Penn State, Rutgers Win Quarterfinal Matches to Open Big Ten Tournament

View 2025 Big Ten Men’s Lacrosse Tournament Bracket 

The 2025 Big Ten Men's Lacrosse Tournament began Saturday with Penn State and Rutgers winning quarterfinal matches. The field is now set for the semifinals next Thursday in Ann Arbor. 

ANN ARBOR, Mich. – No. 5 seed Rutgers played spoiler to tournament hosts No. 4 Michigan in an 11-8 win. The Scarlet Knights (7-8) lost to the Wolverines 8-6 at home in Piscataway just two weeks ago.  

The Scarlet Knights trailed 2-0 early, but forced 17 turnovers and saw eight different players score on the day in a balanced effort to come out on top. All-Big Ten First Team goalie Cardin Stoller saved eight shots on the day. 

Rutgers will return to Ann Arbor for a semifinals matchup against No. 1 seed Ohio State at 5 p.m. ET on Big Ten Network. 

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – No. 3 seed Penn State fended off No. 6 Johns Hopkins in a thrilling 13-12 win to advance to the semifinals. 

The Nittany Lions (10-3) went up 13-9 after Ethan Long scored his 13^th goal of the season with 6:40 remaining in the game. The Blue Jays responded with three straight goals and trailed by just one goal with 2:51, and the Penn State defense held strong behind the efforts of Will Costin and Ethan Long to secure the win.  

Kyle Lehman led all scorers with four goals and also tallied an assist. Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year Matt Traynor also added two goals, an assist and five groundballs in the winning effort. 

Penn State will take on No. 2 seed Maryland in the semifinals for the second year in a row on Thursday at 7 p.m. EST inside U-M Lacrosse Stadium on Big Ten Network.