UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- The Nittany Lion men's lacrosse head coach Jeff Tambroni announced his team's 13-game slate in 2014 with eight games in Happy Valley. Additionally, Penn State will square off with six squads that competed in the 2013 NCAA Tournament.
"Our staff is excited about our 2014 schedule," Tambroni said. "We have added a few NCAA playoff tested teams in addition to a number of competitive non-league and conference opponents. From start to finish the 2014 schedule will provide our program the opportunity to compete against several of the nation's top collegiate teams. Our off-season and preseason preparation will be as important as it's ever been if we expect to have any level of success."
Of the six tournament teams Penn State will face two will visit Happy Valley (Feb. 15 vs. Loyola; March 22 vs. Albany). The other four games will take place on the road (Feb. 22 at Notre Dame; March 1 at Ohio State; March 10 at Denver; April 12 at Towson).
The Nittany Lions open the 2014 slate with two exhibitions against Lehigh (Jan. 23) in Happy Valley and Feb. 1 at Johns Hopkins. Those tune-ups will prepare the Lions for their season-opener on Feb. 8 against Michigan at 1 p.m., a future Big Ten foe. The Michigan contest will count toward the Creator's Trophy standings along with the Ohio State contest.
Following the Michigan game, 2013 NCAA squad and 2012 NCAA champion Loyola travels to University Park on Feb. 15 (1 p.m.) for the first time since 2009 when the two squads were members of ECAC Lacrosse. Among one of the most played series in Penn State series, the Nittany Lions hold a 27-22-1 edge over the Greyhounds.
Penn State's tough schedule continues with three straight road games at NCAA tournament participants Notre Dame, Ohio State and Denver. The Lions are 5-15 all-time against the Fighting Irish, 12-5 all-time against the Buckeyes and 2-3 against the Pioneers. PSU's visit to the Rocky Mountain State since March 21, 2004, an 11-10 win over Denver.
The Nittany Lions open their final Colonial Athletic Association season at home against Massachusetts on March 15 at 1 p.m. Last season, Penn State swept the Minutemen with a 7-5 in in Amherst and a 10-7 victory in Happy Valley in the CAA Semifinals. The UMass game begins a four-game home stand as Penn State completes the year with six home games in its final eight regular-season contests.
The following Tuesday (March 18), Dartmouth comes to town for a 5 p.m. game under the lights. The Lions and Big Green haven't faced off since 2006. On Saturday, March 22, Albany and its high-flying offense play the Nittany Lions at 1 p.m. The two programs have never met before in men's lacrosse.
The next week, Villanova and Penn State meet in the final non-conference matchup of the year on March 29 at 1 p.m. Penn State owns a 16-3-0 all-time mark against the Wildcats.
The end of the regular season has four CAA opponents beginning with two road games at Drexel (April 5, 1 p.m.) and Towson (April 12, 7 p.m.). The following weeks see Delaware (April 19, 1 p.m.) and Hofstra (April 26, 1 p.m.) play at Penn State for the final times at CAA members.
Penn State returns the majority of its starting lineup from last year's NCAA Tournament team including All-American goalkeeper Austin Kaut (Morton, Pa.), every defender, long-stick midfielders, top-scoring midfielder Tom LaCrosse (Canandaigua, N.Y.) and its top scorer TJ Sanders (Orillia, Ont.). High-scoring Shane Sturgis (Downingtown, Pa.) also plays his senior season for the Blue and White in 2014. The Nittany Lions are led by tri-captains Tyler Travis (Geneva, N.Y.), Gavin Ahern (Rockville Centre, N.Y.) and LaCrosse.
2014 PENN STATE MEN'S LACROSSE SCHEDULEJan. 23: LEHIGH ^ 5 p.m.Feb. 1: at Johns Hopkins ^ 1 p.m.Feb. 8: MICHIGAN 1 p.m.Feb. 15: LOYOLA 1 p.m.Feb. 22: at Notre Dame NoonMarch 1: at Ohio State 1 p.m.March 10: at Denver 9 p.m.March 15: MASSACHUSETTS * 1 p.m.March 18: DARTMOUTH 5 p.m.March 22: ALBANY 1 p.m.March 29: VILLANOVA 1 p.m.April 5: at Drexel * 1 p.m.April 12: at Towson * 7 p.m.April 19: DELAWARE * 1 p.m.April 26: HOFSTRA * 1 p.m.^ Exhibition; * CAA game; All times Eastern