NCAA Men's Lacrosse Preview: No. 13 Penn State's Learning Curve

USA Lacrosse Magazine is beginning its countdown to Feb. 1 — the first day of the 2025 men's lacrosse season — by releasing one team preview per day beginning on Monday, Jan. 13.

We continue the countdown with No. 13 Penn State, a team projected to experience some growing pains but could surely peak when it matters most.

When Penn State last took the field, it led Georgetown 9-7 heading into the fourth quarter of the NCAA tournament’s first round. The Hoyas scored the only goals in the final 15 minutes, and the 12-9 loss sent the Nittany Lions home.

That loss — along with a decisive Big Ten championship game loss to Michigan that followed their own semifinal blowout win of Maryland — left a bitter feeling after a promising start.

“Finish,” head coach Jeff Tambroni said. “It’s been a big point of emphasis this fall to finish what we started.”

Wins over Yale, Cornell, Michigan and Maryland were enough to earn an NCAA berth, but Penn State comes into this season hungry to do better closing out games (and the season). The fall was plagued by injuries, but the focus was on continuing to progress to be ready for a daunting schedule.

Tambroni is hoping the team is healthy enough by the time the season starts to hit the ground running, then peak for a stretch run.

“We cannot afford to be a team that loses focus, spikes, and then loses that focus where there’s an ebb and flow to either our interest or our preparation or our drive,” he said.

TOP RETURNERS

Jack Fracyon, G, Sr. (.571 SV%, 9.89 GAA)
Alex Ross, D, Jr. (30GB, 16CT)
Matt Traynor, A, Sr. (45G, 7A)

Fracyon, the two-time Big Ten Specialist of the Year, and Ross are great launching points for a defense that ranked 10th last year. Traynor is the only one of Penn State’s top four scorers from 2024 to return. He led the No. 16 offense in goals last year after making a considerable jump in scoring from 2023. Now he’ll be asked to captain a new surrounding cast.

“He plays with such great poise, and we’ll need to have all of that on the field this year,” Tambroni said. “His maturity and confidence are going to be real important factors to our offensive success.”

KEY ADDITIONS

Jack Aimone, M, Gr. (20G, 7GB at Rutgers)
Hunter Aquino, M, Fr. (Academy of the New Church, Pa.)
Ryan DiRocco, A, So. (3 games played at Army)

The trio will give the midfield and offense a boost. All are hard-working additions that have assimilated well to their new culture, with Aimone coming over after graduating from Rutgers and DiRocco after a season at Army. Aquino, who was a good enough athlete that the Penn State football team inquired about him playing for them, is the Nittany Lions’ most impactful freshman on paper.

“Their willingness to learn on the fly has been significant,” Tambroni said. “All of them, I would say, are just playing at or above the level of expectation for someone that’s been here for as long as they have.”

NOTABLE DEPARTURES

Graduations: Mac Costin, M; Sean Donnelly, A; Grant Haus, M; Chris Jordan, A; TJ Malone, A; Brent McVicker, M; Luke Mercer, M; Jake Morin, A; Jack Posey, D; Joe Scarfi, D; Sam Sweeney, M
Transfers: Jeb Brenfleck, A (High Point)

X-FACTOR

Colby Baldwin, FO, So. (.379FO%, 44GB)

Improving Penn State’s 60th-ranked faceoff percentage has been a commitment for all four FOGOs under new assistant Andy Meyers. Chase Mullins had a better percentage last year, and Baldwin showed noticeable development this fall, and that could make a huge difference for winning possessions.

“He has a chance if he continues to grow to just be a dynamic midfielder,” Tambroni said. “He is super athletic and could probably play a little bit at both ends. If he starts to get into a rhythm, starts to develop a little bit more consistently, he could really develop into one of those guys that comes out of nowhere.”

THE NARRATIVE

The Nittany Lions graduated SSDM Grant Haus and defender Jack Posey but can lean on a unit that has Fracyon and its close defense back, including Kevin Parnham, who missed half of last season. At the other end, TJ Malone, who was the quarterback of the attack and another team leader, graduated, too.

Replacing Malone is a tall task for the offense, but starters Traynor and Kyle Lehman return with Lehman coming off a promising freshman campaign. The rest of the offense will come from returning players in larger roles and new additions. 

The Nittany Lions have concentrated more on skill development.

“I like our group, but I think where we are right now in terms of timing and our depth, some guys are going to need a little bit longer to develop,” Tambroni said. “And that’s fair because they’re younger.”

Tambroni hopes the offense doesn’t take long to come together, the faceoff X is solid and their defensive roles fill in early for a schedule that opens with Army, Colgate, Villanova, Princeton, Navy, Yale and Cornell.

“We’re going to need to be consistent because our schedule is just relentless all year,” Tambroni said. “You just don’t have the opportunity to take a breath.”