Aug. 21, 2007
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The Penn State men's soccer team kicked off the 2007 season on a successful note by defeating Georgetown, 1-0, in an exhibition contest Tuesday evening. Overcoming unseasonably cool temperatures, off-and-on rain showers, and a shortened field, the Nittany Lions were victorious in their exhibition opener for the second consecutive season.
The game, which was first postponed 24 hours and then moved from Jeffrey Field because of continual rainfall over the past two days, was played on the newly installed turf field where the former Bigler Field was located.
Seeing his first game action since suffering a hip injury last season in early October, junior midfielder Barkley Miller (New Freedom, Pa.) netted the game winner in the contest's 42nd minute. Sophomore midfielder Diego Correa (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil), playing in his first game as a Nittany Lion after transferring from St. John's in the offseason, assisted on the play by hitting Miller with a perfect crossing pass. Streaking down the left wing, Miller controlled the Correa pass and skidded a shot past Georgetown goalkeeper Joe Devine to provide Penn State with the winning margin.
Sophomore midfielder Daniel Martini (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) nearly beat Miller to the punch by giving Penn State the lead four minutes in, but he could not convert on a nice crossing pass from classmate Jacobo Vera (Pamplona, Spain), as his shot trickled wide. Just over 20 minutes later, Martini had another open look at the goal, but his attempt was speared by the Hoya goalkeeper. Meanwhile, the Penn State was stout, holding Georgetown without a shot for the game's first 33 minutes.
In the second half, the Lions had two excellent opportunities to build on their lead but solid shots by junior forward Jason Yeisley (Allentown, Pa.) and freshman forward Treavor Gelsinger were stopped by replacement Georgetown goalkeeper Matthew Brutto. With 16 minutes remaining, the Hoyas had a prime chance to knot the game but Penn State freshman goalkeeper Warren Gross (Greenfield Center, N.Y.) made a diving save of Georgetown midfielder Mark Zeman's shot to thwart the threat. The Lions dodged a bullet in the closing moments of the game when Hoya team captain Mike Glaccum had an open look at the goal but sailed a shot high over the crossbar.
Redshirt freshman goalkeeper Liam Fitzwater (Schuylkill Haven, Pa.) started in net for Penn State, playing the game's first 45 minutes, earning one save. Gross finished out the game between the pipes, collecting the one game-saving stop.
Penn State outshot Georgetown, 8-3, for the game and had a 4-2 advantage in shots on goal.
The Nittany Lions' exhibition season continues later this week when they welcome Saint Francis (Pa.) to Jeffrey Field on Sat., Aug. 25 for a 7 p.m. game. The Red Flash is coming off a 2006 season in which it went 10-7-3, including a 6-1-2 record in Northeast Conference play. The 2007 regular season begins for Penn State on Fri., Aug. 29 at the Ohio State Classic. The Lions will kick off the year by taking on Syracuse in an opening round game scheduled for 7:30 p.m. at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium in Columbus, Ohio.