By Will Donley, GoPSUsports.com Student Staff Writer
UNIVERSTIY PARK, Pa. - The Penn State men's lacrosse team takes on St. Joseph's this Saturday at 1 p.m. on Bigler Field.  The Nittany Lions are 3-3 heading into Saturday's matchup, while the Hawks are 0-6.  Penn State is no stranger to having difficult seasons; the team went 0-6 last spring before getting its first victory.

The Nittany Lions are 3-0 all time against the Hawks, including a 17-6 victory over St. Joe's in 2009 - the last time the Hawks travelled to University Park.

St. Joe's is led by a strong, goal-scoring attack unit.  Sophomore attackman Kyle Williams (Marriottsville, Md.) leads the Hawks in scoring with 12 points.  He has scored nine goals and tallied three assists.  Scott Cullinan (West Chester, Pa.) is the lone senior on the attack for St. Joe's.  He is second on the team in scoring with six points off of five goals and one assist.  Sophomore Kyle Mahoney (Summit, N.J.) rounds out the attack unit.  He is third on the team in scoring with four points off of three goals and one assist.

Although the majority of St. Joe's scoring comes from its attack unit, much of the team's offensive responsibilities fall on the shoulders of the Hawk midfielders.  St. Joe's initiates much of its offense through its midfield by inverting short-stick defensemen.  This method can be chaotic for opposing defenses and forces short-stick midfielders to defend in uncomfortable areas of the field.

Sophomore midfielder Steve Dunn (West Chester, Pa.) leads all Hawk midfielders with three points off of two goals and one assist.  Freshman midfielder Johnny Simanski (Reisterstown, Md.) has also contributed offensively.  He has tallied two points off of two goals.

Senior Pat Harner (Crofton, Md.) has started all six games on defense for St. Joe's.  He has picked up eight ground balls and caused seven turnovers.  A disciplined defenseman, Harner has only earned one penalty on the season.  Sophomore Bill Bonner has started five games on defense this spring.  He has picked up seven ground balls and caused two turnovers.

Sophomore Chris Moffa (Yonkers, N.Y.) has spent the majority of the time in goal for St. Joe's.  He has an 11.13 goals against average and a .505 save percentage.  Junior Griffin Ferrigan (Baldwinsville, N.Y.) has also seen time in net for the Hawks.

Face offs will remain a key component to victory for the Nittany Lions.  With a .491 winning percentage, sophomore face-off midfielder Danny Henneghan (Beverly Hills, Mich.) has, at times, been dominant for Penn State.  Henneghan was 7-12 against a third-ranked Notre Dame team.  He was 12-21 against Rutgers - an effort that helped the Nittany Lions defeat the Scarlet Knights.  Henneghan struggled against Villanova, winning only 5-20 draws.

St. Joe's has consistently struggled at the face off.  Junior Chris Jenkins boasts a team-high .542 winning percentage.  Though, he has only taken 24 face offs this spring.  Freshman Will Abbott (Chevy Chase, Md.) has taken 44 draws this spring, but he has only won eight of them for a .182 winning percentage.  A transfer from Army, sophomore Ted Hospodar (Wayne, Pa.) is 11-42 on the season for a .262 winning percentage.

Although St. Joe's is 0-6 on the season, the Hawks provides a formidable test for Penn State.  The Nittany Lions' defense will have to contend with a deliberate, invert-oriented offense. 

The Penn State offense has struggled to consistently score this spring.  The Nittany Lions will have to rely on Henneghan to win face offs in order to secure extra offensive opportunities against the Hawks.


Will Donley, Senior Attackman, Penn State Men's Lacrosse Team, GoPSUsports.com

By Will Donley, GoPSUsports.com Student Staff Writer
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Freshman goalie Austin Kaut (Morton, Pa.) recorded 25 saves in a win this weekend against UMass at Garber Field in Amherst, Mass.  In continuing his stellar rookie campaign, Kaut is drawing comparisons to another Nittany Lion phenomenon.

