Sept. 1, 2009
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Over the course of its two-game exhibition season, the Penn State men's soccer team struggled mightily to capitalize on an abundance of offensive opportunities. That trend came to a screeching halt on Tuesday night when the Nittany Lion attack proved nearly unstoppable, sparking PSU to an overwhelming 5-0 victory over Saint Francis at Jeffrey Field. Four of the goals came in the first half, all within a span of just under 17 minutes.
The win represents Penn State's largest margin of victory since defeating Bucknell, 7-1, on Oct. 21, 1998 and is the Lions' highest single-game goal total since posting five in a win over Villanova on Sept. 6, 2001. The season opening victory is also PSU's most dominating in exactly 11 years since the Lions' crushed Saint Francis, 8-0, on Sept. 1, 1998.
Senior forward Jason Yeisley (Allentown, Pa.) made a triumphant return to the line-up after missing the entire 2008 season while recovering from a serious knee injury. The 2009 team captain netted two goals, Penn State's first two scores of the game, giving him a team-high 18 for his career. Junior midfielder Matheus Braga (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) was spectacular, tallying one goal and two assists. His point total of four after one game this season equals his entire 2008 output. Junior midfielder Drew Cost (West Chester, Pa.) and senior forward Jacobo Vera (Pamplona, Spain) scored one goal each while sophomore forward Corey Hertzog (Reading, Pa.) notched two assists.
The Penn State defense did its part as well, holding Saint Francis in check for 90 minutes. Redshirt junior Andy Parr (Hummelstown, Pa.), who like Yeisley was sidelined in 2008 with a knee injury, was stellar in his return to the pitch, challenging and winning nearly every ball versus the Red Flash forwards. Redshirt sophomore goalkeeper Warren Gross (Saratoga Springs, N.Y.) recorded two saves en route to his second career shutout, including a fingertip tip away of a rising rocket off the foot of SFU's Tyler Hibbs in the first half.
Penn State outshot Saint Francis by a 24-5 margin for the game, including a dominating 13-2 shots on goal advantage.
Matheus Braga made plays all over the field in Penn State's season opening win |
Early on, the Nittany Lions struggled to find offensive continuity and mustered just one shot through the game's first 17 minutes. That all changed and changed quickly and demonstratively at the 17:22 mark. Corey Hertzog fed a pass to Matheus Braga who instantly connected with Jason Yeisley, who was streaking down the left wing. Yeisley's one-timer from 16 yards out found net and gave Penn State a 1-0 lead.
Yeisley struck again just under two minutes later. Braga spotted Yeisley on a run and led him with a beautiful pass, which Yeisley blasted from 14 yards away into the back of the net.
Braga would claim a goal of his own, the first of his Nittany Lion career, in the 32nd minute. A misplayed header on a clearing attempt by a Saint Francis defender came to Braga up close on the left wing. He rocketed a left-footed shot passed the Red Flash goalkeeper, upping Penn State's advantage to 3-0.
Less than three minutes later, Drew Cost provided the Lions with a four-goal lead. Off a corner kick, Corey Hertzog passed the ball to Cost, who was positioned near the top of the box. He uncorked a shot from 20 yards out that the Saint Francis keeper caught but let slip through his hands and into the corner of the net.
The bane of missed opportunities returned slightly in the second half, when Penn State racked up a 15-2 advantage in shots but could add just one more goal. The exclamation point play started when senior forward Vincent Salvatico (Chester Springs, Pa.) won a ball on the right wing, up close and just outside of the box. He then found a wide open Jacobo Vera with a pass, who took one step and ripped a screaming shot from eight yards away that struck net. The goal was the seventh of his career.
Penn State will see its first road action of the 2009 season this weekend when it makes the annual trek to Columbus, Ohio for the Bert & Iris Wolstein Soccer Classic, as hosted by The Ohio State University. The Nittany Lions will first meet Cal State Fullerton in a match-up scheduled for 5 p.m. on Fri., Sept. 4 at the home of the Buckeyes, Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium. Penn State will conclude tournament play on Sun., Sept. 6 with a 12 p.m. contest against Gonzaga.