UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The No. 10 Penn State men's lacrosse team begins Big Ten tournament play at home as they play host to Rutgers on Saturday, April 27 at 3 p.m.
FOLLOW THE ACTION
Date: Saturday, April 27
Time: 3 p.m.
Place: University Park, Pa. | Panzer Stadium
Live Statistics: Saturday
Watch: Big Ten+
Game-Notes: Penn State (PDF)
PARKING
- Parking is available in campus decks.
- Fans are encouraged to prepay for athletics event parking at a discounted rate of $5.50 through the ParkMobile app, or by clicking here. Prepayment is available through 11:59 p.m. the day before each event.
- Day of Event parking is in the on-campus parking decks (HUB, East, Eisenhower, Nittany, and West) for $40. Eisenhower Deck parking will be cash only and due upon entry, while parking at the East, HUB, Nittany and West decks will be payable by credit card upon exiting at pay-on-foot machines inside each deck.
- noon - Women's Lacrosse vs. Ohio State – Big Ten Tournament – Panzer Stadium
- 12:30 p.m. – Baseball vs. Minnesota – Medlar Field
- 1 p.m. – Softball vs. Michigan – Nittany Lion Softball Park
- 3 p.m. – Men's Lacrosse vs. Rutgers – Big Ten Tournament – Panzer Stadium
- Admission for all events is free.
SERIES HISTORY
- This is the 74th meeting between Rutgers and Penn State.
- Rutgers lead the series 47-24 with the last matchup coming on April 19, 2024 where the Nittany Lions defeated the Scarlet Knights 15-9 .
SCOUTING RUTGERS
- Rutgers enters Friday with a 7-6 overall record and 1-4 record in Big Ten play. They are coming off an 15-9 loss to the Nittany Lions that came on April 19.
- Leading the offense is Scott Ross who leads the team with 42 points off 19 goals and 23 assists.
- In net, sits goalie Cardin Stoller who tallies a 7-6 record, GAA of 10.98 and save percentage of .538.
DEFENSE HOLDING THE LINE
- In the Nittany Lions 12 games they've played this season they have held opponents to under 10 goals a game in nine games.
- Meanwhile they are forcing a minimum of four turnovers per game against opponents as well.
- Three Nittany Lions are currently tied for the most caused turnovers on the team with 10.
FRACYON AND MALONE HIGHLIGHT 2024 BIG TEN POSTSEASON AWARDS
- Penn State men's lacrosse captured two Big Ten postseason individual awards and had six players named to All-Big Ten teams as announced by the conference on Wednesday. TJ Malone and Jack Fracyon highlighted the honors as Malone was named Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year, while Fracyon earned Big Ten Specialist of the Year. Both captured the honor for the second straight season.
- Malone who also was a First Team All-Big Ten pick, led the Big Ten in points with a career-high 61 off 32 goals and 29 assists. This season alone, Malone has ranked up seven five points plus games and nine multi-goal games. He led the Nittany Lions during the regular season in points, assists and was tied for first in game-winning goals. The West Chester, Pa. native was named a 2023 Tewaaraton Award Top 25 nominee earlier this season as this is the second time in his career.
- Fracyon had an amazing third season as he was also a First Team All-Big Ten pick. He led the Big Ten in save percentage in the regular season at .589. He also led the Big Ten is saves per game stopping 13.88 shots per game. He was named Big Ten Specialist of the Week twice this season as well as USA Lacrosse Magazine Division I Player of the Week on two occasions. He recorded a career-high 19 saves against Michigan on April 13 and has held opponents to under 10 goals in nine games this season. He started in every game this season recording a record of 9-3 which is tied for a career-high in wins in a season.
- Midfielder/Attackman Matt Traynor was named the to the All-Big Ten Second Team as he led the Nittany Lions in goals during the regular season with a career-high 36. He racked up 10 multi-goal games including a single-game high seven goals against Cornell on March 9. He was named Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week once this season as well as named to USILA Team of the Week. He also scored multiple points in 11 of the 12 games he's played this season and finished out the regular season with 36 goals and six assists for 42 points. This is Traynor's first All-Big Ten selection.
- Defenseman Alex Ross was also named to the All-Big Ten Second Team as he was the Nittany Lions top defenseman during the regular season. He finished out the regular season with 10 caused turnovers and has scooped 18 ground balls. During the season he was named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week once for his play against Navy. This is the first time in his career he's been named an All-Big Ten selection.
- Midfielder Grant Haus sealed the third All-Big Ten Second Team selections. Haus tallied two goals and one assists while causing one turnover and scooped four ground balls. Haus scored goals at Ohio State and against Michigan this season. This is his second straight All-Big Ten selection.
- Midfielder Jake Morin earned a Big Ten Sportsmanship Award for the first time in his career. Morin as played in all 12 games this season as he has scored nine goals and tallied a career-high 16 assists while scooping eight ground balls. He's tallied multiple points in seven games this season.
IN THE POLLS
- Following Penn State's win over Rutgers, the Nittany Lions remained at number 10 in the latest USILA poll announcement on Monday.
- The Nittany Lions also remained in the 10 slot in the Inside Lacrosse media poll and stayed in the seven spot in the USA Lacrosse poll.
UP NEXT
- With a win on Saturday, the Nittany Lions will advance to the Big Ten Tournament Semifinal game against Maryland in Columbus, Ohio on Thursday, May 2. Game-time is set for 8 p.m.