Sept. 7, 2007
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Junior forward Jason Yeisley (Allentown, Pa.) netted two goals and freshman forward Treavor Gelsinger (Shady Grove, Pa.) tallied two assists to power the Penn State men's soccer team (1-2-0) to a commanding 4-1 victory over William & Mary (1-1-0) on Friday evening at Jeffrey Field. The contest was the Nittany Lions' season home opener and the first match-up of the 2007 Penn State Classic.
The four goals represent Penn State's highest offensive output since Oct. 7, 2005 when it whipped Northwestern, 4-1, in University Park.
Early in the game, play was back-and-forth, with neither team able to control pace or construct a solid offensive push. That all ended in the 22nd minute when senior defender Stephen Reihner (Washington, Pa.) stole the ball from a William & Mary player near the midfield and led a perfect pass ahead down the right wing to a streaking Jason Yeisley. Pushing past a defender, Yeisley caught up with the ball and booted a shot beyond the outstretched hands of Tribe goalkeeper Brennan Wergley. The goal was Yeisley's first of the season and 11th of his career.
Penn State extended its lead to 2-0 15 minutes into the second half when Treavor Gelsinger teamed with sophomore midfielder Frank Costigliola (Dix Hils, N.Y.) on a scoring play. Gelsinger's assist represented his first collegiate point while Costigliola claimed his second career goal with a right-footed smash from 15 yards out.
The Nittany Lions put their third tally on the scoreboard in the game's 87th minute. Sophomore midfielder Vincent Salvatico (Chester Springs, Pa.) lobbed a long pass from the right wing near midfield and found a wide-open Barkley Miller (New Freedom, Pa.) running alone towards the goals. The junior midfielder made the most of his 1-on-1 opportunity and found net with skidding ground ball.
Less than two minutes later, the combination of Treavor Gelsinger and Jason Yeisley put the finishing touches on the victory. Gelsinger fought off defenders deep in the William & Mary zone and got off a crossing pass from the left wing. His pass found Yeisley, who was standing alone in front of the goal. A chip shot later and Penn State had its fourth goal of the night and clinched its first victory of the season.
Senior goalkeeper Conrad Taylor (Colorado Springs, Colo.) registered two saves in the win. He had his bid for his 22nd career shutout spoiled in the game's 74th minute when William & Mary junior midfielder Nathan Belcher put in a up close shot after collecting the rebound from his own previous header attempt.
Penn State outshot William & Mary, 19-6, for the game, including a 12-4 advantage in the second half. Yeisley led all players with four shots while Salvatico came off the bench to record three.
The Big Ten went undefeated for the day at the Penn State Classic, as No. 22 Ohio State downed Old Dominion, 3-2, in Friday's late game.
The Nittany Lions will conclude play at the 2007 Penn State Classic on Sun., Sept. 9 when they take on Old Dominion at 2:30 p.m. at Jeffrey Field. A game featuring No. 22 Ohio State and William & Mary will precede the Nittany Lion-Monarch match-up at 12 p.m.
Fans can follow all of the action at the Penn State Classic with live stats and instant scoring updates on Gametracker. Click on the gametrack PSU link or visit the Penn State Classic Tournament Central page on the official website of Nittany Lion athletics, www.GoPSUsports.com. Fans can also listen to a live radio broadcast of the PSU-ODU contest on the Internet at www.ComRadio.psu.edu.