BALTIMORE, Md. – Mac Costin recorded a hat trick for the second time in three games, but it wasn't enough as Penn State fell 13-10 to Johns Hopkins in Big Ten men's lacrosse action Saturday at Homewood Field.
Garrett Degnon scored six goals to help Johns Hopkins improve to 6-7 overall and 2-2 in the Big Ten. Penn State dropped to 3-9 overall and 1-3 in the conference.
The game was close after one quarter with Johns Hopkins taking a 4-3 lead. Costin, who scored the game-winner in overtime against Michigan last game, scored Penn State's first two goals against the Blue Jays. Mark Sickler scored the third with 1:43 to play in the quarter.
The Blue Jays pulled away with a 4-0 run in the second quarter that included three-straight goals by Degnon before Penn State's Will Peden ended the run with a goal. The Blue Jays scored the first three goals of the third quarter to take their largest lead of the game at 11-4.
The game was played in a consistent rain and included a one-hour lightning delay. It was also penalty-filled with Johns Hopkins serving five minutes on seven penalties and Penn State playing shorthanded for three minutes, 30 seconds on five penalties. Despite that, each team scored just one man-up goal.
Freshman goalie Jack Fracyon played the second half and was a bright spot for the Lions. He made 11 saves on 15 chances.
Peden, the reigning Big Ten Freshman of the Week, finished with four points on one goal and three assists. Jake Morin tallied one goal and one assist, while Dan Reaume, Sickler, Grant Haus, Canyon Birch, and Ethan Long each scored once. Brian Townsend, Nils Barry, and Tate Gallagher each chipped in with one assist.
Freshman Kevin Parnham and junior Sam Sweeney led the Penn State defense statistically. Parnham finished with four ground balls and one caused turnover, while Sweeney caused two turnovers and picked up two ground balls.
Up next for Penn State is a road game at Rutgers on Saturday at 4 p.m. The game will air live on the Big Ten Network.
Penn State is now locked in to the fifth spot in the Big Ten standings and will travel for its quarterfinal game of the Big Ten Tournament in two weeks. The Lions will play at either Johns Hopkins or Ohio State depending on next weekend's results. Ohio State and Johns Hopkins are currently tied for third with the Buckeyes holding the tiebreaker due to their head-to-head win. The Buckeyes close the regular season with a game against Michigan, while the Blue Jays play No. 1 Maryland.
