Sutton Boland, Grant Haus, Jack Posey, Jackson Reynolds, and Sam Sweeney all made there collegiate debuts in the 2020 game against the Leopards.
A LOOK AT THE LEOPARDS
- The Leopards return both of their top scorers from last season in the form of sophomores Peter Lehman and Charlie Cunniffe. Lehman was named the Patriot League Rookie of the Year in 2021, leading the team in goals with 20, notching four assists, and picking up 16 ground balls. Cunniffe led the team in assists with 11 and was tied with Lehman for the team lead in points with 24.
- Lafayette named seniors Cole Dutton and Ryan Kirkwood, and juniors JP Robinson and Sean Rushton as captains for the 2022 season. All four of them served as captains for the Leopards during the 2021 season.
- Patrick Myers is entering his fourth season as head coach of the Leopards. Myers spent time as an assistant for Penn State head coach Jeff Tambroni at Cornell in 2005, which was his first full-time assistant position in college lacrosse. Myers played at Big Ten rival Ohio State, earning the GWLL Rookie of the Year award in 2000.
HOME IS WHERE THE HEART IS
- The Nittany Lions are 8-3 in home openers since Tambroni took over in 2011.
- Since 2011, the Nittany Lions have had a .500 or better record at home in all but one season (2012).
NEW PROTECTOR OF THE CAGE
- Following the departure of long-time goalie Colby Kneese, redshirt junior Aleric Fyock is slated to be the starter in cage for the Nittany Lions.
- Fyock has played in five games over his college career, making 22 saves with a .478 save percentage.
- Fyock was named Big Ten Co-Specialist of the Week following a 15-save performance in his first collegiate start during a 10-9 road win against Ohio State on April 24, 2021. He sealed the game with a kick save with 10 seconds remaining in the game.
THE GALLAGHER CONNECTION
- Graduate midfielder Tate Gallagher's older brother Mac played for the Lafayette program from 2013-2016.
- Mac appeared in 44 games over his four-year span for the Leopards.
B1G PLAYERS TO WATCH
- Seniors Brayden Peck, Brian Townsend and Jack Traynor were named Big Ten Players to Watch during the preseason.
- Traynor received the honor for the second-straight season.
PENN STATE TEAM CAPTAINS
- Brett Funk, Brayden Peck and Brian Townsend will serve as team captains for Penn State during the 2022 season.
UP NEXT
- Penn State stays in Happy Valley for its next game as it hosts Villanova on Saturday, Feb. 12, at 3 p.m. The game will be played at Panzer Stadium (weather permitting).
- That game will be the season opener for Villanova.