PHILADELPHIA – For the third consecutive week to open 2019, the University of Pennsylvania men's lacrosse team takes on a Top-5 opponent as the Quakers (0-2) head to State College for a meeting with No. 5/5 Penn State (3-1) on Saturday.
 
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All-Time Series
The Red and Blue are 13-24 all-time against Penn State, with most of those meeting happening well before any current players were born. Of the 37 previous meetings, only four have happened since 1977 – the two teams have met each year since 2015 with the Nittany Lions holding a 3-1 edge in recent games.
 
Last Time vs. Penn State
In 2018, Penn State picked up a 10-7 win at Franklin Field, storming back after the Quakers had built a 4-0 lead early into the second quarter. The Nittany Lions scored the next seven goals, holding the Quakers scoreless for 20:33 of game play. Simon Mathias had two goals and an assist for the Quakers, while Mac O'Keefe and Nick Spillane did the same for Penn State. Gerard Arceri was a difference maker for the Nittany Lions, winning 18 of the game's 20 faceoffs.
 
Mike Murphy vs. Ranked Opponents
The loss to Duke last weekend drops Mike Murphy to 17-44 all-time against USILA Top-20 opponents. Murphy is 0-3 all-time against teams ranked No. 5 in the country, including the loss last weekend to the Blue Devils and a 14-13 loss to Penn State in 2017.
 
Trio Of All-Ivy Players Return
The Quakers return three All-Ivy selections from 2018, led first-team All-Ivy defender Mark Evanchick. He is joined by senior attackman Simon Mathias (second-team All-Ivy) and senior midfielder Tyler Dunn (honorable mention All-Ivy) as returning all-league selections.
 
Back For More
Seven of Penn's starters from last season return, including six who started 10+ games. Senior goalkeeper Reed Junkin has made 44 career starts in goal, while Mathias has 44 career starts on attack. Overall, 20 players who played in at least half of Penn's 15 games last season return for 2019.
 
Simon Says…
Few have been more reliable over a playing career than Simon Mathias. In 45 career games played, Mathias has 87 goals and 54 assists for 141 points – an average of 3.1 points-per-game. He ranks second among active Division I players with a 45-game point streak and ranks third among active players with a 22-game goal scoring streak. His 87 career goals are No. 7 all-time at Penn – two away from tying for No. 6. His 141 career points are tied for No. 10 all-time by a Quaker – seven away from tying for the No. 9 spot on Penn's all-time list.
 
Gallagher's Greatest Hits
A 21-for-27 debut showed signs of what Kyle Gallagher can bring to the X for the Quakers in his first year with the team following his transfer from Hofstra. Through two games, Gallagher is 31-for-51, ranking No. 2 in the Ivy League and No. 17 in the country in faceoff winning percentage (.608). Gallagher's 8.5 groundballs per game is also No. 2 in the Ivy League and is No. 9 in the country.
 
Relying On Reed
Senior Reed Junkin has played in 45 career games in goal, manning the cage for over 2,653 minutes. The 2016 second-team All-Ivy selection and Ivy League Co-Rookie of the Year alongside teammate Simon Mathias, Junkin has earned three career Ivy League Player of the Week honors. He enters his senior season with a .507 save percentage. Through two games, Junkin has made 23 saves and his 11.5 saves per game rank No. 3 among Ivy League keepers.
 
On The Mark
Junior defender Mark Evanchick has developed into one of the Ivy League's premier defenders. After appearing in just three games as a freshman, Evanchick started all 15 games at close defense last season and often drew the assignment of the opposing team's top offensive threat. He finished with eight caused turnover and 19 ground balls last season.
 
Man-Up Moves
Penn was 12-for-29 on the man-up in 2018, with Adam Goldner accounting for half of Penn's EMO goals. Penn's .414 percentage on the man-up was No. 17 in the country last season. Penn is 2-for-5 on extra-man opportunities this season, leading the Ivy League in EMO% (.400) and ranking No. 18 in the country.
 
All Clear
The Quakers are 33-for-37 on clearing attempts this season. Penn's .892 clearing percentage is No. 1 in the Ivy League and No. 6 in the country.
 
Nittany Notes
Penn State is 3-1 this season, coming off a 14-13 loss to then-No. 6 Yale in New Haven last weekend… The Nittany Lions trailed, 13-8, and closed within one with 0:56 to play before just missing out… In their first three games, Penn State outscored opponents, 61-21, including a 17-7 win over a Villanova team which would then knock off No. 1 Yale… The Nittany Lions return a trio of USILA All-Americans from last year in Gerard Arceri (Third Team), Mac O'Keefe (Honorable Mention) and Chris Sabia (Honorable Mention)… Arceri is 43-for-72 on faceoffs this season, ranking No. 19 in the country with a .597 win%... O'Keefe has 19 goals and 23 points this season, ranking No. 2 in the country in goals per game (4.75) and No. 10 in points per game (5.75)… Sabia leads the team with seven caused turnovers… Junior attack Grant Ament leads Penn State with 31 points, including 24 assists… His 7.75 points per game rank No. 1 in the country, and his 6.0 assists per game are also No. 1 among all NCAA Division I players… Junior goalkeeper Colby Kneese ranks No. 2 in the nation with a .676 save percentage and No. 3 in the country with a 6.96 GAA… As a team, Penn State ranks No. 1 in the country in Scoring Margin, outscoring opponents by an average of 9.75 goals per game…Penn State's .413 shooting percentage is No. 1 in the country.