UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.—The Hobart College lacrosse team led Penn State University through three quarters, but the host Nittany Lions used a big fourth quarter to rally past the Statesmen, 17-12. PSU trailed 10-8 entering the final frame, but scored nine of the day's final 10 goals to pull off the victory.
 
The first three quarters of Hobart's season opener featured lots of back-and-forth with the Statesmen leading 4-3 at the end of one. Penn State took the lead into halftime by scoring the final three goals of the second quarter.
 
Hobart raced out of the gate to start the second half, scoring six of the first seven goals. Junior Max Romm and senior Cooper Stefaniak found the back of the net to tie the game at 7-7. Dan Craig put PSU back in front with a goal near the 8:30 mark, but less than a minute later junior Mark Darden touched off a four-goal run by the Statesmen. Junior Frank Brown and Teddy Sisco followed to make it 10-8 after three quarter.
 
Stefaniak opened the fourth quarter scoring just 12 seconds into the session to give Hobart a three-goal lead, but the Nittany Lions came roaring back. Penn State rattled off five consecutive goals in span of just over three minutes to take a 13-11 lead. Junior Kevin Murphy broke up the run at the 8:35 mark, but PSU scored twice in under 30 seconds to make it a 15-12 game with eight minutes remaining. The Lions added two more goals in the final six minutes to complete the day's scoring.
 
Penn State outshot Hobart 40-34 and had the game's only extra-man goal. Hobart had the upper hand in ground balls (31-28) and faceoffs (17-16).
 
Brown led Hobart with three goals. Darden added two goals and an assist. Stefaniak scored twice and junior Sean Donnelly handed out a pair of assists. Sophomore J. Andrew Spallanzani won 16-of-30 faceoffs and picked up four ground balls. In goal, junior Jackson Brown made 12 saves.
 
For Penn State, Grant Ament had a game-high five points on three goals and two assists. Ryan Keenan and TJ Sanders also scored three goals. Faceoff specialist Billy Lombardi was 11-of-22 at the X with a team-high five ground balls. Goalie Will Schreiner made eight stops.
 
Hobart will be back in action on Saturday, Feb. 20, when the Statesmen play Siena in the Cobb County Classic in Kennesaw, Ga.