Penn State lacrosse secures Big Ten tourney seed with win at Rutgers

In the regular season finale, No. 14-ranked Penn State lacrosse was looking to end the regular season on a massive high note, trying to win a fourth straight Friendship Cup. You could say they answered the bell and then some. Not only did they trounce No. 19-ranked Rutgers 16-8, but they also earned the coveted Friendship Cup and a No. 2 seed in the upcoming Big Ten tournament.

That means that the Nittany Lions have an automatic place in the semifinals and will not have to play until Saturday, April 30. The story of this game was Penn State's offensive dominance after the game got off to a somewhat sloppy start for both teams. Penn State did most of its work, however, in both the middle and end stages of the game. They outscored the Scarlet Knights 10-2 in the second and fourth quarters, led by yet again, their stellar underclassmen.

Sophomore Hunter Aquino led the charge with five total points, most importantly four goals. However, some may say the most impressive performance came from redshirt freshman Andrew Beard, who also had five points, proving to be an active force. Jack Iannantuono, the breakout star for the team, got back on the scoresheet as well.

On the defensive side, Preston Hawkins remained a steadfast presence in net, making 10 saves in just under sixty minutes. His defense also got the job, forcing 16 Rutgers turnovers.

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