Three-time All-American goalie Drew Adams, too, started as a freshman for the Nittany Lion lacrosse team.  He spent four years, 2006-'09, minding the net for Penn State, earning East Coast Athletic Conference (ECAC) Goalie of the Year laurels three times.

His best performance, however, may also have come in a game against UMass at Garber Field.  In 2007, Adams - then a sophomore - recorded 20 saves in a 6-5 overtime loss to the Minutemen.  Adams' stellar effort came against a UMass team that reached the NCAA finals the previous year.

Adams went on to become Penn State's all-time leader in saves with 694.  His save total is 123 more than any other Penn State goalie.  Joe Guterding, who minded the net for the Nittany Lions from 1979 - 1982, is second all time with 571 saves.

Adams finished his Penn State career with an all-time record of 29-25.

Kaut is 3-3 as a starter for Penn State.  He has already recorded 98 saves and a .671 save percentage in only six games.

Kaut may have one-upped Adams with a signature win against UMass at Garber Field, but only time will tell if Kaut can have the same impact as Adams on the Penn State lacrosse program.

Will Donley, Senior Attackman, Penn State Men's Lacrosse Team, GoPSUsports.com

By Will Donley, GoPSUsports.com Student Staff Writer
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - It had been almost 700 days since junior attackman Jack Forster (Jenkintown, Pa.) started a game for Penn State.  When his name was announced alongside the nine other Nittany Lion starters Saturday against Rutgers, Forster's 23-month struggle finally came to an end.

During a game against St. John's almost two years ago, Forster planted awkwardly on Jeffrey Field's grass surface, injuring his knee.  He courageously returned to finish the game with six goals and lead the team to a 6 - 5 overtime win over the Red Storm.

It was not determined until after the game that Forster did significant damage to his knee - an injury that would keep him out of collegiate competition for almost two years.

Despite multiple surgeries, Forster remained with the team.  He became a vital leader and a source of inspiration for the team this fall as he came closer to returning to the field.  Though he has years of eligibility remaining, Forster is an important member of this year's senior class that has been forced to lead a team that has, at times, started seven underclassmen.

Forster was Inside Lacrosse Magazine's third-ranked recruit in 2007.  He was a two-time high school All-American and four-time all league pick.  Forster was also picked to play in the Under Armor All-American game in 2007.  He was recruited to play alongside his brother Rob, a former Penn State attackman who graduated in 2009.

Penn State fans saw only a glimpse of Forster's skills during the Nittany Lions' fall scrimmages in 2007.  He suffered his first knee injury in a scrimmage against Towson in Baltimore.  The injury required surgery, and Forster was forced to redshirt the 2008 season.

Forster made his Penn State debut in 2009 against Robert Morris.  He finished the game with four points off of one goal and three assists.  The Nittany Lions, however, lost the game in double overtime.

During his redshirt-freshman season, Forster was second on the team with 34 points.  He scored 22 goals and tallied 12 assists in only 11 games.  Penn State finished the season 9 -5.

Forster returned to the field this season against Ohio State.  He saw only limited action in the Nittany Lions' triple-overtime loss to the Buckeyes.  Forster came off the bench against Villanova to score one goal in front of his hometown crowd.

In his first start since injuring his knee against St. John's 23 months ago, Forster scored two goals as the Nittany Lions defeated the No. 19 Rutgers Scarlet Knights.

Forster and the Nittany Lions are back in action at noon this Saturday at UMass.  Forster will make his CAA debut against the tenth-ranked Minutemen as the Nittany Lions look to topple another ranked team.


Will Donley, Senior Attackman, Penn State Men's Lacrosse Team, GoPSUsports.com

By Will Donley, GoPSUsports.com Student Staff Writer
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Despite a heartbreaking overtime loss to Big Ten rival Ohio State and a devastating 17-5 loss to Villanova, the Penn State men's lacrosse team ended its spring break with an 11-5 win Saturday against Rutgers.

The Nittany Lions played three pivotal out of conference games in seven days.  The outcomes of these games have now set the stage as Penn State heads into Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) play.

