5 Shocking Takeaways From The Penn State Vs. Cornell Lacrosse Showdown: An Instant Classic Rivalry Deep Dive

The Penn State Nittany Lions and the Cornell Big Red men's lacrosse programs have established one of college lacrosse's most compelling and unpredictable rivalries, a narrative that has reached a fever pitch with their high-stakes meetings in the 2024 and 2025 seasons. As of December 17, 2025, the most recent clash remains the monumental 2025 NCAA Tournament Semifinal, a game that solidified the Big Red's status and provided a heartbreaking end to Penn State's promising run. This rivalry, rooted in a long history of close contests, has recently delivered two dramatically different, yet equally memorable, results that fans are still debating.

The intensity of the Big Ten vs. Ivy League matchup has been defined by its stark contrasts: a regular-season blowout in favor of the Nittany Lions, followed by a razor-thin, season-ending defeat for Penn State on the sport's biggest stage. From the dominant 20-9 Penn State victory in 2024 to the 11-9 Cornell triumph in the 2025 Final Four, these games showcase the volatile and thrilling nature of top-tier collegiate lacrosse.

The Defining Clash: Cornell's 2025 NCAA Semifinal Victory

The most recent and arguably most significant meeting between the two powerhouse programs was the 2025 NCAA Men's Lacrosse Tournament Semifinal, held in Foxborough, Massachusetts.

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The No. 1 ranked Cornell Big Red faced the No. 5 seed Penn State Nittany Lions in a game that was a testament to defensive grit and timely scoring runs.

The Five-Goal Decisive Run

The Nittany Lions, under Head Coach Jeff Tambroni, held a 6-5 lead in the third quarter, putting the top-seeded Big Red on the ropes.

However, Cornell responded with a devastating five-unanswered-goal run over a span of just 6:40, flipping the score to a 10-6 advantage for the Big Red.

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Penn State battled back with three unanswered goals of their own, narrowing the gap to 10-9, but Cornell's leading scorer on the day, Hugh Kelleher, netted the final goal to seal the 11-9 victory.

The loss concluded a promising 12-5 season for Penn State, while Cornell advanced to the National Championship game.

Key Players and Coaching Entities in the Modern Rivalry

The recent history of this rivalry is inseparable from the talent on the field and the strategic minds on the sidelines. Both programs boast elite coaching and a roster of future professional players, contributing to the high level of play in every Penn State vs. Cornell game.

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Here is a list of the central entities and figures who have shaped the recent Penn State-Cornell narrative:

• Connor Buczek (Cornell Head Coach): The Richard M. Moran Head Coach, a former three-time All-American, guided the Big Red to the 2025 NCAA Championship, solidifying his status as one of the sport's top young coaches.
• Jeff Tambroni (Penn State Head Coach): A decorated coach returning for his 16th season in 2026, he has consistently kept the Nittany Lions in the national conversation, leading them to multiple Final Four appearances.
• CJ Kirst (Cornell Attackman): A Tewaaraton Award finalist, Kirst was held scoreless by the stout Penn State defense in the 2025 Semifinal, a testament to the Nittany Lions' defensive game plan.
• Hugh Kelleher (Cornell Midfielder): Kelleher proved to be a clutch player, scoring the final, decisive goal in the 2025 Semifinal and also registering a goal in the 2024 regular-season matchup.
• Wyatt Knust (Cornell Goalkeeper): Mentioned alongside Coach Buczek and Kirst in the postgame press conference, Knust's performance in net was crucial to the Big Red's 2025 Final Four run.
• TJ Malone (Penn State Attackman): A key offensive leader, Malone was a major contributor to the Nittany Lions' 20-9 victory in 2024.
• Matt Traynor (Penn State Attackman): Alongside Malone, Traynor accounted for a significant portion of Penn State's dominant scoring in the 2024 regular-season win.
• Marc Psyllos & Angelo Petrakis (PSU Faceoff Specialists): Their combined 19-of-33 faceoff wins in the 2024 game were instrumental in giving Penn State the possession advantage necessary for the 20-9 blowout.
• Luke Mercer (Penn State Midfielder): Scored the first goal of the 2024 game, setting the tone for the Nittany Lions' offensive explosion.
• Will Peden (Penn State Attackman): Assisted Luke Mercer's first goal in the 2024 game.
• Max Tennant (Cornell Assistant Coach): An essential part of the Big Red's coaching staff under Connor Buczek.

The Rivalry's Volatility: 2024 Blowout vs. 2025 Thriller

The two most recent contests between the Nittany Lions and the Big Red perfectly encapsulate the unpredictable nature of college lacrosse. They show two completely different facets of the rivalry, making the upcoming 2026 matchup a must-watch event.

The 2024 Regular Season Statement

On March 9, 2024, at Panzer Stadium in University Park, Pennsylvania, the No. 10 Penn State team delivered a stunning performance against the then-No. 8 Cornell.

The Nittany Lions dominated from start to finish, securing a massive 20-9 victory.

The 20-goal performance highlighted the offensive firepower of the Penn State roster, with players like Matt Traynor and TJ Malone leading the charge.

This result was a powerful statement for the Big Ten program, showcasing their ability to compete with and overwhelm the Ivy League's best.

The 2025 NCAA Final Four Redemption

Fast forward to the 2025 NCAA Final Four, and the script was flipped. Despite a strong defensive effort that shut down Tewaaraton finalist CJ Kirst, the Nittany Lions couldn't maintain their lead.

The pressure of the national semifinal proved to be a different beast, with Cornell's championship pedigree shining through in the critical third quarter.

The 11-9 final score was a much closer contest, a true battle of attrition that demonstrated the resilience of Coach Buczek’s Big Red squad. This game, while a loss for Penn State, confirmed their place as a perennial NCAA contender and proved the 2024 blowout was just a single chapter in a long, evolving rivalry.

What's Next for the Nittany Lions and the Big Red?

The historical series between Penn State and Cornell is incredibly tight, with the Big Red holding a slight edge in the all-time record, which now stands at 25-24 following the 2025 NCAA Semifinal.

The next scheduled matchup is already drawing significant attention from the entire lacrosse community, with the two teams set to meet again in University Park, Pennsylvania, at Panzer Stadium as part of the 2026 Men's Lacrosse Schedule.

Fans and analysts will be eagerly anticipating this game, which is expected to be another high-stakes showdown that will undoubtedly impact the national rankings and the Big Ten vs. Ivy League conference narrative. Will Coach Tambroni's Nittany Lions seek revenge for the Final Four loss, or will Coach Buczek's Big Red extend their winning streak in the series? The intensity of this rivalry ensures that the next game will be an instant classic.