Breaking: Penn State Men’s Lacrosse Shocks Two-Time Defending Champ Notre Dame With Eight Unanswered Goals to Advance to Final Four
In one of the most electrifying upsets of the 2025 NCAA Men’s Lacrosse Tournament, Penn State stunned two-time defending national champion Notre Dame, erupting for eight unanswered goals en route to a dramatic 13-11 comeback victory. The win punches the Nittany Lions’ ticket to their third Final Four appearance since 2019, solidifying their rise as a national lacrosse powerhouse.
Notre Dame, riding a 16-game postseason win streak and aiming for a historic three-peat, entered the game as heavy favorites. They looked the part early, taking a commanding 11-5 lead midway through the third quarter. But what followed was a collapse for the ages — and a heroic rally by Penn State that will go down in program history.
With their season on the line, the Nittany Lions flipped a switch. Fueled by a relentless midfield and clutch goaltending from red-hot netminder Jack Fracyon, Penn State shut out Notre Dame for the final 22 minutes, scoring eight straight goals to flip the script and silence the Irish faithful.
Sophomore attacker TJ Malone led the charge with three goals and two assists, while senior captain Matt Traynor added a pair of crucial tallies that swung momentum sharply in Penn State’s favor. Faceoff specialist Chase Mullins was a difference-maker down the stretch, winning six of the final seven draws to keep possession locked in the Lions’ favor.
“We believed. Even when we were down six, we believed,” said head coach Jeff Tambroni after the game. “This is a resilient group. They’ve battled adversity all season, and today they showed why they belong on the biggest stage.”
The upset not only ends Notre Dame’s title reign but also opens the door for a new champion. Penn State will now face either Duke or Maryland in the Final Four, with eyes firmly set on the program’s first national championship.
For a team that’s quietly built a winning culture under Tambroni, this may be the moment the rest of the lacrosse world finally takes notice.
#WeAre | #FinalFourBound | #MarchOnPSU
