Villanova Lacrosse Drops Season Opener to No. 12 Penn State
Written by Anthony Miller on February 10, 2025
VILLANOVA, Pa. – Villanova Men’s Lacrosse opened their 2025 season against No. 12 Penn State on Sunday but fell short in a 15-4 defeat at Villanova Stadium.
The game began as a defensive battle, with both teams struggling to find early momentum. Junior Colin Michener put the Wildcats on the board first, scoring at the 6:28 mark in the opening quarter. Despite solid defensive play from Villanova, Penn State entered halftime with a narrow 4-2 lead.
Coming out of the break, the Wildcats capitalized on key defensive plays to close the gap. Michener intercepted a clear attempt, leading to a goal from Matt Licata, while Brett Mallee forced a turnover that resulted in freshman Mack Prybylski netting his first career goal. However, Villanova’s offense stalled, managing just one more goal late in the fourth quarter from David Link.
Faceoff specialist Tyler Sandoval won 10 of 19 draws in his Wildcats debut, while Ryan Cunningham added three wins on five attempts. Several Wildcats made their collegiate debuts, including Quinton Cepiel, Daniel Flaim, Aidan Haggerty, Eddie Jones, Matthew Swirbalus, and Ryan Welgos.
Penn State was led by standout performances from Matt Traynor and Jack Fracyon, with Traynor posting a six-point effort and Fracyon recording 10 saves.
Villanova will look to bounce back when they host Yale on Saturday, February 15, at noon at Villanova Stadium.
