TICKETS | PARKING
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- Penn State men's lacrosse is set to play at Panzer Stadium for the first time this season as the Nittany Lions host Villanova on Saturday at 3 p.m. The game will stream on B1G+.
The Nittany Lions offense started the season on fire last week in a 20-15 victory over Lafayette at Holuba Hall. Jack Kelly, Jack Traynor, and Nils Barry all registered five points in the victory.
HOW TO FOLLOW
Saturday, February 12 | 3 p.m.
Live Stats | B1G+
SERIES HISTORY
- This will be the 27th all time meeting between the Nittany Lions and Wildcats. Penn State is 19-7 against Villanova in a series that dates back to 1990.
- The last meeting between the two teams came on February 8, 2020 at Villanova. No. 2 Penn State came out victorious over No. 20 Villanova by a score of 19-10. Former Nittany Lion Grant Ament broke the program record for career points in the game registering his 258th career point. Current midfielder Jack Kelly also had four goals in the game.
- Before the 2021 Big Ten only schedule due to COVID, the Nittany Lions and Wildcats had played against each other for 13 consecutive seasons.
- The last win for Villanova against Penn State came on February 2, 2018, in a 17-16 overtime victory over the 12th-ranekd Lion. John Kluh scored the winner for Villanova after the Wildcats erased a five-goal, fourth-quarter deficit.
SCOUTING THE WILDCATS
- This game will be the season opener for the Wildcats. Villanova went 7-5 in the 2021 season, including a 6-4 record in Big East play. Their season ended at the hands of Georgetown after a 14-12 loss in the first round of the Big East Tournament.
- Villanova lost team leader in points Keegan Kahn in the offseason as he joined Big Ten school Maryland as a graduate transfer. Kahn led the Wildcats with 58 points in 12 games, notching 26 goals and 32 assists.
- Last season's scoring leader Matt Campbell returns after scoring 32 goals last season. The senior midfielder was named a Preseason Third Team All-American by Inside Lacrosse and USA Lacrosse Magazine. He was also named to the Preseason All-Big East Team.
- The Wildcats welcomed four graduate transfers in the offseason in the form of J.P. Basile (Duke), Brett Baskin (John's Hopkins), Chris Hervada (Monmouth), and Luke Keating (Franklin & Marshall). Baskin is familiar with Penn State, playing against the Nittany Lions three times as a part of Johns Hopkins last season. He had two points against the Nittany Lions over his career at Hopkins.
- Mike Corrado is entering his 16th year as the head coach of Villanova with a career record of 118-98. Corrado has led the Wildcats to three NCCA Tournaments and was named the 2019 Big East Coach of The Year.
FRESHMAN HIT THE GROUND RUNNING
- Some new Nittany Lions hit the ground running in last weekend's win over Lafayette. Kyle Aldridge and Nils Barry each had five points in the game. Will Peden also had three points in the win.
- Barry's three goal, two assist effort earned him Big Ten Co-Freshman of the Week honors alongside Ryan Cohen of Michigan.
- Jack Fracyon saw time in the cage in relief and was a brick wall in the second half. The freshman made 8 saves on 13 shots and earned the win in his first ever collegiate appearance.
- Kevin Parnham put together a solid effort, picking up five ground balls in the win. He led the team in ground balls amongst non-faceoff specialists.
SENIORS LEAD THE WAY
- Despite strong play from the underclassmen, Jack Traynor and Jack Kelly led the way for the Nittany Lions in the win against Lafayette.
- Traynor notched four goals and an assist in the win. Traynor returned to form after missing stretches of the 2021 with injuries.
- Kelly was at the heart of almost everything offensively for the Nittany Lions. He also had four goals and one assist in the win, highlighted by a behind-the-back assist to Traynor for one of his goals.
"JUST OUTSIDE OF PHILLY" HIGH SCHOOL LAX
- Both teams boast products from two high school lacrosse powerhouses from right outside of Philadelphia, Malvern Prep and The Haverford School.
- Nittany Lions Jordan Donaghy, Seamus Glynn, Matt Traynor, Will Peden, Jack Traynor, and Pup Buono are products of Malvern Prep, along with Jimmy Gabrielsen, Tucker Milhous, and Keith Carra from Villanova.
- Wildcats Chris Hervada and Gavin Burke along with Penn State's TJ Malone and Mac Costin are all products of The Haverford School.
PENNSYLVANIA LACROSSE RIVALRIES
- Villanova is the first of four in-state opponents Penn State is slated to play in 2022. The Nittany Lions also have Saint Joseph's, Penn, and Bucknell on the schedule.
- Penn State is the first of three Pennsylvania opponents the Wildcats will play in 2022. Villanova will host Philadelphia schools Penn and Drexel later in the season.
BIG TEN'S PERFECT WEEK 1
- Big Ten teams went a perfect 6-0 in the first week of the 2022 college lacrosse season.
- Wins came against Detroit (Ohio State), High Point (Maryland), Jacksonville (Johns Hopkins), Lafayette (Penn State), Long Island (Rutgers), and Bellarmine (Michigan).
- Rutgers added a win over Marist on Wednesday.
UP NEXT
- Penn State has a short turnaround following the matchup with Villanova. The Lions host Vermont on Wednesday at 3 p.m.
- The Catamounts are 0-1 with a 15-7 loss to Duke in their opener. They led the Blue Devils 4-2 at the half.