Aug. 22, 2009
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The Penn State men's soccer team made its 2009 debut on Saturday night at Jeffrey Field, playing Duquesne to a 1-1 tie in a preseason match-up.
Corey Hertzog (Reading, Pa.) scored Penn State's lone goal, connecting on a rocket shot from 25 yards out in the first half. The sophomore forward established himself as an offensive weapon a year ago, totaling two goals, both in a win over Big Ten rival Ohio State, and two assists. Junior midfielder Drew Cost (West Chester, Pa.), a player who will be a key to the Penn State offense in 2009, earned an assist on the score.
The exhibition game not only marked the Nittany Lions' first action of the 2009 season but also heralded the return to the line-up of senior forward Jason Yeisley (Allentown, Pa.). The two-time All-Big Ten selection, who is PSU's career active leading scorer (16 goals, 11 assists), missed all of the 2008 season while rehabbing a serious knee injury suffered on Oct. 13, 2007 versus Boston University. Yeisley started the game, playing the entire first half.
With its starting 11 on the field for all 45 minutes, Penn State dominated the first half on both ends of the field, totaling 14 shots while limiting Duquesne to just three. After numerous missed scoring opportunities, the Nittany Lions finally got on the scoreboard in the 35th minute. Near midfield, Drew Cost spotted a wide open Corey Hertzog hustling down the left wing. Collecting a perfect pass from Cost, Hertzog let loose a laser shot that found the upper right corner of the net, giving the Lions a 1-0 lead.
Duquesne answered back quickly though, knotting the game less than three minutes later. Penn State could not clear a loose ball bounding around in the box and the Dukes' Joshua Patterson took advantage by putting it in net. Stefan Lundberg was credited with an assist on the play.
Penn State had a prime opportunity to head into halftime with a lead but could not convert on a penalty kick with just 45 seconds remaining. Hertzog was taken down in the box on an attacking play by a Duquesne defender, giving the Lions' the one-on-one chance at going up 2-1. Jason Yeisley took the shot for Penn State but DU goalkeeper Chris Torres was up to the challenge, saving it with a diving stab to his left.
The second half amounted to a defensive struggle as neither team mustered a shot on goal. Freshmen Rafa Faria (Miami, Fla.) and John Gallagher (Pine Bush, N.Y.) and redshirt sophomore Marco Ciarla (Potomac, Md.) saw their first collegiate action.
After regulation time expired, the coaches decided not to play the extra periods, rendering the 1-1 decision.
Redshirt sophomore Warren Gross (Saratoga Springs, N.Y) went the distance in goal for Penn State, recording one save.
The Nittany Lions will conclude their preseason schedule on Wed., Aug. 26 when Binghamton of the America East Conference visits Happy Valley for a 6 p.m. exhibition contest at Jeffrey Field. Penn State will begin regular season play the following week on Tues., Sept. 1 when it hosts regional foe Saint Francis (Pa.) in a 7 p.m. game. The Lions hold a perfect 8-0 all-time series record versus the flash, including last season's 1-0 victory in University Park.