Oct. 11, 2009
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Sophomore forward Corey Hertzog (Reading, Pa.) converted on a penalty kick opportunity in the final minute of regulation time to help the Penn State men's soccer team (7-3-2, 2-0-1 Big Ten) earn a 1-1 tie with No. 21 Northwestern (6-1-4, 1-0-1 Big Ten) on Sunday afternoon at Jeffrey Field. The draw keeps the Nittany Lions undefeated home streak versus the Wildcats in tact and moves them to 5-0-2 on the season in University Park.
For Hertzog, the score was his sixth of the season, tying him with Jason Yeisley (Allentown, Pa) for the team lead in goals and points (16). The converted penalty kick was Penn State's third of the season.
Penn State dominated possession and controlled play throughout the predominance of the game, outshooting Northwestern, 28-16, and owning a 12-8 advantage in shots on goal. The Nittany Lions displayed their overall team depth, playing without starting defender Mark Fetrow (West Chester, Pa.) and midfielder Frank Costigliola (Dix Hills, N.Y.), who were serving suspensions. Freshman Brian Forgue (Glenmoore, Pa.) drew his first career start on the back line and sophomore Matt Smallwood (Cochranville, Pa.) filled in capably in the midfield.
The Nittany Lions wasted little time in exerting its will on the attack, tallying four shots while holding Northwestern to none through the game's first 16 minutes. After surviving a run of shots by the Wildcats, Penn State continued to force the issue on offense, resulting in numerous scoring opportunities. In the 22nd minute, Corey Hertzog lofted a beautiful pass into the box where Jason Yeisley was one-on-one with a Northwestern defender. Yeisley won the jump ball, getting his head on it, but the attempt skimmed just high of the cross bar.
Just over nine minutes later, junior midfielder Matheus Braga (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) nearly gave PSU the advantage when his free kick attempt near the top of the box skirted the Northwestern wall of defenders but clanked off the post.
Penn State's best opportunity came with less than four minutes remaining in the first half. Jason Yeisley took advantage of a Northwestern turnover, breaking free all alone with the ball deep in the Wildcat zone. Northwestern goalkeeper Misha Rosenthal came out to end Yeisley's run but he pushed the ball past him, earning a shot at an open goal. However, before he could get a shot off, the Northwestern defense reached the end line and Yeisley's shot was kicked away by Cody Stanley.
Braga and Yeisley combined on a potential scoring run in the waning moments of the opening period but Yeisley's shot from up close was turned away with a diving save from Rosenthal.
The Nittany Lions inability to make good on scoring opportunities continued in the second half and finally proved costly in the 85th minute. Northwestern's Peter O'Neill found teammate Eamon O'Neill, who was stationed near the top of the box unmarked, with a pass. He turned and lofted a shot into the top right corner of the net, past the outstretched reach of Warren Gross (Saratoga Springs, N.Y.). The goal ended the redshirt sophomore's streak of holding opponents scoreless at 357:35.
Penn State, however, remained undaunted and began to push for the equalizer; an effort that would pay off with just 39 seconds remaining in the game. Matheus Braga started the play by winning a ball near the endline, just outside the goalie box. He centered a pass to Corey Hertzog, who couldn't get a shot off but was able to get this foot on the ball and attempt to pass it out. The pass hit an NU defender in the hand, drawing a hand ball call and the resulting penalty kick. Hertzog earned the assignment and fired it to the right of a diving Rosenthal and into net.
The Nittany Lions outshot Northwestern, 7-2, in the overtime periods, including two excellent chances for Braga in the first overtime, but could not break through with the game winner.
The Nittany Lions will remain at home for their next outing, as they welcome in-state opponent Lafayette (7-3-1, 2-1-0 Patriot League) to Jeffrey Field for a 7 p.m. contest on Wed., Oct. 14. Penn State is 27-2-1 all-time versus Lafayette. The teams' last meeting took place in 2007 in University Park and ended deadlocked in a 1-1 tie. Next weekend, the Lions will continue conference play when they travel to Columbus, Ohio for a 2:00 p.m. match-up with Ohio State (7-2-3, 1-1-0 Big Ten) on Sun, Oct. 18.
Senior forward Jason Yeisley has been named a finalist for the Lowe's Senior CLASS Award, an honor that recognizes excellence in four areas - classroom, community, character, and competition. Fans can vote for Yeisley EVERY DAY by texting M9 to 74567 and by visiting www.seniorclassaward.com. Fan balloting, which counts for 1/3 of the final vote, continues until Nov. 13.