Aug. 26, 2009
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The Penn State men's soccer team won its exhibition match-up with Binghamton in every way except on the scoreboard, settling for a 0-0 draw with the visiting Bearcats on Wednesday evening at Jeffrey Field. The Nittany Lions controlled possession and pace throughout the contest and earned a dominating 20-6 advantage in shots.
Senior forward Jason Yeisley (Allentown, Pa.) spearheaded the shot barrage, recording seven. Front line mate Corey Hertzog (Reading, Pa.), who netted Penn State's goal in its exhibition opener versus Duquesne on Saturday, added four shots. Seven of the Lions' 20 shots were on goal while Binghamton mustered three.
The preseason contest marked the return of redshirt junior Andy Parr (Hummelstown, Pa.), a central defender who missed the entire 2008 season while recovering from a knee injury. He was the first player off the bench in the first half. Star recruit Brian Forgue (Glenmoore, Pa.), a two-time high school All-American defender, saw the first action of his collegiate career.
Defense reigned early on in the game with the first shot not coming until the 12th minute. Soon thereafter, though, the Penn State offense began to click, leading to several excellent scoring opportunities. With 25:35 remaining, Yeisley hit Hertzog with a well-placed pass. Breaking past his mark, Hertzog went one-on-one with the Binghamton goalkeeper but his shot from 10 yards out was stopped cold.
Just over a minute later, Yeisley had a scoring chance of his own. Sophomore defender Mark Fetrow (West Chester, Pa.) played a long pass to Yeisley, who was position near the top of the box. He dribbled around a defender and got a shot off, but it sped just wide of its target.
The second half told a similar story. In the 57th minute, Yeisley again initiated a scoring push. The two-time All-Big Ten selection fed a pass to sophomore midfielder MacKenzie Arment (Manheim, Pa.) who was positioned on the right wing. Arment blasted a wicked, left-footed shot that curved just wide of the net.
With just over 20 minutes left in the game, junior midfielder Matheus Braga (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) and Yeisley teamed to nearly give Penn State a lead. Braga threaded a beautiful pass through the traffic of a group of Binghamton defenders, connecting with Yeisley near the top of the box. He wheeled and launched a strong shot, but the BU goalie was in perfect position and hauled in the attempt.
Perhaps Penn State's best chance to break the deadlock came late in the game, with just over five minutes on the clock. Senior midfielder Frank Costigliola (Dix Hills, N.Y.) found an open Treavor Gelsinger (Shady Grove, Pa.) with a pass inside the box. The junior forward spun a defender around with a move but ran out of space to make solid contact with the ball and the Bearcat goalkeeper snagged his shot.
Redshirt sophomore Warren Gross (Saratoga Springs, N.Y.) went the distance in goal for Penn State for the second consecutive game, registering three saves in the shutout.
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.