Feb. 24, 2017 Villanova, Pa. -
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Facing Off: The Villanova Wildcats will host No. 9 Penn State this Saturday, February 25th for the 23rd meeting between the two schools. Game time is scheduled for 11:00 a.m.
Series History: Saturday will mark the 23rd contest between Penn State and Villanova. The Nittany Lion's hold the all-time record at 16-6, but under head coach Michael Corrado the Wildcats hold a 5-3 record. Villanova has won the last three meetings, two at Penn State and one at home. Last season at Penn State, Jake Froccaro broke the school record for most goals scored in a single game with eight. The previous record of seven was set by Chris Larson against Lafayette on March 17, 1990.
Villanova This Season: Villanova has dropped their first two games of the season both at home. During the season opener on February 11th against Monmouth, the Hawks defeated the Wildcats by a final of 12-10. Last weekend the No. 8 Yale Bulldogs pulled away in the second half to make the final 16-11. Despite last week's setback, junior attack Christian Cuccinello earned a spot on the BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll. He led not only the team, but the conference with six points on four goals and two assists.
Villanova's Offense: Jake Froccaro had hat tricks in both games this season. He and Cuccinello lead the team with seven points, Danny Seibel, Devin McNamara, and John Kluh have six each. Kluh has a team high four assists which is the second highest in the BIG EAST.
Villanova Defense: Kurtis Naslonski has a team high four caused turnovers which is a league best and 17th in caused turnovers per game in the country. Luke Palmadesso is 27-for-48 (.563) from the X this season and has a team high nine ground balls. Last season against Penn State, Palmadesso won an impressive 22-of-27 faceoffs and had career high 15 ground balls. In goal for the Wildcats this season has been both Dan Willis and Nick Testa. Willis started against Monmouth and Testa against Yale, combined they have 13 saves, a .317 save percentage, and 14.00 goal against average.
A Look at Penn State: The Nittany Lions are 3-0 to start the season, they have defeated Robert Morris, Hobart, and Cornell. Penn State is second in the country in points (31.00) and assists (12.33) per game and had three named to the Big Ten Weekly Honor Roll. Overall the Nittany Lions were selected to finish third in the conference.
Penn State Offense: Mac O'Keefe and Grant Ament have each contributed 19 points over the first three games. O'Keefe with 16 goals and three assists and Ament with 11 goals and eight assists. During last weekend's 20-10 victory over Cornell, Ament scored six goals and added three assists; this earned him Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week honors on Monday.
Penn State Defense: Expected to take a majority of faceoffs this weekend is Gerard Arceri, who is currently fifth in the country with a 0.707 winning percentage. He has gone 58-for-82 from the X and has a team high 29 ground balls. In goal will be Colby Kneese who has started in every game this season and has a .479 save percentage, 23 saves, and a 10.88 goals against average.
The Last Meeting: Last season at Penn State Jake Froccaro etched his name into the Villanova men's lacrosse record book when he scored eight goal against the Nittany Lions. The previous record of seven was set by Chris Larson against Lafayette on March 17, 1990. During the game Luke Palmadesso went an impressive 22-of-27 from the X and had a career high 15 ground balls. Both Devin McNamara and Christian Cuccinello contributed four goals apiece while Dan Willis had 11 saves.
