UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa., April 24, 2004 - The Penn State men's lacrosse team fell to ECAC rival Rutgers, 10-6, Saturday afternoon at Jeffrey Field. The Nittany Lions fall to 5-6 and 0-3 in the conference while the Scarlet Knights improve to 7-4 and 1-0 in the ECAC.

Sophomore John Eremus (Rosemont, Pa.) scored four goals for the Nittany Lions and senior Matt O'Malley (Hunt Valley, Md.) and sophomore Nate Whitaker (Great Falls, Va.) each added one. Freshman Gil Pearsall (Carthage, N.Y.) posted two assists with Whitaker and senior Edmond Perry (Port Washington, N.Y.) each notching one.

Junior goalkeeper Josh LaGrow (Skaneateles, N.Y.) recorded 10 saves on 23 shots while allowing nine goals in 50:00 minutes of action and senior Mike Stoltz (Parkton, Md.) allowed one goal on one shot in 10:00 minutes of play.

Penn State outshot Rutgers, 8-6, in the first quarter and Eremus put the Lions on the board first, scoring at the 8:56 mark on a pass from Edmond Perry. Following a Rutgers mark at 4:27, Whitaker put Penn State back on top at 3:59, but the Scarlet Knights found the back of the net at 2:28 to tie the score at 2-2 at the end of the first stanza.

Rutgers started quick out of the gates in the second quarter, scoring at the 13:29 mark. But Eremus responded 13 seconds later with a score of his own to tie the game at 3-3. Rutgers went on to score the next three goals, aided by four Penn State penalties in the quarter, to take the 6-3 advantage. Penn State stopped the run with a goal from Eremus at 2:36 to go into halftime down, 6-4.

After the break the Scarlet Knight defense was stifling, as Penn State recorded no goals on nine shots and Rutgers' goalkeeper, Greg Havalchak posted six saves. The Scarlet Knights posted two goals in the period to take the 8-4 lead into the final stanza.

Rutgers continued its run with two goals to open the fourth period to grab the 10-4 advantage but goals by Penn State's O'Malley and Eremus brought the Lions to within four at 10-6, but it was too little too late as the Scarlet Knights went on to claim the 10-6 victory.

Penn State travels to face Villanova on Friday, April 30 at 7:00 p.m. before returning home to host Virginia on Saturday, May 8 at 1:00 p.m.

For more information on the Penn State men's lacrosse team, please visit www.GoPSUsports.com.