Sept. 23, 2007
EAST LANSING, Mich. - The Penn State men's soccer team (2-4-1, 0-0-1) earned a 2-2 draw with Michigan State (5-0-2, 0-0-1) in its Big Ten opener on Sunday afternoon at Old College Field in East Lansing, Mich.
The tie is the Nittany Lions' first in conference action since 2004, a 0-0 draw with Michigan in Ann Arbor.
Michigan State jumped out in front ten minutes into the game when senior forward Kenzo Webster, with an assist from freshman midfielder Spencer Thompson, netted his second goal of the season.
Penn State answered back in the 29th minute when junior forward Jason Yeisley (Allentown, Pa.) headed in the equalizer. Freshman forward Treavor Gelsinger (Shady Grove, Pa.) and sophomore midfielder Frank Costigliola (Dix Hills, N.Y.) were credited with assists on the play. For Gelsinger, the assist was his team-best third of the year while Costigliola upped his season point total to five with the assist.
Yeisley gave the Nittany Lions the lead early in the second half, scoring his second goal of the game and team-high fourth of the season off a breakaway down the left side of the field. Freshman defender Andres Casais (Caracas, Venezuela) earned his first collegiate point by assisting on the play.
The Spartans retied the game in the 73rd minute when junior forward Louis Stephens found net after having the ball come to him on a ricochet off a corner kick play. Kenzo Webster and Rauwshan McKenzie earned assists for MSU.
"We are disappointed that we gave up two goals," said Penn State head coach Barry Gorman. "But we scored two and had chances to win the game. Defensively, we need to get harder. But we are dangerous on the breakaway with Jason (Yeisley) and some others."
In the overtime periods, Gelsinger and sophomore midfielder Vincent Salvatico (Chester Springs, Pa.) got off shots but neither made it on goal and the PSU defense held the Spartan attack in check, causing the Nittany Lions to settle for the tie.
Senior goalkeeper Conrad Taylor (Colorado Springs, Colo.) played all 110 minutes in goal for Penn State. He faced a barrage of 21 Michigan State shots, recording nine saves.
The Nittany Lions return to Happy Valley for a pair of home contests at Jeffrey Field next week. On Wed., Sept. 26, Penn State will take on Ivy League foe Pennsylvania in a game set for 7 p.m. The meeting will be the teams' first in 10 years, a 1-0 PSU home win. Continuing their home stand on Sat., Sept. 29, the Nittany Lions will make their Big Ten Network debut when they host No. 6 Northwestern in a 7 p.m. match-up. Penn State has dominated its series with the Wildcats, compiling a 20-1-1 all-time record, including two wins last season.