Penn State men’s lacrosse hasn’t had the ideal start to the season it was hoping for, but even through adversity, there are still many lessons to be learned for a growing team. The Nittany Lions lack a lot of experience in the starting lineup, but are quickly figuring out the importance of fast starts and good preparation.

In its most recent outing against Yale, Penn State jumped out to an early 8-1 lead midway through the first half. Going into the matchup, the Nittany Lions struggled with offensive success early in games, often hitting rough patches in the second quarter. Head coach Jeff Tambroni understands that strong starts are built through weekly preparation.

“Coming off our losses to Villanova and Navy, our guys have done a good job of bouncing back,” Tambroni said. “Each of those weeks, we were motivated by the previous frustration. The key is maintaining sustainable effort. Hot starts come from urgency in preparation, and we have to continue improving every week.”

That preparation has helped fuel offensive success, particularly from freshman Jack Iannantuono. He’s quickly carved out a major role in the Nittany Lion offense, making an impact since day one. Just five games into the 2026 season, he already has six goals and ten assists under his belt. Most recently against Yale, Iannantuono posted two goals and four assists, continuing to grow into what Tambroni describes as a quarterback role within the offense.

“The greatest compliment you can give a lacrosse player is that he makes others better,” Tambroni emphasized. “It is a really hard thing to do regardless of age, and it speaks volumes about who he is. He works hard every day and stays focused. When he steps on the field, he elevates the guys around him, and he basically serves as a quarterback for us.”

The offensive unit as a whole is still working through some of its early-season growing pains. Although the chemistry is still a work in progress, the depth is unquestioned. In an average game, Penn State rotates in seven different midfielders and four attackmen, all playing significant minutes. This allows for flexibility within the roster while the group continues to gel.

Following the matchup with Yale, Penn State has had 17 different players tally at least one goal. Out of the Nittany Lions’ top 10 scorers, seven have at least six goals on the season, echoing the offensive firepower on the roster from top-to-bottom.

“The chemistry is still developing, but we have the depth we want. We’ve had our struggles in various stretches, but the group enjoys playing alongside one another. I still think there’s a high ceiling for all of us,” Tambroni said.

One area of every game that has remained consistent for the Nittany Lions has been the dominance at the face-off stripe. Against Yale, Penn State won 21 of 28 face-offs, helping generate multiple unanswered scoring runs. Tambroni understands the advantage Penn State holds in having two different guys who can both win.

“We’re blessed to have two guys who complement each other well,” Tambroni said. “Splitting reps helps keep their energy up, and we recognize how fortunate we’ve been. Our staff is working hard to maximize that advantage. They have done more than their part to keep us in every game.”

In the 2025 season, Penn State and Cornell met twice. The first meeting happened in Ithaca, New York, where the Nittany Lions topped the Big Red 13-12 in overtime. The second meeting happened on a much bigger stage, the NCAA tournament semifinals. With a trip to the championship on the line, Cornell knocked off Penn State 11-9, ending the Nittany Lions’ season. The Big Red advanced to face Maryland and claimed a 13-10 victory, crowning themselves as the 2025 NCAA men’s lacrosse champions.

Tambroni understands the matchup is not framed around revenge, but he acknowledges there are many lessons to be learned from those past games.

“It would be a waste of time to go back and think too much about it,” Tambroni said. “There are a lot of new faces, but we do reflect on the comparisons and how they played us. There’s a ton of valuable information in the scouting report of how we matched up.”

In 2025, CJ Kirst led the Big Red with 82 goals. He ended up getting drafted first overall in the Premier Lacrosse League by the Philadelphia Waterdogs. Although there may be a generous amount of new faces on both sides, Cornell still returned at least two of its top scorers.

With the departure of Kirst, Cornell looked to others to fill the gaps. Juniors Willem Firth and Ryan Goldstein have stepped up and now lead the offense. They will both be familiar faces from last year’s matchups. Between the two games last season, Goldstein tallied four goals. Tambroni understands how dangerous both can be, not only individually, but as a pair.

“Both are extremely skilled and play off each other well,” Tambroni emphasized. “They’ve done a terrific job filling the gap left by Kirst. They play with a high level of confidence, which allows them to take smart risks. Individually, they’re a handful, and as a tandem they’re even more dangerous.”

While there may be shifting pieces with each changing season, the core concepts of what makes Cornell successful remain true. What stands out most about the group is their pace and identity.

“The way they play, they’re not just talented but also efficient. The names change, but how hard they compete always remains the same. You always have to be paying attention because they find different ways to score. They never settle and apply pressure constantly,” Tambroni said.

When lining up against a dangerous offense like Cornell, sound defense will be key. When speaking on the defense, Tambroni pointed to senior Alex Ross as an example of stability within the Penn State roster. He credited his growth and the impact he’s had on the younger guys filling in behind him.

“Alex has grown significantly through his years here,” Tambroni stated. “A quality trait about him is that he doesn’t get too high or low emotionally. He is very tactical in his approach, and you rarely see him get disrupted. That type of poise helps our younger guys understand what it takes to be confident.”

While the offense has been very strong as of late, its biggest struggle has been turnovers. Through five games, Penn State ranks second in the Big Ten with 99 turnovers, almost 20 a game. With challenging games on the horizon, it is an area that Penn State will need to tighten up if it hopes to make significant noise this season.

“If I’m being honest, it’s been bad lacrosse at times,” Tambroni said. “We need to be more deliberate week to week and put in extra work. Our guys have to be more prepared because you can’t win meaningful games with that many turnovers. That is not a winning formula, and we’ll continue to work on it.”

As Penn State prepares for a championship-level rematch, the focus remains consistent in preparation. The Nittany Lions will aim to play with urgency, protect the ball, and match the pace of one of the nation’s most efficient teams. For Tambroni, a successful formula begins long before the opening face-off.

Penn State will host Cornell at 1 p.m. on Saturday, March 7, at Panzer Stadium. The game will be streamed on BTN+.