Oct. 15, 2008
ITHACA, N.Y. - The Penn State men's soccer team (4-7-2) continued its torrid scoring pace on Wednesday night, defeating Cornell (1-9-0), 3-1, in a non-conference match-up at Charles F. Berman Field in Ithaca, N.Y. The offensive outpouring versus the Big Red marks the third time in the last four games that the Nittany Lions have posted three goals.
Forward Treavor Gelsinger (Shady Grove, Pa.) led Penn State to its first road win of the season, scoring two goals. The sophomore has tallied all five of his team-high five goals in the last four games. He also tops the Lions in points with 10. Freshman midfielder MacKenzie Arment (Manheim, Pa.) also netted his second goal of the season.
Penn State outshot Cornell, recording 19, just above its Big Ten-leading shot per game average of 18.2, as compared to the Big Red's eight. Junior midfielder Matheus Braga (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) applied offensive pressure all game, leading PSU with six shots while Gelsinger added five.
The Nittany Lions controlled the game early, registering the first four shots. Their persistence on the attack paid off exactly 19 minutes in when Gelsinger put a loose ball in net from 12 yards out for his first goal of the evening.
Meanwhile, the defense was doing its job, holding Cornell without a shot for the game's first 20 minutes and just two for the entire first half.
Penn State continued to dominate play in the second half, getting off four shots in the first 7:30. After 10 unsuccessful tries to extend their lead, the Nittany Lions finally broke through in the game's 85th minute when Gelsinger headed in a shot from 12 yards away. Sophomore Casey Derkacz (Hamburg, N.Y.) was credited with an assist on the play, giving him his first point of the 2008 season.
MacKenzie Arment finished off the scoring for Penn State with his second goal of the season |
With the offensive flood gates open, the Lions took advantage, scoring their third goal of the game just over a minute and a half later when MacKenzie Arment found net with his first and only shot of the game.
A defensive lapse late in the game which led to a Cornell goal with one second remaining spoiled the shutout and an otherwise standout performance by goalkeeper Liam Fitzwater (Schuylkill Haven, Pa.). The redshirt sophomore recorded two saves en route to his fourth win of the season.
The Nittany Lions continue their road stretch on Tues., Oct. 21 when they visit Bethlehem, Pa. for a match-up with Lehigh (5-3-3, 1-0-2 Patriot League). Penn State has lost to the Mountain Hawks just once in 16 all-time meetings, boasting a 12-1-3 series record. The teams last faced off in 2004, a 1-0 PSU win at Lehigh. Penn State will return to Big Ten play on Sun., Oct. 26 when it faces Wisconsin in Madison.