Oct. 4, 2008
EVANSTON, Ill. - The Penn State men's soccer team (2-7-2, 0-2-0) became the first opposing team to score a goal against No. 3 Northwestern (9-0-2, 2-0-0) this season but it was not enough and the Nittany Lions fell to the Wildcats, 2-1, on Saturday afternoon at Lakeside Field in Evanston, Ill. The loss was just Penn State's second versus Northwestern in 24 all-time meetings and the first in regular season action.
Sophomore forward Treavor Gelsinger (Shady Grove, Pa.) scored Penn State's goal unassisted early in the second half, giving him a three in the last two games. He leads the team this season in both goals (3) and points (6). Penn State and Northwestern each totaled 16 shots but the Lions had a 13-6 advantage in the second half. The Lions earned seven corner kicks, giving them 69 for the season through 11 games, surpassing last year's season-long total of 63.
Early on, defense reigned and play was back-and-forth as the teams measured one another and tried to get into an offensive and defensive rhythm. The game's first shot was not recorded until the 13th minute when freshman defender Mark Fetrow (West Chester, Pa.), off a Corey Hertzog (Reading, Pa.) throw in, found space and got his foot on the ball from eight yards out. The opening shot was saved by NU goalkeeper Misha Rosenthal.
The Northwestern attack began to find its tempo later in the half but several standout plays by Penn State goalkeeper Liam Fitzwater (Schuylkill Haven, Pa.) and the Nittany Lion defense kept the game at 0-0. Fitzwater made a critical save with 10 minutes remaining in the half, corralling a Carl Pett laser that he booted from near the top of the box.
The Wildcats offensive persistence would pay off in the 41st minute and provide Northwestern with a 1-0 advantage. Peter O'Neill served a pass ahead from 30 yards out to a streaking Carl Pett who, after getting behind the defense, headed a shot that deflected off of Fitzwater's arm and the cross bar and dropped into goal.
Aiming to respond, Penn State nearly tied the game with 1:50 remaining in the half. Junior midfielder Frank Costigliola (Dix Hills, N.Y.) sent a corner kick in that Vincent Salvatico (Chester Springs, Pa.) headed to an awaiting MacKenzie Arment (Manheim, Pa.). The freshman midfielder blasted a shot on target from 18 yards away that the NU keeper tipped just high of goal.
Penn State broke through and knotted the game at 1-1 just under three minutes into the second half by virtue of a great individual effort by Treavor Gelsinger. The 2007 All-Big Ten Freshman Team honoree secured the ball after a Northwestern turnover from 35 yards out and headed towards goal. Weaving alone through the Wildcat back line, Gelsinger got off a sliding shot that, after being deflected by a NU defender, bounded past keeper Misha Rosenthal.
Northwestern jumped back on top with would what prove to be the game winner in the 56th minute. Mark Fetrow misjudged a long entry pass from Drew Ratner and forward Matt Eliason got behind the defense, received the pass, and knocked in a goal.
Playing down a man after a red card was issued to Frank Costigliola in the 68th minute, Penn State kept pressing and nearly tied the game five minutes later. Freshman forward Corey Hertzog sent a perfect pass ahead to Vincent Salvatico, who was making a run down the left wing. Salvatico sent a sharp shot in but it was smothered by the Northwestern goalkeeper.
The Nittany Lions return home for their third straight Big Ten match-up next weekend when No. 21 Ohio State (6-2-1, 1-1-0 Big Ten) visits Jeffrey Field. The game is scheduled for a 7 p.m. start on Sat., Oct. 11. Penn State holds a 13-8-2 record in its series with Ohio State, including last season's tough 1-0 loss in Columbus.