Penn State Sweeps Weekly Men’s Lacrosse Awards

Four Nittany Lions claim weekly honors after dominant win over No. 7 Cornell

ROSEMONT, Ill. – The Big Ten Conference has announced its Men’s Lacrosse Awards for the week of March 3^rd - March 10^th, 2026.

Offensive Players of the Week
Kyle Lehman, Penn State
Junior – Attack – Ambler, Penn. – Major: Finance

Posted six goals and dished out an assist for seven points in a dominant 19-7 win against No. 7 Cornell
His seven points are the most by a Nittany Lion since Matt Traynor in the 2025 NCAA Quarterfinals
Also scooped a pair of groundballs in the winning effort
Last Penn State Offensive Player of the Week Award: Hunter Aquino (Feb. 17, 2026)

Defensive Player of the Week
Alex Ross, Penn State
Senior – Defense – Davidsonville, Md. – Major: Communications

Ross contributed to a Nittany Lion defense that allowed just seven goals from the Big Red on their 40 possessions
Accounted for four groundballs and three caused turnovers
Continued to be a threat in transition, as Ross tallied his second point of the season, this time on an assist
The Nittany Lions had the nation’s best defensive efficiency this week
Marks Ross’ second Defensive Player of the Week award this season. Last: Feb. 17, 2026

Specialist of the Week
Reid Gills, PSU
Sophomore – Face off – Annapolis, Md. – Major: Communications

Gills went 13-for-16 on the faceoff and added nine groundballs against then-No. 7 Cornell
Gills’ 81.3-win percentage exceeded the Nittany Lions average, and he did so against a team that entered the weekend as the nation’s third best team at faceoff
Penn State’s 18 team wins at the X are the most surrendered by the Big Red since February 25, 2025, and just the fourth time Cornell has lost the faceoff battle since that date
Marks Gills’ second Specialist of the Week award this season. Last: Feb. 3, 2026

Freshman of the Week
Preston Hawkins, Penn State
Freshman – Goalie – Powell, Ohio – Major: Division of Undergraduate Studies

Allowed just six goals from the reigning national champions, posting the lowest goals allowed average of his career
Made nine saves on 15 shots for a 60.0 save percentage
Also caused a pair of turnovers on picked passes, and scooped five groundballs, tied for the most by any Penn State non-faceoff athlete.
This marks Hawkins’ second Freshman of the Week Award this season. Last: Feb. 17, 2026
Last Penn State Freshman of the Week Award: Jack Iannantuono (March 3, 2026)

2025-26 Men’s Lacrosse Players of the Week

Feb. 3
O: Matt Collison, JHU
D: Cullen Brown, OSU
S: Reid Gills, PSU
F: Luke Shannenhan, MICH

Feb. 10
O: Leo Johnson, MD
D: Dylan Groff, RU
S: Jack Oldman, OSU
F: Tay Rodriguez, MICH

Feb. 17
O: Hunter Aquino, PSU
D: Alex Ross, PSU
S: Joe Hobot, JHU
F: Preston Hawkins, PSU

Feb. 24
O: Garrett Haas, OSU
D: Joe Juengerkes, RU
S: Cardin Stoller, RU
F: Dylan Finder, RU

March 3
O: Hunter Chauvette, JHU
D: Reece DiCicco, JHU/Cullen Brown, OSU
S: Oran Gelinas, JHU
F: Jack Iannantuono, PSU

March 10
O: Kyle Lehman, PSU
D: Alex Ross, PSU
S: Reid Gills, PSU
F: Preston Hawkins, PSU