Freshman attackman Shane Sturgis (Downingtown, Pa.) led all Penn State scorers with four goals and one assist this Saturday against Rutgers.  Sturgis scored three of his goals in the fourth quarter to help the Nittany Lions pull away from the nineteenth-ranked Scarlet Knights.  His efforts Saturday earned him CAA Rookie of the Week honors.

Senior midfielder Colton Vosburgh (Kennett Square, Pa.) provided an offensive spark early in the game, scoring three goals in the first half.  Junior Jack Forster (Jenkintown, Pa.) added two goals and junior Matthew Mackrides (Newtown Square, Pa.) scored one.  Freshman attackman Gavin Ahern (Rockville Centre, N.Y.) scored his first career goal in the first quarter on Saturday.

Sophomore face off midfielder Danny Henneghan (Beverly Hills, Mich.) won 12 of 21 face offs Saturday for a .571 winning percentage.  Freshman Austin Kaut (Morton, Pa.) made 15 saves to lead the defense.

Penn State's win against Rutgers came only a week after the Nittany Lions dropped a triple-overtime game against Ohio State.  The Buckeyes scored five of the game's final six goals to defeat the Nittany Lions 6-5.

Kaut made 16 saves against Ohio State, including three key saves during the first and second overtime periods.  Henneghan won 5 of 6 face offs in the first quarter, but he failed to win a draw in the second half.  He finished the game against the Buckeyes 6-17 for a .353 winning percentage.

The Nittany Lions capitalized on early opportunities in the offensive end of the field.  Sturgis and sophomore midfielder Nick Dolik (Bloomfield Hills, Mich.) eached tallied one goal in the first quarter.  Sophomore attackman Billy Gribbin (Rockville, Md.) added two goals in the first.

That was practically it for the offense, however.  The Nittany Lions scored only once more, as Sturgis tallied his second goal of the game with 5:49 to go in the third quarter. 

The offense continued to struggle against Villanova.  The unit generated only 24 shots and mustered only five goals.  Mackrides, Gribbin, Forster and Vosburgh each scored a goal.  Sturgis led all scorers with four points off of one goal and three assists.

Kaut made 17 saves against Villanova before giving way to senior goaltender John Nichols (Myersville, Md.).  Nichols made one save in 7:30 minutes of play.

Penn State is 2-3 on the year.  The team opens up CAA play this weekend against Massachusetts.  The Nittany Lions will travel to Amherst, Mass. to play the Minutemen at noon on Saturday.


Will Donley, Senior Attackman, Penn State Men's Lacrosse Team, GoPSUsports.com

By Will Donley, GoPSUsports.com Student Staff Writer

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The Penn State men's lacrosse team takes on Big Ten rival the Ohio State Buckeyes this Saturday at 1:30 p.m. on Bigler Field.  As the only two Big Ten schools that compete in Division I lacrosse, the winning school of the annual Penn State vs. Ohio State game can call itself "Big Ten Champions" for the year.

Ohio State has already competed in four games this season - two more than Penn State.  The Buckeyes are 3-1 on the year, including a 13-8 win over the then third-ranked North Carolina Tar Heels.  The team's only loss on the season came last weekend against Massachusetts.  UMass outscored Ohio State 11-9 in Amherst, Mass.

The Buckeyes possess two talented left-handed attackmen and an athletic and capable midfield.  Sophomore attackman Jeff Tundo (Orchard Park, N.Y.) leads Ohio State in scoring with 12 points off nine goals and three assists.  Sophomore attackman Logan Schuss (British Columbia, Canada.) is second in scoring with 10 points off six goals and four assists.

These two attackmen work extremely well together, utilizing a pick-and-roll game that is rarely employed so successfully in Division 1 college lacrosse.  Because both players are strictly left-handed, they can attack the same side of the goal and force opposing defenses to defend this non-traditional offensive scheme.

Senior Jarred Bowman (Cincinnati, Ohio) leads all Buckeye midfielders with seven points.  He has scored five goals and two assists in four games, including a three-goal and one-assist performance last weekend against UMass.

