SAN FRANCISCO - The Penn State men's soccer team (2-4-2) dug itself an early deficit it could not overcome and the Nittany Lions dropped a 2-0 decision to San Francisco (1-4-1) on Sunday afternoon at USF's Negoesco Stadium in their final appearance at the 2008 BMW/Nike Soccer Challenge.
For the first time in eight games, Penn State was outshot by its opponent, as San Francisco compiled a 13-9 advantage for the contest. The Nittany Lion attack was balanced, with four players recording two shots each, although sophomore forward Treavor Gelsinger (Shady Grove, Pa.) got both of his on goal.
"We are creating scoring opportunities," said head coach Barry Gorman. "We are just not putting them away. We are not calm or quick when we need to be. It's a tough lesson to learn, but we need to learn it and learn it fast."
The Nittany Lion defense played the game shorthanded after top back liner sophomore Andres Casais (Caracas, Venezuela), PSU's leader in minutes played this season, was injured in the 0-0 tie with Saint Mary's on Friday evening.
Penn State surrendered the two goals in the game's first 10 and a half minutes. Junior forward Conor Chinn got the Dons on the scoreboard and notched was would prove to be the game winner in the third minute and sophomore forward Bryan Burke put USF up by two under eight minutes later.
The Lions had opportunities to get back in the game, with a prime scoring chance coming in the 16th minute. Junior midfielder Matheus Braga (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) rocketed a left-footed shot from the top of the box but USF goalkeeper Jeremy Coupe was in position on corralled it.
Freshman forward Corey Hertzog (Reading, Pa.) also had an opportunity to cut into the USF lead in the 40th minute but he hesitated on an open scoring attempt and then put his shot wide.
Goalkeeper Liam Fitzwater (Schuylkill Haven, Pa.) kept the deficit at two after making a diving save to stop a USF penalty kick just before halftime. The sophomore recorded five saves for the game.
Penn State had three shots in the second half with a late offering by Treavor Gelsinger making it on goal.
"The coaching staff is still positive," said Gorman. "It's a matter of firing on all cylinders. We need to make better decisions on the field during play, for the good of the team and not in terms of an individualistic approach. Once we make better decisions individually and collectively, we will be where we want."
The Nittany Lions will remain on the road next week, traveling to Philadelphia to take on Penn (4-0-2, 0-0-0 Ivy League) on Wed., Sept. 24 at 7:30 p.m. at Rhodes Field. Penn State will return home the following Sunday (Sept. 28) to open Big Ten play versus Michigan State (2-4-0, 0-1-0 Big Ten) in a game scheduled for 2 p.m. at Jeffrey Field.