Aug. 25, 2009
Game flip card (including printable 2009 schedule)
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The Penn State men's soccer team will play its second and final game of the preseason on Wed., Aug. 26 when it welcomes Binghamton to Jeffrey Field for a 6 p.m. exhibition match-up.
In their 2009 debut on Saturday night, the Nittany Lions earned a 1-1 draw with visiting Duquesne. Sophomore forward Corey Hertzog (Reading, Pa.) accounted for Penn State's goal, drilling a shot in from 25 yards out in the game's 35th minute. Junior midfielder Drew Cost (West Chester, Pa.) assisted on the play, connecting with Hertzog on a beautifully placed pass. Redshirt sophomore Warren Gross (Saratoga Springs, N.Y.) started and played all 60 minutes in goal, registering one save. The Penn State defense was solid, limiting Duquesne to just two shots on goal.
Senior forward Jason Yeisley (Allentown, Pa.) performed well in his first action since 2007, playing the entire first half. Freshmen Rafael Faria (Miami, Fla.) and John Gallagher (Pine Bush, N.Y.) and redshirt sophomore Marco Ciarla (Potomac, Md.) saw the first game action of their careers.
Binghamton posted a 12-6-3 record in 2008, including a 5-3-0 mark in America East play, and returns 13 letterwinners and seven starters from that team for the 2009 season. The Bearcats were selected to place second, behind only defending conference champion Boston University, in the America East Conference preseason coaches' poll. Eight-year head Paul Marco's attack will be headlined by returnees Scott Zobre and Liam Carson, who each netted two goals a year ago, and Kyle Kucharski, who finished the 2008 season tied for second on the team in assists with four. Senior goalkeeper Jason Stenta anchors the Bearcat back line. Last season, he ranked third in the nation with a .893 save percentage and 10th with a 0.55 goals against average.
Penn State has never faced Binghamton during the regular season in its 99-year history, but Wednesday will mark the second time in four years that the Nittany Lions and the Bearcats have met in the preseason. In 2006, PSU knocked off Binghamton 1-0 at Jeffrey Field.
Fans can follow all of the action of the Penn State-Binghamton contest on the Internet with live stats and instant scoring updates from Gametracker. Find a link on the official website of Nittany Lion athletics, www.GoPSUsports.com. Penn State men's soccer supporters can also keep up-to-date on the team throughout the season with exclusive notes and information by way of Twitter. Go to twitter.com and search psusportsjr to become a follower.
The Nittany Lions begin the 2009 regular season next 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.