Senior Mike Pires has tallied four points off four goals this season, and freshman Michael Italiano has four points off two goals and two assists to round out Ohio State's top midfield scorers.

On defense, Ohio State employs an aggressive defensive scheme that forces the Buckeye's opponents out of their traditional offensive rhythm.  Junior defenseman Keenan Ochwat (Farmingdale, N.Y.) leads the Buckeyes with eight caused turnovers.  Junior Matt Kawamoto (Springfield, Va.) is second on the team with five caused turnovers.

In goal, freshman Greg Dutton (Timonium, Md.) has made three starts for the Buckeyes.  He has saved 22 shots and boasts a .500 save percentage.  Sophomore Ryan Brant (Silver Spring, Md.) started one game for Ohio State, saved two shots and earned a .500 save percentage.

Inevitably, this game will not be decided at the defensive or offensive end of the field this Saturday.  Instead, the game will be won with ground ball play in the middle third of the field.

Ohio State has picked up 124 loose balls in four games this season.  Their opponents have only picked up 96 ground balls, 28 less than the Buckeyes.  Ochwat leads all Buckeyes with 12 ground balls this season.

Penn State has picked up 62 loose balls in two games this season.  The Nittany Lions' opponents have picked up 50 ground balls, 12 less than Penn State.  Junior midfielder Nick Dolik (Bloomfield Hills, Mich.) leads all Nittany Lions with 10 ground balls this spring.

If Penn State excels in the middle third of the field this Saturday - with strong face off and ground ball play - the team will position itself to upset the No. 12 Ohio State Buckeyes.  If that is not motivation enough, the Nittany Lions can call themselves this year's Big Ten "Champions" with a win.


Will Donley, Senior Attackman, Penn State Men's Lacrosse Team, GoPSUsports.com

By Will Donley, GoPSUsports.com Student Staff Writer
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Notre Dame sophomore midfielder Pat Cotter (Olney, Md.) fired a right-handed shot towards the Penn State goal during an Irish man-up opportunity with more than 11 minutes to go in the fourth quarter on Sunday.  Nittany Lion goalie Austin Kaut (Morton, Pa.) never had to save Cotter's shot; the ball never reached the goal.

Junior defensive midfielder Ryan Link (Englewood, Colo.) stood in front of the net and blocked the shot.  The ball ricocheted back and forth off of sticks and bodies in front of the net until Irish junior midfielder Max Pfeifer (Crozet, Va.) picked up the ball and casually buried it into the back of the net.

Pfeifer's goal began a late-game, three-goal rally by the Fighting Irish that proved to be too much for the Nittany Lions.  No. 3 Notre Dame came away with a 6-2 victory over Penn State on Bigler Field.

The Nittany Lion game plan was simple.  Limit Notre Dame's potent offense's scoring opportunities by forcing the Irish to take poor shots and take advantage of a quality Irish team defense that focuses intently on the dodger but fails to cover off-ball players.

The game plan was semi-successful.  The defense held the Notre Dame offense to only six goals on 42 shots - most of which were from poor angles or from more than 15 yards.  A lot of the defensive success had to do with freshman goalie Austin Kaut (Morton, Pa.), who started his second straight game for the Nittany Lions.  Kaut made 15 saves on the afternoon.

The offense, however, failed to take advantage of Notre Dame's lackluster off-ball play and scored only two goals on Sunday.  Junior attackman Matthew Mackrides (Newtown Square, Pa.) took a Colton Vosburgh (Kennett Square, Pa.) assist and scored Penn State's first goal with six minutes left in the first quarter.

Freshman midfielder Tommy LaCrosse (Canandaigua, N.Y.) made his first career start on Sunday and scored Penn State's second goal.  LaCrosse swept across the top of the Notre Dame defense and fired a left-handed shot past Irish goalie John Kemp (Potomac, Md.).  The third-quarter goal was the second of LaCrosse's career.

