Oct. 20, 2008
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The Penn State men's soccer team (4-7-2, 1-2-0 Big Ten) will look to extend its season-high two-game winning streak on Tuesday evening when it travels to Bethlehem, Pa. to face in-state foe Lehigh (5-5-3, 1-1-2 Patriot League) in a 7 p.m. match-up at the Ulrich Sports Complex.
The Nittany Lions are playing their best soccer of the year, coming off consecutive wins over then-No. 17 Ohio State and Cornell. After scoring just five goals through the first nine games, the PSU attack has caught fire of late, netting 10 in the last four games. Sophomore Treavor Gelsinger (Shady Grove, Pa.) and freshman Corey Hertzog (Reading, Pa.) have been the primary catalysts for the scoring surge. Gelsinger has notched all of his team-high five goals in the last four games, including two in the 3-1 road win over Cornell last Wednesday. Hertzog was named Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week for his two-goal performance in the upset of Ohio State on Oct. 11.
Lehigh enters Tuesday's match-up in the midst of a three-game winless streak, which has included a 0-0 draw with Patriot League frontrunner Holy Cross on Oct. 11 and a tough 2-1 overtime loss to No. 6 Maryland on Oct. 14. In their last outing, the Mountain Hawks suffered their first conference loss of the season, a 1-0 setback to American. Senior forward Jim Taranto is Lehigh's top scoring threat. He leads the team in goals (4, tied), assists (6), and points (14). Kyle Adams (4 goals, 2 assists), Adam Gazda (4 goals, 2 assists), and Matthew McNeil (3 goals, 1 assist) are also key to the Mountain Hawk attack. Sophomore goalkeeper Jonathan Nydell has started 11 of 13 games, compiling a 1.13 goals against average and a 5-4-2 record.
Penn State has lost to Lehigh 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. Under head coach Barry Gorman, the Nittany Lions are 3-0 versus the Mountain Hawks.
Fans can follow all of the action from the Penn State-Lehigh with a FREE live video webcast through Yahoo! sports. Find links on the official website of Nittany Lion athletics, www.GoPSUsports.com
The Nittany Lions will conclude their three game road swing this weekend when they visit Madison, Wis. for a key Big Ten battle with Wisconsin (6-6-2, 0-4-1 Big Ten) on Sun., Oct. 26. The game is scheduled for a 1:30 p.m. ET start at the home of the Badgers, the McClimon Memorial Track/Soccer Complex. Penn State returns to University Park for its first home game in 18 days when it plays No. 5 Akron (11-1-2, 4-0-0) MAC) on Wed., Oct. 29 at 7 p.m. at Jeffrey Field.