UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Mac Costin scored the game-winning goal in overtime as time expired on the shot clock to give Penn State a 9-8 win over Michigan on Senior Day in Big Ten men's lacrosse action Friday night at Panzer Stadium.
The win was reminiscent of last season's victory over Michigan, which also came on Senior Day. Mac O'Keefe scored the game-winner with three seconds left in overtime in that one. Costin's game-winner on Friday came with 2:34 left on the clock, but it was still a buzzer-beater as it crossed the line just as the shot clock hit zero.
Costin's overtime goal prevented a huge comeback win by Michigan. Penn State led 7-2 after Mark Sickler scored a man-up goal just 33 seconds into the third quarter, but the Wolverines scored six of the final seven goals in regulation to tie the score. Josh Zawada put in the equalizer with 3:03 to play.
Hudson Bohn came up with a huge faceoff win to give Penn State the first, and as it turned out only, possession in overtime. The Lions kept possession after a Dan Reaume shot went wide. Costin had a shot blocked but picked up the ground ball. After some initial confusion, he noticed the shot clock winding down and delivered the clutch shot to help the Lions improve to 3-8 overall and 1-2 in the Big Ten. The Wolverines fell to 7-5, 0-3 B1G.
The Penn State defense turned in one of its best performances of the season, holding Michigan well below its season average in scoring. The Wolverines entered as the sixth-best offense in the nation with an average of 15.36 goals per game. Aleric Fyock was terrific in goal, stopping 15 of the 23 shots he faced, including a potential go-ahead score with 1:51 left in regulation.
Senior captain Brian Townsend and Kevin Parnham each had two caused turnovers, leading the charge as Penn State caused six turnovers as a team. Jake Morin and Jack Posey had one apiece.
Penn State's energy in front of a raucous home crowd was noticeable early on as it used a total team effort to jump out to an early lead. The Lions' first seven goals were all scored by different players.
Reaume jump-started his Senior Day celebration with a goal 36 seconds into the game, and Bohn followed with a goal just seven seconds later after winning the ensuing faceoff. The Lions held a 3-1 lead after one quarter thanks to a pole goal by Jack Posey with 2:02 left on the clock. Posey, a junior, has now scored in two-straight games, including his first-career goal last game against Ohio State.
Michigan cut its deficit to one early in the second quarter, but Penn State followed with a 3-0 run with goals by senior Jack Kelly, freshman Michael Faraone, and Costin to take a 6-2 lead at the half. Sickler's man-up goal to start the second half made it a 4-0 run before the Wolverines started their comeback.
Kelly and Faraone's goals both marked significant individual accomplishments. Kelly's was the 100th point of his career, while Faraone's was the first score of his young career.
Penn State honored 11 seniors prior to the game. They were Tommy Baker, Nate Buller, Jordan Donaghy, Tate Gallagher, Jake Glatz, Seamus Glynn, Jack Kelly, Brayden Peck, Dan Reaume, Brian Townsend, and Joe White.
Townsend and Peck, a pair of captains for the Lions, helped lead the team's outstanding defensive effort against the Wolverines. Gallagher picked up a pair of ground balls, Glatz came in to win a key faceoff, Reaume scored a pair of goals, and Kelly scored once.
Justin Brown led Michigan with five goals. He scored twice during the Wolverines' 4-0 run that tied the game. Zawada chipped in with one goal and two assists.
Friday marked the fifth one-goal game of the season for the Lions.
Penn State now turns its attention to Johns Hopkins. The Lions travel to play the Blue Jays on Saturday, April,16, at 6 p.m. The game will air live on ESPNU.
