UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The Penn State men's lacrosse team scored five Inside Lacrosse Midseason All-Americans as the magazine announced on Friday afternoon. TJ Malone, Grant Haus, Alex Ross, Matt Traynor, and Jack Fracyon each made the Midseason All-American list. They five join 17 other student-athletes from the Big Ten.
Malone and Haus each received a second team nod as Malone has been on track for a career-high year with 17 goals and 25 assists this season in just eight games played. The West Chester, Pa. native who was named a Preseason All-American by Inside Lacrosse, has been named an USA Lacrosse Division I Player of the Week, been named to the USILA Team of the Week, and has received one Big Ten Weekly Award. He sits as the key points leader for the Nittany Lions and sits first in the Big Ten in points per game with 6.00.
Haus has tallied one goal and one assist this season while scooping 16 ground balls and causing one turnover. He scored his first goal of the season against Ohio State on March 24 and has played in all eight games this season.
Ross who was named to the third-team continues to be the top defenseman for the Nittany Lions causing nine turnovers this season while scooping 12 ground balls. He's caused at least one turnover in six of the eight games he has played this season. Ross has been named to the USILA Team of the Week once this season while being named the Big Ten's Defensive Player of the Week once as well.
Traynor who earned a Honorable Mention nod sits as the leading goal scorer for Penn State with 27 on the year and adding four assists to tally 31 points. The Downington, Pa. native has scored at least one goal this season while he also tallied a career-high seven goals against Cornell on March 9. Traynor sits fifth in the nation in goals per game with 3.38 and second in the Big Ten.
Fracyon also earned an Honorable Mention recognition as he has been a brick wall in net for the Nittany Lions this season. He sits first in the Big Ten in save percentage at .587 while also sitting first in the conference in saves per game with 12.13. He's been a big part in Penn State's seven game win-streak as he has held opponents to under 10 goals a game at 9.35. He's been named Big Ten Specialist of the Week twice this season and named to the USILA Team of the Week once this year.
Penn State returns to action on Sunday, March 31 when they play host to No. 12 Maryland at 7 p.m.
Steven Walter