The state of Pennsylvania earned bragging rights on Friday. 

Both No. 6 Penn State and unranked Penn recorded upsets against Top 20 foes – 19-13 over No. 2 Cornell and 13-11 over No. 13 Villanova, respectively. 

First to mark the victory were the Quakers in the Philly 4 Lacrosse Classic, using a quick start with a 6-1 first quarter to fuel its first win of the season, after dropping three games to open 2019 against Maryland, Duke and Penn State. 

Penn held a 7-5 lead at halftime and stayed strong in the final 3:30 when the Wildcats scored four straight to come within two with a minute to play. 

Sam Handley led the Quakers with seven points on four goals and three assists, while Villanova’s Connor Kirst also tallied seven points.

THE DIVE IS ALIVE. Dunn shines for @PennMensLax with this goal as the Quakers upset No. 13 @NovaLacrosse 13-11 for its first win of the year. Handley leads Penn with 7PTs. pic.twitter.com/cfYcMbgGJX

— US Lacrosse Magazine (@USLacrosseMag) March 9, 2019

Then, in the Crown Lacrosse Classic, the Nittany Lions proved victorious after a dominant 11-5 first half. 

The Big Red used a three-goal run spanning the third and fourth quarters to bring the score within three, before Penn State tallied three back-to-back goals of its own.

It was an even 7-7 score starting from the 11:09 mark in the third period. 

Penn State got a team-high nine points off nine assists from Grant Ament, which tied a school record set in 1983 by Gary Martin, as well as seven points from Mac O’Keefe on six goals and one assists. Nick Spillane and Dylan Foulds scored four goals apiece.

Cornell’s Jeff Teat was held to two goals, but also recorded three assists for five points. 

Who doesn’t love BTB beauties? Arceri with the GB... to Ament for the BTB assist... to Foulds for the goal. Ament’s assist tied the school record & led No. 6 @PennStateMLAX to upset No. 2 @CornellLacrosse 19-13. pic.twitter.com/FMizK4JQK6

— US Lacrosse Magazine (@USLacrosseMag) March 9, 2019

Towson Escapes Jacksonville

For the first time since 2016, No. 1 Towson has improved to 5-0 with a 15-13 win over Jacksonville to open the Crown Lacrosse Classic. 

The win marked the first with head coach Shawn Nadelen leading the No. 1 team in the country. His first career win was in 2012, also against Jacksonville. Brody McLean and Grant Maloof led the Tigers with five and four goals, respectively, while Brendan Sunday recorded four points on two goals and two assists. 

Despite combating heavy rain, Towson battled for the 43-36 advantage in ground balls and dominated on faceoffs with specialist Alex Woodall going 23-of-32.

They held an early 6-1 lead into the second quarter before Jacksonville’s Jack Dolan brought the score within two at the 14:09 mark in the third period. Towson responded with a 5-1 run, sparked by McLean, to enter the final quarter with the 13-7 advantage. 

The Dolphins, who saw a team-high seven points from Dolan, came out with a 4-1 spurt of their own, finishing the game having the 6-2 edge in the fourth, but it wasn’t enough to overcome Towson’s early lead. 

FINAL: No. 1 @Towson_MLAX escapes @JAX_MLAX 15-13 behind a team-best 5G from McLean, including this  rip. Maloof had 4G & Sunday had 4PTs for . Woodall went 23-of-32. pic.twitter.com/kFlFTYm54a

— US Lacrosse Magazine (@USLacrosseMag) March 9, 2019

Carolina Cruises Past Marist

Behind a 6-1 first quarter and a second-period shutout, No. 16 North Carolina defeated Marist 17-5 with two four-point performances from Timmy Kelly and Nicky Solomon.

Twelve different players scored at least one goal with five recording two each – Timmy Kelly, Ara Atayan, William Perry, Jacob Kelly and Bailey Laidman. 

The Tar Heels cruised to victory nearly doubling Marist in shots. The Red Foxes, however, recorded more saves (15-12) and faceoffs (13-12).

First of many Carolina victories at our new
17 Tar Heel Goals tonight
HIGHLIGHTS:  pic.twitter.com/gfq8FpaK24

— UNC Men's Lacrosse (@UNCMensLacrosse) March 9, 2019

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