May 16, 2008
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The Penn State men's soccer family suffered a loss earlier this spring when all-time great John Pinezich passed away. Pinezich captained legendary head coach Ken Hosterman's 1954 team to the program's 10th national championship.
Voted an All-American after his senior season in 1954, Pinezich enjoyed a distinguished career at Penn State. In 1952, the four-year lettermen set the school record for goals in a season, scoring 23. That mark would stand until 1955 when former teammate Dick Packer broke it by one; a record Packer still holds today. Pinezich ranks eighth on Penn State's career goals list with 41. He was also a member of the 1951 squad that took a historic tour of Iran.
Pinezich played an instrumental role in Penn State's run to the 1954 national championship. In a 14-1 season opening, record setting rout of Bucknell, Pinezich led the team with four goals. He would go on to score key goals in wins over Syracuse (9-2), Colgate (6-0), and Army (5-1), helping the Nittany Lions secure a perfect 8-0 record.
After graduation, Pinezich continued his soccer career with Eintracht S.C. in the German-American League. He helped it win the U.S. Open Cup in 1955 by scoring two goals in its 2-0 victory. Later that year, Pinezich was selected to play for the United States National Team.
A U.S. Air Force veteran, Pinezich graduated from Penn State with a degree in Civil Engineering.