The Penn State lacrosse program had a season full of highs, lows, and everything in between in 2024. The year started with a tough one-goal loss to Colgate which put everyone on high alert. Penn State bounced back with a dominant win over Villanova as they continued on their strong out-of-conference stretch, where they picked up big wins against Stony Brook, Navy, Yale, Cornell, and Marquette. Beating Yale in a tight 15-14 game and dominating Cornell 20-9 gave them some real momentum heading into Big Ten play considering these were strong wings over Ivy League opponents. They wrapped up out-of-conference play with only one loss and a six-game winning streak.
Once conference play started, things got interesting. They started things off right with a solid road win at Ohio State but ran into trouble against Maryland, dropping a close one 13-11. With the chance to avenge their loss against the Terrapins, Penn State came up one goal short of beating a highly touted Johns Hopkins team. The Lions bounced back strong, rolling through Rutgers in the regular season and Big Ten Tournament. Penn State was able to avenge their earlier loss to Maryland with a dominant 19-9 victory. Just when it looked like they were peaking at the right time, they hit a wall in the Big Ten Championship, falling hard to Michigan in a 16-4 game.
They entered the NCAA Tournament with a respectable 10-5 record with a real chance to make it back to Championship Weekend. In the first round, they ran into an angry Georgetown team and loss 9-12 ending their season. Penn State proved they could compete with some of the best in 2024.
Penn State had some serious talent in 2024, led by TJ Malone, who put up an impressive 78 points with 42 goals and 36 assists in just 15 games. Right behind him was Matt Traynor, who led the team in goals with 45 and totaled 52 points. Mac Costin was another key scorer, netting 30 goals while Jake Morin contributed 31 points with a balanced 11 goals and 20 assists. Kyle Lehman, Luke Walstrum, and Ethan Long all played solid supporting roles, each cracking the 20-point mark. This core group carried the offense and kept Penn State competitive all season.
With TJ Malone, Mac Costin, and Jake Morin graduating, Penn State Lacrosse will have to find new leaders in 2025. Matt Traynor returns for his senior season after leading the team in goals last year, and he’ll be the go-to scorer and overall face of the offense with Malone gone. Luke Walstrum and Ethan Long, also seniors, will need to step up offensively and hope that some other younger players can also contribute. Kyle Lehman enters his sophomore year after a solid freshman campaign, and his development could be a key factor in Penn State’s success. With some major departures, these returning players will have to take on bigger roles if the Nittany Lions want to stay competitive.
Penn State 2025 schedule features some intriguing matchups, starting with a familiar opener against Colgate at home where I am sure PSU wants revenge. A road test at Villanova follows before a big home game against Princeton, a team that always brings a challenge due to theri Ivy League affiliation. They also host Navy before heading to Yale and Cornell in back-to-back road games, which will be crucial early-season tests to see if this squad can hang with the big dogs. A midweek home game against Robert Morris should provide a reset before they dive into Big Ten play.
Conference action begins at home against Ohio State which could really set the tone for the rest of the season. Then comes a brutal stretch with back-to-back road games at Maryland and Michigan, two teams that have given the Penn State lacrosse program troubles in the past. They close the regular season with home matchups against Johns Hopkins and Rutgers, which could carry a lot of weight depending how the overall year goes.
With some big departures, Penn State will need its returning stars to step up in these big games. If they can navigate a tough schedule, they have a shot at another NCAA Tournament run.