Senior Helped JHU to a 9-8 Overtime Win Against Penn State
ROSEMONT, IL – For the second time this season, Johns Hopkins senior Scott Smith has been named the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week it was announced by the league today. Smith helped the Blue Jays to a 9-8 overtime win over then seventh-ranked Penn State last Saturday in their only game of the week.
This is the second time this season and the fourth time in his career that Smith has been honored as the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week; earlier this season he was honored after leading the Blue Jays to wins over Towson and Georgetown and he was honored once during the 2022 and 2023 seasons as well. This is also the 13th time a Hopkins player has earned the award since the league added men’s lacrosse in 2015 and the fourth time a Blue Jay has been honored this season. Smith’s four career selections as the B1G Defensive Player of the Week are the most in school history.
Smith had four ground balls and two caused turnovers in the win against Nittany Lions. He helped lead a defensive effort that held Penn State, the highest scoring team in the Big Ten, more than six goals below its season scoring average entering the game. After scoring four times in the first quarter of the game, the Nittany Lions managed just four goals over the final three quarters plus overtime.
In 11 games this season, Smith has one goal, 40 ground balls and 11 caused turnovers to his credit. He ranks second on the team in ground balls and caused turnovers and his efforts this season have boosted his career totals to six goals, one assist, 108 ground balls and 52 caused turnovers. He currently ranks fourth in school history in career caused turnovers.
Johns Hopkins (8-3, 3-0 B1G) will return to action on Sunday, April 14 when the Blue Jays travel to Ohio State (6-6, 1-2 B1G) for a Big Ten game (7 pm / BTN).