Penn State men’s lacrosse began Big Ten play with a statement win over Maryland. The Nittany Lions opened the second quarter with a 7-3 lead after surging off early momentum. The team’s success this season can often be attributed to its ability to maintain offensive possessions and get off to quick starts.

Penn State didn’t trail once through the entire contest and notched at least one goal from eight different players. The depth has needed to step up in the absence of sophomore All-American Hunter Aquino for the past three games. From the freshmen to the seniors, the group has a deep rotation of guys who are all capable of making an impact when called on. Head coach Jeff Tambroni acknowledged that filling in for Aquino is not an easy task, but credits the attack for stepping up.

“The attack in general has done a terrific job. It is a tough void to fill, and Hunter has big shoes to fill, but I would say that gap has been filled by guys like Kyle [Lehman], Liam [Matthews], and Jack [Iannantuono],” Tambroni said. “It has been essential for our productivity offensively.”

One of the guys Tambroni heavily credited was Lehman, a junior on the team. In a recent three-game stretch, the Nittany Lions faced Cornell, North Carolina, and Maryland, all three ranked in the top 15. Lehman tallied seven goals and four assists during the stretch, bringing his season total to 16, the most on the team. Between injuries and constantly facing ranked opponents, it hasn’t been an easy stretch of games for Penn State, but it’s answered the call.

“When you’re playing against extremely talented and successful teams, it helps build momentum. Our guys do a great job through the week preparing for the first five minutes of a game, being ready not only physically but also mentally,” Tambroni said.

While the offense has been in sync since day one, there was a bit of a gap in the goal situation to begin the year. As the season has progressed, so has freshman Preston Hawkins. Since the Villanova matchup in week two, only North Carolina and Navy have surpassed ten points against the Nittany Lion defense, highlighting Hawkins’ growth. Against the Terrapins, he had 14 saves on 28 shots, working at an efficient 50% clip. Tambroni acknowledged it hasn’t all been pretty for Hawkins, but credits his mentality for his recent success.

“When we played the Colgate game, he got pulled from that game, but the very next day, he texted some teammates and got right back to work. In this latest stretch, he’s played fairly well, and it has not disrupted his routine in any way,” Tambroni said. “He has remained very humble and hungry in terms of his willingness to work, and it stands out to me because he is doing this all as a freshman, which is rare at his age.”

Despite Hawkins’ hard work, Tambroni believes the goalie group as a whole is worthy of praise.

“He’s got a really good goalie room, and they are all phenomenal in their approach. Ben Johnson is one of the hardest-working players, not just goalies, I’ve ever worked with,” Tambroni said. “They are all great teammates to each other, no matter what happens or who starts. The combination of them has been the most significant, and he’s super lucky to have them around because they’re all supportive.”

While Penn State fields a very impressive goalkeeper, its next opponent has one of their own. Ohio State goalie Caleb Fyock started all 17 games in goal for the Buckeyes last season. He led the nation with a .612 save percentage on the season, the best by a Buckeye goaltender in the last century. Fyock was named the USILA Ensign C. Markland Kelly Jr. Outstanding Goalie for his 2025 campaign.

Preston Hawkins measures in at 5-foot-11 and 170 pounds. Unlike Hawkins, Fyock profiles at 6-foot-2, 275 pounds, posing a new challenge for the Nittany Lions.

“It definitely changes your shooting angles when you’re taking shots against a goalie of his size. We will need to be super precise and take what we can get. It’s really important going into this week, regardless of position, that we don’t overthink who we’re going against. We believe in our best,” Tambroni said.

The two teams met last year at Panzer Stadium, with the Buckeyes winning 13-9. Last season, Ohio State was led in scoring by Alex Marinier, who notched 50 goals. In his previous meeting with the Nittany Lions, he had two goals. Returning for another season as a graduate student, he will be a familiar face in this year’s battle.

Penn State will attempt to erase the memories and not let them factor into the matchup, but they sure left a sour taste. Penn State graduated a large class of seniors in 2025. Coach Tambroni understands it is hard to erase the feeling of losing to a Big Ten rival on your home field, but he wants to focus on the present moment.

“When you turn over your senior class and bring in a freshman class, there is a great sense of pride,” Tambroni said. “The memories are there, but we have to worry about where we are right now. Both sides understand where a 2-0 start places you in the Big Ten. We need to focus on what it takes to be successful right now. We need to be prepared for this year’s team.”

Penn State’s offensive attack has been the star of the season, and something the team has been leaning on. Through eight games, the Nittany Lions rank first in the Big Ten in goals per game, with 13.6. This type of offense will be hard to come by against the Ohio State defense, which has not allowed a single opponent to reach double digits. Through nine games, the Buckeyes’ defense ranks first in the Big Ten, only allowing 57 goals.

“In the last couple of games, our offense has been grinding out possessions and scoring opportunities against very capable defensive units,” Tambroni said. “You have to move on to the next possession mentally, keep it flowing and positive, and figure out ways for success if things don’t go well right away. Ohio State is strategic and finds ways to win in different fashions.”

After a rollercoaster start to the season, Penn State seems to have found its groove. With a tough stretch of ranked Big Ten opponents ahead, momentum will be key. With or without Aquino, the Nittany Lions will need to find ways to win if they hope to make the NCAA tournament.