MLAX topples No. 5 Penn State, 12-11

Box Score (PDF)

LEVITTOWN, New York – The Marquette University men's lacrosse team claimed its first victory over a top-10 team since 2018 on Saturday afternoon in a 12-11 triumph over No. 5 Penn State in Levittown, New York at Gen. Douglas MacArthur High School.

"At the core of it, we committed to being consistent in how we show up every day and chasing the best version of us," Marquette head coach Andrew Stimmel said. "Our guys built that belief through that consistency during the week. Our scout team this week played a huge role in preparing both sides of the ball for what we were going to see. Without them, we don't win"

The Golden Eagles (4-3) took a 3-2 lead early in the second quarter on Devon Cowan's second score and held off the Nittany Lions with a 19-of-27 performance at the faceoff dot. Graduate transfer Grant Evans scored off the ensuing faceoff after Cowan's second tally and went 10-of-13 himself at the dot.

"Grant and Luke (Williams) were a huge key to victory today - they went 70% as a unit against a team that had been red hot at the faceoff. Dave (Lamarca) and Mason (Woodward) had a few huge 50/50 ground balls that really swung momentum for us all game."

Evans, a transfer from Division III Grove City College, picked up a season-best six ground balls, while MU was led in that category by USILA All-American defenseman Mason Woodward with seven alongside a pair of caused turnovers. Woodward was dominant and fellow poles Zach Granger and David Lamarca each caused two turnovers.

"Our defense gave an incredible group effort today," Stimmel said. "Our poles were disruptive. The number of plays they made off the ground, getting pieces of passes, second efforts to impact shots, we had a number of Kilcoynes (blocked shots); overall just a high level of friction for 60 minutes. They knew what it was going to tak against a talented Penn State offense and they delivered."

Bobby O'Grady opened the scoring for MU with 7:18 to play in the first quarter and the goal from Evans capped a three-goal scoring run for MU to start the second. The Golden Eagles also used three-straight scores from Andrew Bowman, Will Foster and Nolan Rappis spanning into the third for a 7-5 advantage.

Luke Blanc put MU ahead 11-8 midway through the fourth quarter and Cowan's third goal of the game came with 1:18 remaining against the Penn State ride. The Nittany Lions scored a pair of goals with under a minute in regulation, but a Marquette faceoff win helped the Golden Eagles hold off Penn State for their fifth win all-time against a USILA top-10 foe.

"He's as tough as they come," Stimmel said about Cowan's ability to hold off a defensive unit. "He plays with an edge that we all rally around. He drew a number of fouls today that were just as big as the goals he scored."

"When he decides to go at his matchup, you can feel how it impacts the rest of the defense. He has the ability to make other guys better and I really think he's starting to hit his stride."

NOTABLE:

Saturday was the first meeting between the two programs. MU head coach Andrew Stimmel began his collegiate playing career as a midfielder at Penn State. He spent one season in Happy Valley before finishing his career at Ohio State.
Cowan has now posted a hat trick in each of the last three contests.
Michael Allieri posted nine saves for Marquette, while Penn State's Jack Fracyon made 11.
Bowman recorded his first career hat trick. Both of his previous two scores this season came against Lindenwood in the season opener on Feb. 4.
The Golden Eagles are now 5-27 all-time against teams ranked in the top-10 of the USILA Coaches Poll. MU is also 5-17 against teams ranked in the top five.
The win is Stimmel's first over a ranked squad as head coach.

UP NEXT: MU returns to Milwaukee to host St. Bonaventure on March 25 before beginning BIG EAST Conference play on April 1 at Providence.

Keep up with the Marquette men's lacrosse program through social media by following on Twitter (@MarquetteMLax) and Instagram (@MarquetteMLax) and 'liking' on Facebook (/MarquetteMLax).