Posted April 12, 2024 | Article by Jack Kiefer | Photo by Maddie Bader
Every kid dreams of playing a Division One sport, but not everyone gets to live out that dream. Let alone do it with your best friend, your younger brother.
Mac and Will Costin have spent the last two years as teammates on the Penn State Men’s lacrosse team, accomplishing a dream many kids have.
“Will and I weren’t really that close until I really got into high school,” said Mac. “Now we live together and are best friends, so our relationship definitely has grown.”
With Senior Day this weekend, the brothers get to cherish these last few weeks as teammates at the collegiate level, something they never thought was possible.
In the Fall of 2018, Mac Costin signed his letter of intent to attend the University of Utah, over 2,000 miles away from his hometown of Haverford, Pennsylvania. At the time of his commitment, Utah had yet to play a Division One lacrosse game.
The University announced that the program would make the jump from the Men’s Collegiate Lacrosse Association (MCLA) to Division One starting at the beginning of the 2018-19 season.
There were a lot of unknowns when Costin decided to travel out west, but he knew this wasn’t any ordinary program. Costin had an all-star coaching staff headlined by head coach Brian Holman, his son Marcus and Will Manny.
Holman is the current head coach of the Boston Cannons of the Premier Lacrosse League and also spent some time at the University of North Carolina as an assistant. Along with that, (Marcus) Holman and Manny are established all-stars in the PLL.
“I credit a ton of my success to what they taught me and how much I learned from them,” said Costin. “I’m super thankful for the experience out there.”
After a shortened season, due to the Coronavirus Pandemic, Costin decided he needed a change of scenery, ultimately finding a home in Happy Valley.
“It was really just Coach Tambroni,” said Costin. “I’ve got to grow so much more as a man here than I ever thought I would have playing anywhere else in the country.”
In Mac’s first season, the Nittany Lions struggled, winning only four of their 11 games. He made his blue and white debut against Rutgers that season and notched his first goal a few weeks later on the road against Maryland.
Heading into his junior year in 2022, Mac was asked to make the switch from midfield to attack due to injuries at that position. While this wasn’t an easy transition for Mac, he was willing to do what the team needed.
“I really struggled with it at first just learning the nuances of the position,” said (Mac) Costin.
While (Mac) Costin worked through those changes, his play on the field rose to a new level. Costin led the team in goals with 20, including eight multi-goal performances during his junior campaign.
Despite his success, the team continued to struggle finishing 3-11, recording back-to-back losing seasons for the first time in Tambroni’s tenure at Penn State.
Even with the team struggling in 2021 and 2022, Will Costin knew Penn State was where he wanted to be. The Haverford School graduate would enroll at Penn State in the fall of 2023 and never looked back.
“I am very grateful,” said (Will) Costin “ Credit to Coach Tambroni for letting Mac and I play on the same team together…something I will never take for granted.”
Heading into the 2023 season, the team was starting to get healthy. With star players like TJ Malone and Jack Traynor returning to the attack position, (Mac) Costin made the move back to his natural position in the midfield.
As a member of the first-line midfield, along with Matt Traynor and Jake Morin, (Mac) Costin built on his success from the season prior. (Mac) Costin tallied a point in 13 of the team’s 16 games, including a hat-trick in an upset win against Penn.
(Mac) Costin finished his season with 24 points, including 16 goals and six assists, as a major contributor to Penn State’s first final-four appearance since 2019.
With the ability to come back for one more season, due to COVID19 eligibility, Costin wasn’t letting his career end on that note. On top of that, getting to play another year with his brother, made the decision even easier.
“There is always something more you can give whether it’s off the field or just putting a little bit more work into my craft on the field,” said (Mac) Costin.
(Mac) Costin saved his best season for his last and has been a major part of the success this Nittany Lion offense has had through the first ten matchups.
“He has been terrific all season long,” stated Tambroni. “On and off the field, his play has been terrific, his leadership has been terrific. Mac Costin has separated himself as one of our most impactful players.”
As Senior day quickly approaches, there will be a wide array of emotions for the Costin family, especially for younger brother Will
“I haven’t really thought about it too much,” said Will. “I’m sure it will hit me all at once. I’m just excited for another opportunity in a Big Ten matchup and to celebrate the seniors.”
Mac is one of 17 seniors being honored this weekend, and as bittersweet as it may be, he has no regrets from his time in Happy Valley. For Mac Costin, the experience has been nothing short of incredible.
“The opportunity to play for Penn State lacrosse has been an absolutely incredible experience and I’m so beyond thankful for it.”
Jack Kiefer is a third-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, please email jak6707@psu.edu.
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