Feb. 5, 2009
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The Penn State men's soccer program has released its 2009 spring schedule, unveiling five dates that feature match-ups with five NCAA Division I opponents, one Division II opponent, and an international club team. The Nittany Lions will play all but one of their games in University Park and the entirety of their schedule within the state of Pennsylvania. All contests will take place at Penn State's new state-of-the-art practice facility adjacent to Jeffrey Field unless otherwise noted.
The spring campaign will mark the long-awaited return to the line-up of forward Jason Yeisley (Allentown, Pa.) and defender Andy Parr (Hummelstown, Pa.). Both standout players missed the entire 2008 season while rehabbing serious knee injuries suffered in 2007. Freshman midfielder John Gallagher (Pine Bush, N.Y.), who enrolled at Penn State in January, will also make his Nittany Lion debut.
Penn State will kick off its spring schedule on Sun., March 22 when it hosts Bucknell. Game time for this in-state clash is set for approximately 2:30 p.m. The Bison were 8-8-2 last year, including a 3-4-0 record in Patriot League competition.
The following weekend, the Nittany Lions will host a four-team round robin. On Sun., March 29, they will face Saint Francis (Pa.) (12 p.m.), Millersville (2 p.m.), and
Andy Parr is recovered from a knee injury and will be a welcome addition to the Penn State defense in 2009 |
Villanova (4 p.m.). Penn State defeated Saint Francis, 1-0, during the 2008 regular season, winning on the strength of Justin Lee's (Derwood, Md.) first collegiate goal. Millersville is coming off the greatest season in its program history which included an impressive 18-3-1 record and a run to the Division II NCAA quarterfinals. Villanova went 7-10-2 last year, including a 4-5-2 record in the cutthroat BIG EAST.
On Sat., April 4, Penn State will welcome Mount Saint Mary's University to Happy Valley for a 4 p.m. game. The Mount was 9-10-1 overall and 5-4-0 in Northeast Conference play in 2008. Two weeks later, on Sat., April 18, Penn State will travel to the Lancaster area to take on Navy in a 4 p.m. contest at Warwick H.S. in Lititz, Pa. The Midshipmen are lead by the all-time winningest coach in NCAA history Dave Brandt, who is in his first season in Annapolis. Brandt compiled a 246-26-12 record at Messiah College, capturing six NCAA Division III national championships.
Penn State will wrap up its spring schedule during Blue White Alumni Weekend on Sat., April 25. After the annual alumni matches (10:30 a.m.), the Nittany Lions will host Hamilton Croatia, a club team from Canada, at noon.
Head coach Barry Gorman, in his 22nd year at the helm of the Penn State program, returns 21 letterwinners and welcomes a group of newcomers who are expected to make an immediate impact in 2009. The Nittany Lions begin exhibition play on Fri., Aug. 21 when they host Duquesne at Jeffrey Field in a 7 p.m. contest. PSU starts the regular season at home on Tues., Sept. 1 against Saint Francis (Pa.) (7 p.m.).