Notre Dame's on-ball defense was stellar.  Penn State midfielders and attackman, alike, could not run by the Irish defenders.  The Nittany Lions did not win their one-on-one match-ups and demand that the Irish defense slide to the ball carrier.  This allowed the Notre Dame defense to relax and fall back into what they do best: play sound team defense.

Penn State never forced Notre Dame's young goalie Kemp to make difficult saves, offering up only 19 shots.  Although facing such a limited number of shots often proves difficult for a goalie, Kemp still managed to get into a rhythm and turn away Penn State's desperate late-game attempts.

The success of the Nittany Lion defense must be recognized, however.  After two games, the defense claims a 6.5 goals per game average.  Kaut already has 25 saves on the season and boasts a .658 save percentage.

In order to keep up with the defense, Penn State's midfielders and attackman must return to the fundamentals of successful team offense and begin to run by their matchups.  If the Nittany Lion offense improves, Penn State will compete for a Colonial Athletic Association title.

The Penn State offense will get a chance to improve upon its dreadful numbers this weekend against a Big Ten foe.  The Penn State Nittany Lions take on the Ohio State Buckeyes this Saturday at 1:30 p.m. on Bigler Field.  The Buckeyes are ranked No. 12 in the USILA Division 1 Coaches Poll.


Will Donley, Senior Attackman, Penn State Men's Lacrosse Team, GoPSUsports.com

By Will Donley, GoPSUsports.com Student Staff Writer
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - What is the effective shooting range of a Division I men's lacrosse player?  Truthfully, effectiveness is hard to determine.  There are too many factors: fundamentals, hand placement, stick length, pocket depth, strength, flexibility, footwork, etc.  These factors aside, there is one determinant that is impossible to ignore: it is the quality of shots that matters, not the quantity.

A quality shot for one player is not necessarily a quality shot for another, of course.  Sure, some players live by the mottos, "You cannot score if you do not shoot" and "You miss 100 percent of the shots that you do not take."  Others understand the subtle nuances of team offense and have the ability to bait goalies and be effective by shooting around defensemen and through screens.

Last season, the Nittany Lions took 514 shots.  They scored on only 124 of those attempts for a measly .241 shooting percentage.  Junior attackman Matthew Mackrides (Newtown Square, Pa.) led all Penn State players with 119 shots.  He capitalized on 36 of those shots for an adequate .303 shooting percentage.  Sophomore midfielder Nick Dolik (Bloomfield Hills, Mich.) led all returning midfielders with 79 shots last season.  He scored on only 21 of his shots for a .266 shooting percentage.

Sophomore attackman Billy Gribbin (Rockville, Md.) ranked third among returning Nittany Lions in shots taken a season ago.  He took 60 shots, scored 23 goals and led these three with a .383 shooting percentage.

In their first game of the 2011 season, the Nittany Lions took 33 shots.  They scored only nine goals for a .273 shooting percentage.  Only 16 of Penn State's shots were registered on goal, though.  After one game, the team's shot on goal percentage is only .485.

Dolik scored one goal on eight shots for a .125 shooting percentage during Penn State's opener against Binghamton.  Mackrides took six shots and scored three times for an admirable .500 shooting percentage.  Freshman Tommy LaCrosse (Canandaigua, N.Y.) took 4 shots in his first college game.  He scored once for a .250 shooting percentage.

Of course, the Nittany Lions have played only one game this season.  These percentages will change quickly as these players take more and more shots.  Still, Penn State cannot underestimate the importance of taking quality shots this spring.

In order to win this Sunday, the Nittany Lions must force Notre Dame's young goalie John Kemp (Potomac, Md.) to make saves.  Their shots must not only be on goal, but they must be of appropriate range and placement.  Any shot beyond 12-15 yards, gives the Irish goalie a chance to make the save.  Any shot beyond 15 yards is a prayer.

The Notre Dame shooters shot only slightly better during their run to the NCAA Championship game last season.  The Irish took 582 shots last spring.  They scored on 155 of those shots for a .266 shooting percentage.  Senior midfielder Zach Brenneman (East Hampton, N.Y.) led Notre Dame with 105 shots last season.  He tallied 29 goals for a .276 shooting percentage.

