No. 10 Penn State (2-1) men’s lacrosse lost to No. 5 Princeton (1-0) 11-10 in overtime in an early season top-10 clash.

The Nittany Lions were once again led by Matt Traynor, who notched five goals on the attack. A four-goal fourth quarter brought Penn State back from the brink, though it couldn’t close out.

How It Happened

Princeton exploded with pressure right off the faceoff, scoring its first goal of the season just 46 seconds in. Penn State found the net halfway through the first quarter with a Mac Hobbs wraparound shot just outside the crease.

Princeton goalkeeper Ryan Croddick rejected a wide-open Penn State opportunity midway through the second quarter, a highlight save for his career, then posted a massive assist to Jackson Green minutes later.

Princeton’s Matt McKeekin was sent to the penalty box during the second quarter, serving one minute for head contact.

The beginning of the first half went back and forth, with Princeton jumping out to a 2-0 lead early, but Penn State kept tugging along, responding with three goals. After Princeton claimed its largest lead of the game, 6-3. With 10:55 left in the second quarter, Penn State head coach Jeff Tambroni called his first timeout.

Matt Traynor scored the final goal of the half for the Nittany Lions coming out of a timeout. Princeton led 8-6 at the half.

Princeton shook off an early 30-second penalty and then scored the first goal of the second half by Wade Tucker. That would be all the action in the third quarter.

Hunter Aguino scored his third goal and Penn State’s first goal of the second half with 13:13 remaining in the fourth quarter. Traynor secured his hat trick less than a minute later to cut the deficit to 9-8.

Princeton and Penn State traded goals again with roughly 10 minutes left in the game as Coulter Mackesy scored for Princeton, but Traynor scored his fourth right off the faceoff. Princeton led 10-9.

Traynor finally tied the game with an unassisted goal, scoring his fifth of the game and 14th of the season with roughly five minutes left.

Regulation ended at 10-10, sending the game to a four-minute sudden-death overtime.

Princeton’s Colin Burns scores the game-winning goal with 2:04 left on the clock in overtime to secure the Princeton victory.

Takeaways

• Croddick recorded a multitude of highlight-reel saves. He would finish with 21 saves, 10 goals allowed, and a .677 save percentage.
• Princeton led the entire game, jumping out to a 2-0 lead to start the game, then retaking the lead after a tie in overtime to win the game.
• Penn State dominated the faceoff battle, winning 18 and claiming 24. Princeton also claimed 24 but only won eight faceoffs.

What’s Next?

Penn State will face Navy at home at 1 p.m. on Saturday, February 22. Folks unable to attend can stream the game on BTN+.