No. 1 M. Lacrosse Goes 9-0, No. 10 W. Lacrosse has Incredible Comeback against No. 17 Johns Hopkins
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No. 1 M. Lacrosse Goes 9-0, No. 10 W. Lacrosse has Incredible Comeback against No. 17 Johns Hopkins

Both men’s and women’s lacrosse are having historic seasons this year.

For the first time in program history, Penn State M. Lacrosse (9-0) is ranked No. 1 in the nation. This is also the first time in program history that the team has started a season 9-0. The team is now undefeated in nonconference play.

The team lived up to expectations this past weekend as they trounced Cleveland State 15-8.

Nick Aponte (West Islip, N.Y.), Mac O’Keefe (Syosset, N.Y.), and Grant Ament (Doylestown, Pa.) were a large part of the win. The three attackmen opened up the scoring with a goal apiece in the first quarter to give Penn State an early 3-0 lead.

Cleveland State struck back with their first goal of the game, but Ament circled back and faked out the goalie before finding the twine for a fourth team goal.

Cleveland came back around once more to send the teams into the second quarter 4-2.

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Kevin Hill (Webster, N.Y.), Aponte, and O’Keefe found their ways around the Cleveland defense with relative ease as the Blue and White defense held down the fort to send the teams into the locker room at the half with Penn State leading 7-4.

The visiting team scored first in the third quarter, but that goal would be their only for the period.

Dan Craig (Shelburne, Ontario) assisted O’Keefe with his third goal of the day and Ament followed with a pair of goals. Nick Spillane (Franklin Square, N.Y.) passed to O’Keefe in the final seconds of the period, and O’Keefe hammered in the 11th Penn State goal.

Cleveland scored first again in the fourth, but Penn State wasted no time in reminding the opponent who the dominant team was.

Ament used superior talent to find Aponte using a behind-the-back pass. Aponte then fired in the shot for a Penn State goal.

Mike Sutton (Sewell, N.J.) found the twine to add to the ever-growing score of the Lions’.

Conor Smith (Long Island, N.Y.) and Jimmy Nowoswiat (Kennett Square, Pa.) capitalized on excellent assists from teammates to seal the victory for Penn State with a 15-8 win.

Freshman goalie Colby Kneese (Dallas, Texas) made 10 saves for the Lions.

The No. 10 women’s lacrosse team had equally amazing success this past weekend as the team faced No. 17 Johns Hopkins in Baltimore.

Sophomore superstar Madison Carter (Davidsonville, Md.) notched a career-best six goals for the Lions to propel them to a 16-10 victory over the Jays.

Seniors Steph Lazo (Stevensville, Md.) and Abby Smucker (Bel Air, Md.) were a main part of the action, with Lazo contributing five goals and Smucker registering three.

Despite Carter opening up the game with a goal, Hopkins continually pressed the Lions with an onslaught of shots, sending the teams into the half with the Jays up 8-4.

It was Smucker and Katie O’Donnell (West Chester, Pa.) who helped end the scoring run, each adding a goal apiece.

Although the Jays notched a goal after the two from the Lions, Penn State then went on an unprecedented 10-1 scoring streak thanks to efforts from Carter, Lazo, and Smucker.

It was this crucial scoring run that propelled Penn State to its incredible 16-10 victory.

Goalie Cat Rainone (Newtown Square, Pa.) made eight saves for the Blue and White.

The women will now prepare to take on Drexel in Philadelphia this coming Wednesday at 4 p.m. Good luck, ladies!