Senior David Earl (Simsbury, Conn.) took 61 shots last spring and scored 22 times for a .361 shooting percentage.  Junior attackman Sean Rogers (New Hyde Park, N.Y.) registered a blistering .400 shooting percentage after scoring 14 goals on only 35 shots last spring.

Last weekend against Duke, Notre Dame took 38 shots.  The team scored 12 times for a .316 shooting percentage.  Brenneman scored 3 goals on 10 shots for a .300 shooting percentage.  Earl scored once on 5 shots for a .200 shooting percentage.  Rogers needed only two shots to score twice as the Irish revenged their championship weekend loss to the Blue Devils.

Expect Notre Dame to challenge Penn State's freshman goalie Austin Kaut (Morton, Pa.) on Sunday.  Brenneman and Earl are not shy about shooting and will dodge hard to free themselves up for left-handed shots.  Rogers is a bit defter.  He has a quick release that surprised many goalies.

The Nittany Lion defense must force Brenneman and Earl to become passers and not shooters this Sunday.  In doing so, Penn State will limit Notre Dame's most potent scoring opportunities.


Will Donley, Senior Attackman, Penn State Men's Lacrosse Team, GoPSUsports.com

By Will Donley, GoPSUsports.com Student Staff Writer
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - No member of this year's senior class has ever walked off the field following a game against Notre Dame with a reason to celebrate.  The reason being, no member of this year's senior class has ever beaten Notre Dame.

When the Nittany Lions take on the Fighting Irish this Sunday at 1 p.m. on Bigler Field, the team will not only be playing for a vital non-conference win against a top-ranked opponent; they will be playing for a group of dedicated seniors who have never quite been able to topple the Fighting Irish.

Since walking onto Penn State's University Park, Pa., campus more than three years ago, the 2011 Nittany Lion seniors have attempted to change the face of Penn State lacrosse.  Ranked the 10th-best recruiting class by Inside Lacrosse Magazine in 2007, this group boasted some of the best young players that this nation had to offer.  Still, in three tries, this group has yet to beat Notre Dame.

As freshmen, the 2011 seniors travelled to South Bend, Ind. to take on the then eighth-ranked Fighting Irish.  Notre Dame got off to a blistering start, jumping out to a 6-0 lead in the first quarter.  The Nittany Lions were unable to overcome the deficit, losing 15-9, despite outscoring the Irish 6-5 in the second half.

Notre Dame was again the eighth-ranked team in the nation when they came to University Park, Pa., to take on Penn State two years ago.  As sophomores, the 2011 seniors were still unable to defeat Notre Dame.  The Fighting Irish got off to another quick start, leading the Nittany Lions 3-0 at the end of the first quarter.  Despite the team's best efforts during the remaining three quarters, the Nittany Lions lost to the Irish 13-8.

The 2011 Penn State seniors inched closer to their goal of beating Notre Dame a year ago.  In what seems to be a recurring theme between these two teams, the then third-ranked Fighting Irish scored the game's first three goals and led the Nittany Lions 4-1 at the end of the first quarter.  Penn State's late-game rally again fell short again, as the 2011 seniors lost their third straight game to Notre Dame 12-8.

In order to beat the Fighting Irish this season, the 2011 Penn State seniors will have to lead a young but talented team against a high-powered and veteran Notre Dame squad.  The Nittany Lions will have to stifle the Notre Dame offense, controlling the Irish's physical midfield and deft attack.  Against a team that historically starts quickly, the Nittany Lions must get out to their own quick start, scoring early and often.

With the help of a core group of freshman, sophomores and juniors, the Penn State senior class plans to change the program's recent history with a win Sunday against Notre Dame.  Come out and support the entire team, as the Nittany Lions look to topple last year's NCAA Runners-up!

