TJ Malone a Stone-Cold Star as Penn State handles Stony Brook
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The 1-1 Nittany Lions faced off against the 0-1 Seawolves on Saturday. Penn State defended their home turf to get the 17-12 win.
It was a brisk and windy day, but that didn’t stop TJ Malone from being hot on the field.
After missing his senior season due to injury, Malone has been stellar in the beginning of his fifth season for the Nittany Lions.
During his junior year he started in 10 of 11 games and led the team with 43 points with 25 goals and 18 assists, but Malone was sent to the bench last year with an injury.
Yet, Malone is back and making sure that everyone knows it.
Last week he scored a hat trick in the team’s 14-12 win against Villanova and had a big four goal performance against Stony Brook.
“I’m just trying to get better every week,” Malone said.
He went on to take responsibility for last week’s loss against Villanova due to a few turnovers late in the game, but thought that the team, and himself, had a better game against Stony Brook.
“I think offensively we knew that once we touched the ball, it was all in our hands,” the 5th year athlete said.
Malone had been a key to the team dating back all the way to freshman year. In fact, he was awarded three Big 10 Freshman of the Week awards and was ranked sixth in the Big 10 for shot percentage his sophomore year.
Head Coach Jeff Tamborini is very glad to have Malone back after his battle with injuries.
“For the last two years he has really struggled physically and mentally to be away from the game…the game that he loves so much,” Tamborini said.
Additionally, Malone is a huge part of the team’s inspiration to push through challenges and fight for every win.
“He’s been a huge asset to our offense whether or not he is doing certain things,” Coach Tamborini said.. “He is such a courageous young man.”
Penn State entered the contest with fire in their eyes after losing to Villanova 14-12 last week. In addition to TJ Malone’s hat trick, goalie Jack Fracyon recorded 12 saves on the day.
The Seawolves came into the matchup looking to get their first win after falling to Rutgers 11-7 in their season opener. Matt Anderson scored a hat trick and had one assist, while their goalie Jamison MacLachlan had a save percentage of .676.
In these two teams’ historical matchup, the Nittany Lions now lead 3-2. Penn State took the previous two games in 2018 and 2019.
Tambroni is also getting close to a historical mark with 98 wins as Penn State’s head coach. Reaching 100 wins would make him the second Nittany Lion’s head coach to hit triple digits. The only other Penn State coach to reach this feat was Glenn Thiel.
The Nittany Lions will get a full week of rest and head to Yale next Saturday while the Seawolves will be home against the Air Force on Friday.
Allie Wenskoski is a first-year broadcast journalism student. To contact her, please email amw7637@psu.edu.
