Sept. 30, 2009
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The Penn State men's soccer team (6-3-1) overwhelmed visiting Penn (3-3-2) with four second half goals, lifting the Nittany Lions to a dominating 5-0 win on Wednesday night at Jeffrey Field. The victory caps off a crucial mid-season three-game home stand for the Nittany Lions in which they finished 2-0-1, upping their season record at home to 5-0-1.
The scoring outbreak versus the Quakers marks the third time this season that Penn State has posted five goals in a home win. The Lions have outscored their opponents, 19-2, this season inside the friendly confines of Jeffrey Field. With 22 goals on the season, the Nittany Lions have tallied more goals in 10 games than it did all of last year (20) in 19 contests.
Senior forward Jason Yeisley (Allentown, Pa.) led Penn State with two goals, his fifth and team-high sixth of the year. Junior midfielder Drew Cost (West Chester, Pa.), who was sidelined for the Michigan game with a knee injury, made a triumphant return to the line-up by netting his career-high third goal of the season. Senior midfielder Diego Correa (Niteroi, Brazil) and freshman forward Rafael Faria (Miami, Fla.) had nights to remember, as each scored his first career goal. Sophomore forward Corey Hertzog (Reading, Pa.), the reigning Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week, notched two assists, both on Yeisley's goals.
Thanks to the brilliant play of the Penn State backline, redshirt sophomore Warren Gross (Saratoga Springs, N.Y.) had an uneventful night. He didn't record a save, as Penn managed just one shot on goal, an attempt that was kicked safely away by junior Andres Casais (Caracas, Venezuela). With his Big Ten best fifth shutout of the season, Gross' goals against average has dipped to 0.54.
Penn State grasped control of pace and possession early in the game, an advantage that would result in the Lions claiming the lead in the 23rd minute. Crisp, on target passes from senior midfielder Frank Costigliola (Dix Hills, N.Y.) and Corey Hertzog found a streaking Jason Yeisley in front of the goal. The Nittany Lion team captain got it on foot and chipped it in past Penn goalkeeper Ben Berg.
After a scoreless remainder of the first half and the break, the Penn State attack caught fire. Drew Cost upped the PSU advantage to 2-0 off a free kick at the 60:33 mark. Just outside of the box, Cost ripped a rocket that skirted the Penn wall and found the upper right corner of the net.
Just over four minutes later, the Nittany Lions' advantage reached three on a beautiful run put together by the teams' top three offensive threats. Junior midfielder Matheus Braga (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) triggered the play when he controlled the ball in the middle of the Penn zone. He sent a through ball to Hertzog who, in turn, shipped it to the right wing to an open Yeisley. One-on-one with the Penn keeper and with a number of options available to him, Yeisley went right at him, putting the ball between his legs and into net from 12 yards out.
In control of the game, Penn State began to substitute at will, but the back-ups didn't miss a beat and the attack remained red hot. In the 72nd minute, sophomore midfielder Mackenzie Arment (Manheim, Pa.) spotted Rafael Faria unmarked in front of the goal. Arment's pass reached Faria unchallenged and the freshman headed into net.
Diego Correa put the finishing touches on the trouncing with less than six minutes remaining in the game. Awarded a free kick, Correa stepped up to take it from 22 yards out. The senior crushed a shot that curved around the Penn wall and into goal. The shot was his first of the year and the goal represented the first points of his Penn State career.
The Nittany Lions will make their 2009 debut on the Big Ten Network this weekend when they clash with Michigan State (4-2-1, 0-1-0) on Sun., Oct. 4 at the Spartans' DeMartin Soccer Complex in East Lansing, Mich. Game time is set for 12 p.m. Penn State is 15-8-2 all-time against Michigan State, including last season's 4-3 loss at Jeffrey Field. The last two meetings between the teams in East Lansing have gone to overtime, with PSU earning a 1-0-1 mark. In its four appearances on the BTN over the last two seasons, Penn State has posted a 1-3 record.