The 2011 Nittany Lion Senior Lacrosse Players:
#11 Matt Bernier
#18 John Brelus
#13 Greg Brown
#16 Bill Davis
#44 Will Donley
#9  Jack Forster*
#5  Alex Garrity

#3  Billy Lloyd
#43 John Nichols
#17 Matt Shankoff
#22 Colton Vosburgh


*Jack Forster came to Penn State as a member of this year's senior class.  Due to a medical redshirt, he still has years of eligibility remaining.  Still, he is a vital member of the 2011 senior class.


Will Donley, Senior Attackman, Penn State Men's Lacrosse Team, GoPSUsports.com

By Will Donley, GoPSUsports.com Student Staff Writer
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The third-ranked Notre Dame Fighting Irish travel to Happy Valley this Sunday to take on the Penn State Nittany Lions at 1 p.m. on Bigler Field.  The Irish are fresh off a run to the National Championship last season where they lost to the Duke Blue Devils on Memorial Day weekend.

In a rematch of last spring's championship game, Notre Dame revenged its loss by beating Duke 12-7 in the inaugural Sunshine Classic in Jacksonville, Fla. this past weekend.  All-American senior midfielder Zach Brenneman (East Hampton, N.Y.) continued where he left off last spring by scoring three goals and adding two assists to lead the Fighting Irish over the Blue Devils.

Brenneman was named the Big East Offensive Player of the Week for his career-high five points.

Notre Dame returns an enormous amount of firepower on offense and veteran experience on defense.  If the team's handful of young starters - at key positions like the face off and in the net - play well, the Fighting Irish are poised to make another post season run.

At the midfield, senior David Earl (Simsbury, Conn.) complemented Brenneman with a goal of his own against the Blue Devils.  Junior Max Pfeifer (Crozet, Va.) ran along side Brenneman and Earl on Notre Dame's first midfield line.

Notre Dame's second midfield was led by Pat Cotter (Olney, Md.).  The sophomore midfielder scored one goal and added an assist.  Senior long stick midfielder Andrew Irving (McLean, Va.) scored two goals, picked up two ground balls and caused one turnover.

Freshman face off midfielder Liam O'Connor (Haverford, Pa.) was 7-10 in his first start for the Fighting Irish.  Senior Jake Marmul (Livonia, Mich.) was 6-11 at the face off against Duke.

Notre Dame's attack was led by Sean Rogers (New Hyde Park, N.Y.).  The junior scored two goals on two shots.  Rogers' line mates, junior Nicholas Beattie (Columbus, Ohio) and sophomore Ryan Foley (Glen Ridge, N.J.), failed to score, but they generated six shots on goal, combined.  Reserve freshman attackman Westy Hopkins (Newton, Pa.) scored two goals for the Fighting Irish.

Notre Dame returned two starters on defense and held Duke's offense to only seven goals on 32 shots.  Senior Kevin Ridgway (Kensington, Md.) earned honorable mention All-American honors last season.  Senior Sam Barnes (Branford, Conn.) earned honorable mention All-American honors in 2009 before missing the 2010 season with an injury.  Junior Kevin Randall (Penfield, N.Y.) also earned the start.

Sophomore goalie John Kemp (Potomac, Md.) made 10 saves as the Notre Dame starting goalie.  He made two starts a season ago in relief of All-American goalie Scott Rodgers.

In order to beat the Fighting Irish this weekend, the Nittany Lions must contend with Notre Dame's strong and athletic midfielders.  The defense will also have to corral a crafty attack unit that capitalizes on teams that slide quickly to Irish midfielders like Brenneman and Earl.

On offense, Penn State must score early on the sophomore Kemp.  The attack must prevent the young goalie from gaining any confidence behind Notre Dame's experienced and decorated defense.

Come out and support the Nittany Lions on Sunday at 1 p.m. as they look to knock off the third-ranked team in the country!


