Sept. 7, 2009
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Senior forward Jason Yeisley (Allentown, Pa.) has been selected as Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week, the conference announced on Monday. The honor is the second of Yeisley's career after garnering his first as a freshman in October 2005.
After missing the entire 2008 season while rehabbing the second of his major knee injuries, Yeisley quickly regained the form that has made him a two-time All-Big Ten selection through the opening week of the 2009 campaign. The team captain scored three goals and tallied one assist in leading the Nittany Lions to a 2-1 record, their best start since 2001.
Yeisley currently tops the Big Ten in total shots (13), points (7), and goals (3). He is also Penn State's leading active scorer with 19 goals and 12 assists (50 points) in 44 career games.
Seeing his first action since October 2007, Yeisley netted the first two goals in Penn State's season opening 5-0 rout of regional opponent Saint Francis on Sept. 1. Last weekend at Ohio State's annual home tournament, the Wolstein Classic, Yeisley scored the Lions' lone goal in a hard fought 2-1 overtime loss to Cal State Fullerton. He concluded the week by assisting on Corey Hertzog's (Reading, Pa.) 89th minute, game winning goal in Penn State's 1-0 victory over Gonzaga.
This spring, in recognition of his ability to triumph over adversity, Yeisley was presented with the True Grit Award at the 2009 Penn State Student-Athlete Advisory Board Academic Achievement Awards Banquet. He is also a candidate for the Lowe's Senior CLASS Award, an honor which recognizes student-athletes who excel on and off the field, weighing notable achievements in four areas of excellence - classroom, character, community, and competition.
Yeisley and the Nittany Lions continue their 2009 home schedule this weekend by welcoming Ohio State, Hartford, and Hofstra to Jeffrey Field for the annual Penn State Classic. On the first day of competition, Fri., Sept. 11, Ohio State will take on Hartford (5 p.m.) and Penn State will face Hofstra (7:30 p.m.). Day two action, scheduled for Sun., Sept. 13, will pit Ohio State versus Hofstra (noon) and Penn State against Hartford (2:30 p.m.). Admission to the Penn State Classic and to all home men's soccer games is free.