Oct. 28, 2007
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - The Penn State men's soccer team (5-8-3, 1-2-2) suffered a 1-0 setback to Big Ten foe No. 11 Indiana (11-4-2, 4-0-1) on Sunday afternoon at Bill Armstrong Stadium in Bloomington, Ind.
Much of the scoreless first half was played in the midfield and with the ball in the air. Indiana controlled possession early, converting that advantage into three shots through the game's first seven minutes. However, Penn State weathered the storm and began to answer back on the attack.
That response rendered the Nittany Lions' best chance to take a first half lead in the 32nd minute. Near the IU box, sophomore midfielder Frank Costigliola (Dix Hills, N.Y.) poked a bounding ball to an open Drew Cost (West Chester, Pa.). The freshman midfielder, the hero from Tuesday night's overtime victory versus Cornell, collected the pass, dribbled to his right, and launched a shot from the top of the box that skimmed just high over the Hoosier net.
Indiana's most viable scoring opportunity came in the game's 23rd minute when senior defender Stephen Reihner (Washington, Pa.) attempted to clear an entry pass with a header but the ball flew toward the Penn State goal where IU's Kevin Noschang was positioned. The junior forward got his head on the ball but it lifted high just over the crossbar.
Penn State was outshot by Indiana in the first half by a 9-3 margin but only two Hoosier attempts made it on goal.
The Hoosiers claimed the lead less than five minutes into the second half. Indiana's Brad Ring received a pass from Michael Roach at midfield, raced ahead, and sent a low, hard shot to the far post for the game winner.
Down a goal, the Nittany Lions continued to force the issue and nearly netted the equalizer in the 53rd minute. Freshman forward Treavor Gelsinger (Shady Grove, Pa.) created some space between him and his mark and sent a left-footed shot on goal. The ball hit the near post and rebounded back into play. Frank Costigliola rushed toward the goal and arrived at the ball before IU goalkeeper Chay Chain, but his second chance popped up high over the net.
Junior defender Andy Machi (Upper St. Clair, Pa.) and sophomore midfielder Daniel Martini (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) each had excellent looks at the goal in the final 30-plus minutes, but their shots were narrowly off target, skirting just wide of the net.
Penn State senior goalkeeper Conrad Taylor (Colorado Springs, Colo.), starting his 80th consecutive game, recorded four saves, including a brilliant diving stop midway through the second half that kept the Nittany Lions in the game.
The Nittany Lions will finish out the 2007 regular season next week with two home games. On Wed., Oct. 31, Penn State will welcome in-state opponent Villanova (10-6-0) to Jeffrey Field for a Halloween eve match-up scheduled for 7 p.m. The Lions will then wrap up Big Ten play when they host Michigan (10-4-2, 0-2-2) on Sun., Nov. 4 in a 2 p.m. game. Prior to the contest with the Wolverines, Conrad Taylor, Geordie MacNeill (Richmond Hill, Ont.), Grady Renfrow (Washington, D.C.), and Stephen Reihner will be honored for their contributions to the Penn State men's soccer program over the past four years in a special Senior Day ceremony.