Penn State Men's Lacrosse Downs Ohio State, Eyes Johns Hopkins

The Nittany Lions notch their fourth win over a top-15 opponent as they prepare for a road trip to face the Blue Jays.

Apr. 2, 2026 at 8:04am

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Penn State men's lacrosse defeated Ohio State 13-6 in Columbus, marking its fourth win over a top-15 opponent this season. Despite missing key player Hunter Aquino due to injury, the Nittany Lions have found success through a collaborative offensive effort led by Jack Iannantuono. As Penn State ranks second in the Big Ten in goals scored, the team now turns its attention to a road trip to face No. 11 Johns Hopkins, aiming for its first 3-0 start in conference play since 2019.

Why it matters

Penn State's strong start in Big Ten play has put them in a good position to make a push for the NCAA Tournament, but the road ahead will not get any easier with ranked opponents looming. The team's ability to overcome injuries and find contributions from across the roster has been crucial to their early success.

The details

Penn State jumped out to an early lead and never looked back, taking down Ohio State 13-6. The Nittany Lions have been without All-American sophomore Hunter Aquino since early March, but players like Jack Iannantuono have stepped up, ranking second on the team in scoring with 14 goals. Penn State's offense has continued to produce, averaging 13.6 goals per game and ranking second in the Big Ten. The team's defense has also improved, holding opponents under 10 goals in four of the last five games.

  • Penn State defeated Ohio State 13-6 on April 1, 2026.
  • Penn State will face No. 11 Johns Hopkins on the road this coming weekend.

The players

Hunter Aquino

An All-American sophomore who has been out due to injury since early March, leaving a gap that the Nittany Lions have had to fill.

Jack Iannantuono

A freshman who has stepped up in Aquino's absence, ranking second on the team in scoring with 14 goals and leading the team in assists with 13.

Jeff Tambroni

The head coach of the Penn State men's lacrosse team, who has been impressed with the team's ability to overcome injuries and find contributions from across the roster.

Caleb Fyock

The talented goalie for Ohio State, who had not allowed an opponent to surpass double digits in scoring before facing Penn State.

Preston Hawkins

The anchor of the Penn State defense, who has continued to improve and help build confidence in the unit.

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What they’re saying

“We have been really impressed with his mindset and his ability to play with poise. His confidence is like that of an upperclassman, and that serves him extremely well.”

— Jeff Tambroni, Head Coach

“Collaboration, and it's never been more important when Hunter gets injured. We've been inefficient at times, but the group has worked really hard together, and they focus on the team rather than themselves.”

— Jeff Tambroni, Head Coach

“It's always the game plan, but against teams like Ohio State with a goalie like Fyock, you just aren't going to have success from far out. So we were fortunate to work from closer angles, and it served us well. It allowed us to settle in very quickly.”

— Jeff Tambroni, Head Coach

“Preston has continued to keep getting better, which helps the level of defense in front of him. If you're confident in the goalie behind you, then you play more loosely.”

— Jeff Tambroni, Head Coach

“We knew it was going to be a challenge, but we had hoped that we would perform better than we did. Ohio State competed with a great level of energy and urgency, and I don't feel that we matched it.”

— Jeff Tambroni, Head Coach

What’s next

No. 7 Penn State will hit the road to face No. 11 Johns Hopkins in its third Big Ten matchup of the season, aiming for its first 3-0 start since 2019.

The takeaway

Penn State's ability to overcome injuries and find contributions from across the roster has been crucial to their early success in Big Ten play. As the team prepares for a road trip to face a ranked opponent in Johns Hopkins, their perseverance and continued improvement on both ends of the field will be key to maintaining their momentum and making a push for the NCAA Tournament.