Oct. 28, 2008
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The Penn State men's soccer team (4-9-2, 1-3-0 Big Ten) will face its first of three nationally ranked opponents to conclude the 2008 regular season on Wed., Oct. 29 when No. 2 Akron (13-1-2, 5-0-0 MAC) visits Jeffrey Field for a 7 p.m. match-up. With games against Indiana and Michigan looming, the Zips represent Penn State's final shot at claiming a fourth and final regular season non-conference victory.
When the Nittany Lions take to the pitch on Wednesday evening, they will be looking to bounce back from a disappointing 4-1 loss to Wisconsin suffered on Sunday in Madison. Sophomore midfielder Drew Cost (West Chester, Pa.) scored his second goal of the season in the first half to stake Penn State a 1-0 lead. However, fortunes changed in the second half when, with the score knotted a 1-1, junior midfielder Matheus Braga (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) was sent off with a questionable red card, opening the door for Wisconsin to score three quick unanswered goals and secure the win.
The Penn State attack has come alive in the second half of the season, scoring 12 goals in the last six games. Sophomore forward Treavor Gelsinger (Shady Grove, Pa.) fronts the offense with six goals, all scored in the past six games, including two-goal performances versus Michigan State and Cornell. Matheus Braga had taken over the team lead in assists with three by recording one in each of Penn State's last two games. Two freshmen, forward Corey Hertzog (Reading, Pa.) and midfielder MacKenzie Arment (Manheim, Pa.), are tied for the second on the team in points (6), with each tallying two goals and two assists.
Akron has been one of the nation's most dominant teams in 2008. It enters the match-up with Penn State riding a 10-game winning streak. Over that span, the Zips have outscored their opponents by an impressive 31-1 margin. Sophomore forward Steve Zakuani, a native of London, England, headlines the potent Akron attack. His 15 goals and 35 points top the Zips. Matt Tutich (5 goals, 7 assists), Anthony Ampaipitakwang (4 goals, 5 assists), and Ben Zemanski (1 goal, 9 assists) also key the offense. The Akron defense boasts one of collegiate soccer's top goalkeepers in Evan Bush. The senior has recorded 46 career shutouts, including 11 this season, and possesses a 0.25 goals against average.
In a series that dates back to 1978, Penn State owns a 13-11-4 all-time record versus Akron. This year's match-up between the Nittany Lions and the Zips marks the seventh consecutive year that the teams have met during the regular season. Penn State will be looking to avenge 2007's 3-0 loss at Akron.
Fans can follow all of the action of the Penn State-Akron match-up on the Internet with live stats and instant scoring updates from Gametracker or with a live audio and video webcast. Find a link on the official website of Nittany Lion athletics, www.GoPSUsports.com.
The Nittany Lions finish out their brief two-game home stand this weekend when Big Ten rival No. 17 Indiana (9-4-2, 2-2-0 Big Ten) travels to Happy Valley for a 7 p.m. match on Sat., Nov. 1. Penn State has taken three of the last five match-ups from the Hoosiers, including the teams' previous meeting in University Park in 2006, a 1-0 victory. Senior Night will be celebrated with Ryan Badaracco (Wexford, Pa.), Andy Machi (Upper St. Clair, Pa.), and Barkley Miller (New Freedom, Pa.) being honored in a special ceremony.