Spring Sports Update: Men’s Lacrosse Beats Rutgers

TL;DR

Penn State men's lacrosse defeated Rutgers 16-8, finishing the regular season with a 7-5 record. Hunter Aquino led with four goals, while the team secured the second seed in the Big Ten Tournament.

Key points

Penn State men's lacrosse defeated Rutgers 16-8
Hunter Aquino scored four goals in the game
Penn State finished the regular season with a 7-5 record
The team is the second seed in the Big Ten Tournament
A win in the semifinals could secure an NCAA Tournament spot

Penn State Nittany LionsRutgersBig Ten Tournament

Alex Ross (6) of the Penn State Nittany Lions plays defense during an NCAA men's lacrosse game at Class of 1952 Stadium in Princeton, United States, on February 14, 2026 (Photo by Dan Squicciarini/NurPhoto via Getty Images). | NurPhoto via Getty Images

Men’s Lacrosse (7-5)

The men’s lacrosse team closed out the regular season with a 16-8 blowout win over Rutgers. A 6-0 burst in the second quarter helped the Nittany Lions pull away after a tied first quarter. Hunter Aquino scored four goals, and Kyle Lehman and Liam Matthews each had a hat trick to power the offense. Preston Hawkins made 10 saves and allowed just six goals.

Penn State is the two seed in the Big Ten Tournament and will play either Maryland or Rutgers in the semifinals next Thursday. A win would likely lock in an NCAA Tournament spot for the Nittany Lions, who remain one of the most dangerous teams in the country despite the mediocre-looking 7-5 record.

Women’s Lacrosse (12-6)

The women’s lacrosse team outlasted Rutgers 18-15 in the regular season finale before falling 13-12 to Michigan in the Big Ten Tournament. Erika Ho scored six goals to secure the Nittany Lions’ final win of the regular season.

Rocquette Allen had four goals in the Big Ten Tournament loss to Michigan. It was a tight game throughout, with neither team holding a lead larger than two goals in the first three quarters. The Wolverines made enough plays at both ends of the field in the fourth quarter to hold off Penn State.

Penn State is likely to gain an at-large berth to the NCAA Tournament. The tournament field will be announced on Sunday, May 3.

Men’s Volleyball (21-7)

The men’s volleyball team beat George Mason twice in five sets to secure the EIVA regular season title. Penn State went 12-0 in conference play, a solid turnaround after a down season last year. Penn State beat Charleston in five sets in the semifinals of the conference tournament. Sean Harvey, Tristan Russell, and Owen Rose all reached double digits in kills to help the Nittany Lions advance.

Q&A

What was the final score of the Penn State vs Rutgers men's lacrosse game?

Penn State won the game against Rutgers with a final score of 16-8.

Who were the top scorers for Penn State in the game against Rutgers?

Hunter Aquino scored four goals, and both Kyle Lehman and Liam Matthews contributed with hat tricks.

What seed did Penn State men's lacrosse earn in the Big Ten Tournament?

Penn State earned the second seed in the Big Ten Tournament.

What does Penn State need to secure an NCAA Tournament spot?

A win in the semifinals of the Big Ten Tournament would likely secure an NCAA Tournament spot for Penn State.