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Penn State Reveals 2018 Schedule

Can the Nittany Lions build off their success from 2017?

By Chris Jastrzembski

The Penn State Nittany Lions are the third Division I team to unveil their 2018 schedule. The Nittany Lions are looking to build on their 12-4 record in 2017 and try to win a game in the NCAA Tournament for the first time in program history.

Here’s the entire 2018 schedule:

Penn State’s 2018 Schedule

Date Road Team Home Team Special Notes Last Year's Meeting(s)
Date Road Team Home Team Special Notes Last Year's Meeting(s)
1/20 Navy Penn State Scrimmage
1/27 Penn State Army West Point Scrimmage
2/3 Villanova Penn State 17-12 W
2/10 Hobart Penn State 21-15 W
2/17 Stony Brook Penn State New opponent
2/24 Robert Morris Penn State 15-11 W
3/3 Penn State Penn 14-13 W
3/6 Penn State Furman in Washington, D.C. 12-10 W
3/10 Penn State Cornell in Sparks, Maryland 20-10 W
3/17 Penn State Fairfield 9-8 W
3/24 Cleveland State Penn State 15-8 W
3/31 Penn State Ohio State Big Ten 9-4 W
4/7 Maryland Penn State Big Ten 15-11 L, 8-6 L
4/14 Johns Hopkins Penn State Big Ten 13-11 L
4/21 Penn State Rutgers Big Ten 13-7 W
4/28 Michigan Penn State Big Ten 17-13 W

Instead of mentioning each game as we’ve done, we’ll highlight some of the best games on the schedule.

Best Non Conference Game: vs. Cornell (in Sparks, MD)

Penn State doubled up on Cornell last season in the Big Red’s first game of the season. Jeff Teat and Connor Fletcher scored a goal each. This wasn’t the Cornell team we saw later on in the season, when the team began to gel. This game is being played nearly a month later, which will benefit the Big Red the most. Teat could be the most explosive scorer the Nittany Lions face up to this point in the season.

Best Conference Game: vs. Maryland

It could be nearly the entire Big Ten schedule, but I’m picking Maryland for this one. Last year, Penn State lost both meetings to the eventual national champions. Two years ago, the Nittany Lions lost to the Terrapins in overtime at home. Is it finally Penn State’s time to beat Maryland? With the makeup of the Terps different from last year, it could easily happen.

Under The Radar Game: vs. Michigan

Michigan has been the bottom of the pack in the Big Ten ever since the conference began existing. Even after an above-.500 record in 2017, the Wolverines didn’t win a conference game. They came close to beating Penn State last year at the Big House, losing by only four goals. With a new head coach in Kevin Conry, a guy that knows the Big Ten, the Wolverines may be able to earn a victory in the regular season finale.

Possible Upset: vs. Furman (in Washington, D.C.)

With three minutes left in the third quarter, Penn State’s game with the Paladins seemed over, as the Nittany Lions led 11-5. But the Paladins scored five unanswered goals to make it a one-goal game with 4:43 to go, before Ryan Keenan scored with 44 seconds left. Sophomore Lou Yovino returns for Furman after scoring three goals in the game, along with junior middie William Holcomb, who had two goals and one assist in the loss. Can Alex Van de Bovenkamp improve in goal as well?

Head coach Jeff Tambroni discussed the 2018 schedule:

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