UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- No. 7 Penn State men’s lacrosse fell to Villanova, 14-13, in Holuba Hall, dropping PSU to 1-1 on the season, while VU improves to 1-0. The back-and-forth affair saw nine tie scores and three lead changes.
Penn State’s offense, though quieter than last weekend, posted 19 points on the afternoon. Sophomores Chase Robertson and Hunter Aquino each clocked hat tricks in the outing. Aquino also tallied and assist for four points. Freshman Jack Iannantuaono match Aquino with four points, scoring his second career goal and dishing three apples. Kyle Lehman was the team’s third leading scorer, putting away a pair of goals. Senior defender Alex Ross’s pole goal was the score to force overtime, headlining a list of five other Nittany Lions to tally a point.
Freshman netminder Preston Hawkins finished his first career game, posting eight saves and scooping a pair of groundballs in the contest. Lucca DiBartolomeo caused a trio of turnovers to lead PSU in the category, while vacuuming three groundballs. At the faceoff, Reid Gills and Colby Baldwin combined for 18 wins on 31 pulls. Gills scooped seven groundballs while Baldwin added six.
FIRST QUARTER – 3-3
- Penn State midfielder Chase Robertson found the net early at 13:32, marking his second goal of the season and the first of the afternoon. Just minutes later, the Wildcats tied it, starting a trend in the contest.
- After some back-and-forth play, Hunter Aquino scored his fifth goal of the season on a feed from Jack Iannantuono to put the Nittany Lions up, 2-1. At 7:22, Villanova’s Luke Raymond scored his first goal of the season leveling the score again.
- Despite strong defense by the Wildcats, Iannantuono at X found Aquino on an alley dodge, who scored at 4:38. To keep Penn State maintaining the lead, Villanova’s Colin Michener scored his first goal of the season, ending the first quarter, 3-3.
SECOND QUARTER – 6-6
- Villanova won the initial faceoff and took a couple shot attempts, PSU held strong to deter the attack.
- A quick PSU turnover on the other end led to Villanova’s Nick Lucchesi scoring his first unassisted goal of the season to take the lead back for VU. Just minutes later, the Wildcats tacked on another, furthering their lead.
- Attackman Kyle Lehman hustled on the turf and scored his fourth goal of the season with the helper from Aquino at the 9:13 mark.
- After more back-and-forth play, Villanova’s Gavin Michener scored his first goal of the season. Despite shot attempts by Aquino, Iannantuono and John Jude Considine, the Nittany Lions couldn’t find the net.
- Goals by Robertson and Lehman in the closing 1:04 of the half put Penn State back in it, pushing the scoreboard to six all.
THIRD QUARTER – 9-8, Penn State
- Villanova started the second half strong as freshman attacker Kessy Cox scored his first goal of the season, assisted by Lucchesi at 13.54, to retake the lead. Defensive efforts by both sides led to a Penn State offensive possession. Iannantuono’s second unassisted to tie the game at 7-7.
- Penn State heated up on the turf and made many attempts at the net, starving for a chance to take the lead. At 4:21, Robertson scored his third goal of the game putting the Nittany Lions up by one.
- Penn State’s edge was short-lived as Villanova attackman Colin Michener, assisted by Ryan Martin, evened the score. Following a shot clock violation, Jon King scored his first goal of the season to put the Blue & White up.
- With seconds left in the third quarter, Penn State was able to starve the Wildcats of any scoring opportunities.
FOURTH QUARTER – 13-13
- Less than a minute into the final period or regulation, Lucchesi scored his second goal of the game. Villanova could not hold Penn State for long as Aquino stepped in and took the lead at 10:02.
- Considine converted his groundball into his first goal as a Nittany Lion following his transfer from Hobart. Despite a turnover by Michener and a blocked shot by Michael Faraone, Andrew Beard found an open path to put Penn State up by two.
- Villanova cut the lead by two at 5:49 following a faceoff win. Despite attempts from Penn State to hold the Wildcats, goals by Cox and Dan Martin tied it with 3:32 to go.
- A groundball pickup from Raymond turned into his second goal of the season and allowed Villanova to take the lead. The lead was short-lived as defender Alex Ross found the net for his second career goal, evening the score.
- Unsuccessful shot attempts and saves by both sides resulted in overtime.
OVERTIME – 14-13, Villanova
- The initial faceoff of the extra period, won by Baldwin, was whistled back after the Wildcat’s stick became lodged in his own. The referees awarded a new faceoff, to which Villanova won, capitalizing just a minute later to seal the victory for the visitors.
POST GAME NOTES
- Penn State fell to 20-10 in the all-time series against the Wildcats.
- The goal by Ross marks the second of his career. Both of his scores have come in games that went to overtime (last at Cornell, 13-12 OT win).
UP NEXT
Penn State will head to the Garden State on Saturday, February 14 to face off against No. 3 Princeton. Faceoff is set for noon on ESPN+.
FOLLOW THE NITTANY LIONS
Visit GoPSUSports.com for more information on Penn State men’s lacrosse. Fans can keep up to date with the Nittany Lion men’s lacrosse team on X and Instagram @PennStateMLAX, in addition to the team’s Facebook page at /PennStateMensLacrosse.