Will Donley, Senior Attackman, Penn State Men's Lacrosse Team, GoPSUsports.com

By Will Donley, GoPSUsports.com Student Staff Writer
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - With the second weekend of the season on the horizon, seniors Matt Bernier and Matt Shankoff are set to continue their fourth and final season as college lacrosse players.  It has been a long road for these two seniors.  Bernier suffered a knee injury last year and has battled back through countless hours of rehab and treatment to be ready this spring.  Shankoff, a walk-on as a freshman, has earned every second of playing time during his Penn State career.

Each senior's journey has earned him the respect of his teammates and coaches.  Alongside junior Matt Mackrides (Newtown Square, Pa.), Bernier and Shankoff have been selected captains for the 2011 season, an honor that represents their work ethic and dedication to Penn State lacrosse.

Senior Spotlight: Matt Bernier

Quick Hits
Bernier (Drexel Hill, Pa.) has started nearly every game for the Nittany Lions since walking on to campus three years ago.  With his strong work ethic and his insatiable appetite for success, Bernier has become Penn State's most capable defender.  As a freshman, he played in all 14 games for the Nittany Lions.  He picked up 31 ground balls and added an assist.  Bernier started all 14 games a sophomore.  He scooped up 34 ground balls, good for third best on the team.  Last spring, Bernier picked up 23 ground balls and scored one goal before injuring his knee in a late season game against Towson.  He was named second team All-CAA for his efforts.

A four-year letterman at Malvern Preparatory School in Malvern, Pa., Bernier helped lead his team to league titles in 2005 and 2007.  In 2006, Malvern Prep won a state title behind Bernier's efforts.  He also lettered in football.

Bernier is the third member of his immediate family to attend Penn State.  His brothers, Charles and Brian, are Penn State graduates.  Bernier is a psychology major.

Moment To Remember

Bernier scored his first career goal last spring against Bucknell University by capitalizing on a Bison defensive error in transition.

What To Watch For This Season

Since his freshman season, it has been obvious that, no matter the opponent, Bernier has always been one of the most athletic players on the field.  On top of that, Bernier has enhanced his defensive capabilities this spring under defensive coach Peter Toner.  Expect him to be one of the most effective defenders in the CAA this season.

Quotable
On being a Penn Stater:

"Being able to call myself a Penn Stater is such an honor.  I know how influential it was for my brothers to come here, and I know it was for me.  The school has given me so much. I just hope I can represent it on and off the field in a manner that is deserving."

Senior Spotlight: Matt Shankoff

Quick Hits
Always a vocal and physical presence, Shankoff (Flemington, N.J.) walked-on to the Nittany Lion lacrosse team as a freshman.  Immediately, Shankoff utilized his athleticism to become one of the team's top short stick defensive midfielders.  He tallied two points off a goal and an assist and picked up 22 ground balls during his freshman season.  As a sophomore, Shankoff picked up 18 ground balls and added an assist while playing in all 14 games for Penn State.  Last spring, he scored one goal and added three assists and picked up 10 ground balls.

As a senior at Hunterdon Central High School, Shankoff captained his team to a third-straight state title in lacrosse.  He earned second team All-State and first team All-Conference honors for his efforts on the field.  Shankoff also captained and quarterbacked the Hunterdon Central football team to a state title his senior year.

Shankoff is a finance major in the Smeal College of Business.

Moment To Remember
Generally a defensive stalwart, Shankoff scored his first career goal as a freshman in 2008 in a game against St. Joe's University.  The Nittany Lions went on to beat the Hawks 10 - 6.

What To Watch For This Season
When attending Penn State men's lacrosse games this spring, close your eyes and just listen.  More than likely, the voice you will be hearing above all others belongs to Shankoff.  As one of the most vocal Nittany Lions, Shankoff will bring necessary energy to the playing field while resuming his role as a physical defensive midfielder.

Quotable
On being a walk-on:

"When I decided to come to Penn State, I did not know whether I was going to be a part of the Penn State lacrosse team.  Coach Thiel gave me the opportunity to walk-on, and it has turned out to be the greatest thing that ever happened to me."


Will Donley, Senior Attackman, Penn State Men's Lacrosse Team, GoPSUsports.com