ROSEMONT, Ill. - The Penn State men's lacrosse team landed three student-athletes on the 2024 Big Ten Players to Watch list while also being picked to finish second in the 2024 Big Ten Men's Lacrosse Preseason Poll. TJ Malone, Matt Traynor, and Jack Fracyon were named to as Players to Watch in 2024.
Malone seals his second straight Player to Watch recognition. The graduate-student captain was named Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year, earned a spot on First Team All-Big Ten list and was named an All-American by Inside Lacrosse, USILA, and USA Lacrosse Magazine a season ago. This season, Malone was already named a Preseason All-American by Inside Lacrosse and USA Lacrosse.
The West Chester, Pa. native fired a career-high 39 goals, 34 assists for a total of 73 points in 2023 and scooped 44 ground balls and caused seven turnovers.
Traynor earns his first Big Ten Player to Watch honor after finishing 2023 with a career-high 32 goals, seven assists for 39 points. He was named an USA Lacrosse Magazine Third-Team All-American and placed on the Inside Lacrosse Mid-Season All-American Second Team list.
The Downington, Pa. native was named a Preseason All-American by USA Lacrosse and Inside Lacrosse earlier this month.
Fracyon secured his first Big Ten Player to Watch award after a 2023 of many accomplishments. The Annapolis, Md. native, made a career-high 222 saves on 650 chances for a save percentage of .562 in 2023 while recording a record of 11-5-0 in net.
He was named the Big Ten's Specialist of the Year while also being placed to the All-Big Ten First Team. Fracyon ended 2023 by being placed on the USILA, Inside Lacrosse and USA Lacrosse Magazine All-American list.
The Nittany Lions were voted to finish second in the Big Ten's Preseason Poll. Johns Hopkins was selected to finish first while Maryland, Michigan, Ohio State and Rutgers rounded out the poll.
Penn State begins the 2024 season on Saturday, Feb. 3 when they host Colgate. Game-time is set for noon.
2024 BIG TEN MEN'S LACROSSE PRESEASON POLL
1. Johns Hopkins
2. Penn State
3. Maryland
4. Michigan
5. Ohio State
6. Rutgers
2024 BIG TEN MEN'S LACROSSE PLAYERS TO WATCH
Brett Martin, Sr., Johns Hopkins
Russell Martinez, Sr., Johns Hopkins
Scott V. Smith, Sr., Johns Hopkins
Logan McNaney, Gr., Maryland
Luke Wierman, Gr., Maryland
Ajax Zappitello, Sr., Maryland
Carson Billig, Sr., Michigan
Bo Lockwood, So., Michigan
Hunter Taylor, So., Michigan
Connor Cmiel, Sr., Ohio State
Gannon Matthews, Jr., Ohio State
Bobby Van Buren, Jr, Ohio State
Jack Fracyon, Jr., Penn State
TJ Malone, Gr., Penn State
Matt Traynor, Jr., Penn State
Jack Aimone, Sr., Rutgers
Shane Knobloch, Sr., Rutgers
Ross Scott, Sr. Rutgers
