ROSEMONT, Ill. - The Penn State men's lacrosse team 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 2024 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.
The Nittany Lions return to action on Saturday, April 27 when they compete at the Big Ten tournament first round at 3 p.m. against Rutgers. The game will be played at Panzer Stadium.
