Nov. 8, 2007
EAST LANSING, Mich. - After playing host Michigan State (11-4-4) to a hard-fought scoreless tie for 110 minutes, the Penn State men's soccer team (7-8-4) lost the deciding penalty kick battle, 4-3, and was eliminated from contention at the 2007 Big Ten Championship on Thursday afternoon.
Penn State got successful penalty kicks from Grady Renfrow (Washington, D.C.), Jacobo Vera (Pamplona, Spain), and Barkley Miller (New Freedom, Pa.) but attempts by Stephen Reihner (Washington, Pa.) and Daniel Martini (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) were blocked by Spartan goalkeeper Chris Austin. Meanwhile, Michigan State connected on all four of its penalty kicks.
Play and pace in the first half was controlled mainly by Michigan State, evident by its 6-2 advantage in shots. The Spartans nearly took an early lead when, in the 18th minute, forward Doug DeMartin, the Big Ten's leading scorer, launched a rocket shot on goal from 20 yards out. However, Penn State goalkeeper Conrad Taylor (Colorado Springs, Colo.) made a brilliant save, stretching out to knock the ball away and preserve the tie. That DeMartin laser would prove to be Michigan State's lone shot on goal in regulation.
Penn State became more the aggressor in the second half, outshooting Michigan State, 7-3. Included in that total were several excellent scoring chances. Shots by Daniel Martini, Treavor Gelsinger (Shady Grove, Pa.), Drew Cost (West Chester, Pa.), and Vincent Salvatico threatened but were just off target.
In the first overtime, Treavor Gelsinger almost sent the Nittany Lions into the semifinals by nearly connecting on a scoring opportunity. After receiving a pass from Vincent Salvatico, Gelsinger fired a quick shot to the far post from 20 yards out that caught the Michigan State goalkeeper out of position, but the ball sailed high just above the crossbar.
Starting in goal for the 83rd consecutive game, Conrad Taylor recorded two saves en route to the 24th shutout in his career. With it, Taylor is now tied for second on the Penn State career shutouts list.
With the tie, the Nittany Lions are now 14-2-1 in first round games and own a 22-11-4 all-time record in Big Ten championship play.